PHOENIX, May 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AmSafe® Industries, Inc. today unveiled a new scholarship program at the Team America Rocketry Challenge ("TARC") in the Plains, Virginia. TARC, a student competition to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics, is sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Association or Rocketry.
Established in the honor of Brendan M. Kutler, who suddenly and unexpectedly died in his sleep on December 29, 2009, at the age of seventeen, the $5,000 annual, four-year scholarship will be open to all students who participate in the TARC competition during their Junior or Senior years of high school.
Introducing the new scholarship to the students and parents in attendance at the TARC Finals was Terence W. Lyons, CEO of AmSafe Industries Inc., a manufacturer of aviation safety products and a member of the Aerospace Industries Association.
In announcing the scholarship, which will be awarded annually beginning with the 2012-13 academic year, Mr. Lyons remarked: "We are establishing this scholarship in the honor of Brendan Kutler, who, along with his teammates from Harvard Westlake School in Los Angeles competed in TARC in 2008, reaching the Finals and placing 13th in the nation overall. Rocketry was just one of Brendan's many diverse interests. Brendan was an extraordinary young man who found ways to connect with people all over the globe. With grace and humility, Brendan strived to use his talents to support others and to make the world a better place. It is in this spirit and in his honor and memory that we have established this scholarship. In an era where more often than not we hear about what is wrong with our upcoming generation, Brendan was a shining example of what is good in so many of today's young people. Through this scholarship, we hope to identify other young men and women with similar traits, values and aspirations and to help them, through education, to make a positive impact as tomorrow's leaders."
About AmSafe Industries, Inc.
AmSafe Industries, Inc. is the world leader in safety and securement products for the aerospace, defense and ground transportation industries. AmSafe's innovative products can be found on virtually every commercial aircraft in the world and include seatbelts, restraints, airbags, cargo and barrier nets, tie-downs and cabin interior textiles. Its textile armor protection system and restraints can be found on a wide range of military vehicles worldwide. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, AmSafe operates manufacturing and service facilities around the globe. For more information, visit www.amsafe.com.
About Aerospace Industries Association
The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), founded in 1919 only a few years after the birth of flight, is the most authoritative and influential trade association representing the aerospace and defense industry. Based in Arlington, Va., AIA represents nearly 350 aerospace and defense manufacturers and suppliers. The association is at the forefront of critical issues, such as ensuring a strong U.S. industrial base, advocating for defense modernization and acquisition reform, increasing deployment of Next Generation Air Transportation System technologies and equipment, modernizing export controls, and obtaining additional resources for aeronautics research and space exploration. For more information, visit www.aia-aerospace.org.
About Brendan Monroe Kutler
To learn more about the Brendan's passion for life and thirst for learning, visit www.bkutler.com.
About the Scholarship
The Brendan Kutler Scholarship was created by, and initial funding was provided by AmSafe Industries, Inc. The Scholarship will be administered through the AmSafe Charitable Trust. An application for the scholarship can be downloaded from www.rocketcontest.org or www.amsafe.com.
SOURCE AmSafe Industries, Inc.
