HARTFORD, Conn., May 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The Academy of Engineering and Green Technology, opening at Hartford Public High School in August 2008, has received a $74,000 grant from United Technologies Corporation (UTC), allowing the Academy to meet start-up requirements set by the National Academy Foundation (NAF) Project Lead the Way program.

The grant makes United Technologies the lead corporate sponsor of Hartford's new Academy of Engineering and Green Technology. "In our home city of Hartford we're pleased to sponsor an urban academy that focuses on engineering and the environment for the next generation of engineers and scientists," said Andrea Doane, UTC Director Corporate Giving and Community Affairs. "These are vitally important principles to UTC and we look forward to building on our longstanding relationship with Hartford Public High School and the National Academy Foundation through this new program."

The Academy is partnered with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA), who also co-authored the application to NAF with the Hartford Office of School Design. NAF collaborated with its partners Project Lead the Way and the National Council of Minorities in Engineering to develop a new academy theme in engineering. They are using NAF's Academy Development Model to deliver the Project Lead the Way "Pathways to Engineering" high school curriculum. The Academy's affiliation with NAF will provide leverage to its industry and higher education partners in supporting a college ready curriculum for all students and in opening engineering career pathways to under-represented youth.

The grant from UTC, a national NAF partner, ensures two state-of-the-art computer labs at the academy and funds the work of CBIA Dayl Walker to support the Academy for one full day a week during the 2008-2009 school year. Walker will act as the industry liaison to Principal Jacqueline Ryan and will serve on both the School Governance Board and the External Advisory Board. "CBIA is very pleased to be a partner in the creation of the new Academy of Engineering and Green Technology and are eager to expose the students to many career opportunities existent in this industry," said CBIA Vice President Lauren Weisberg Kaufman.

"This is but one example of the great advances that the Hartford Public Schools will continue to make for its students by partnering faculty, staff, parents, students, community partners, and business and industry in its school design work," states Dr. Christina Kishimoto, Sr. Director of School Design.