- Science in Action Grants Recognize Plans to Enhance Science Learning ARLINGTON, Texas, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- National Semiconductor Corporation presented $38,000 in grants this month to six schools and teachers/teaching teams in Arlington and Mansfield recognizing their creative ideas for enhancing curriculum through hands-on science projects. National provided each teacher's project with a cash award to purchase whatever was necessary -- e.g. water testing kits, soil materials and forensic kits -- to implement his/her winning idea. National presented the grants through its Science in Action initiative, a program developed in 2005 to encourage inquiry-based science projects in the classroom. When students develop hypotheses, create their own experiments and then record and present their findings, it helps them better absorb information. National's Science in Action program goes hand-in-hand with the Arlington Independent School District's (AISD) Science Academy, an initiative created by AISD and funded by National to more effectively train teachers to teach science in their classrooms. "Helping students make connections between concepts normally taught in isolation is powerful. As a result, the students of teachers attending the Academy performed better on the Grade 8 Science TAKS test than students of teachers that did not attend the Academy," said Renee Pope, AISD's K-12 Science Curriculum Coordinator. "We are very excited at the science materials and opportunities made available to our teachers by the National Semiconductor Grant. The grant has really made a difference with our teachers and students." National's Science in Action program also supports the Mansfield Independent School District (MISD) with annual grants to provide science professional development for teachers. An independent panel of judges, experts in education technology, reviewed the Science in Action applications and selected the winners. The winning teachers from Texas and their projects are: ARLINGTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT -- Christine Ott, Leigh Ann Phillips and Laurie Ballenger from Dunn Elementary: "Inside/Out" Lab -- Heidi Bush, Nicole Keith, Margaret Minyard and D'Ann Haffner from Beth Anderson Elementary: "Earth Science Extravaganza" -- Stephanie Hudson and Sue Wilhide from Pope Elementary: "Teaching with Telescopes" MANSFIELD INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT -- Kellye Vandergriff and Glenda Kramer from Mansfield High: "Trials of Life: Forensics in the Biology Classroom" -- Brenda Glass, Stephanie Royal, LeeAnn Brothers, Rick McCase, Stephanie Alexander and Bonnie Liakos from Mary Jo Sheppard Elementary: "Discovery on the Road" The final Tarrant County Award will be presented on January 30 at 4:10 p.m. to Gerald Cornelius, Gaya Bowers and Richard Powell from Hutcheson Junior High for their project: "Our Precious Natural Resource: Water. Is It Safe?" The award will be given during a Hutcheson faculty meeting. Members of the media are welcome to attend. Since 1998, National has provided over $2.2 million to schools and teachers in Tarrant County for science, math and technology programs. It addition to supporting the AISD Science Academies with a $125,000 grant, National gave a $250,000 grant to AISD in 2001 to buy hands-on science curriculum and materials for the district's schools. National has also supported MISD's science program with a $75,000 grant. The company has also been a long-time supporter of the local districts' Education Foundations, funding grants annually for AISD teachers' innovative programs as well as grants acknowledging MISD teachers' creative science and math projects. National's Arlington facility is located at 1111 West Bardin Road. The facility employs 500 and manufactures analog integrated circuits (chips). These chips enable clearer graphics for flat-panel displays, enhance the clarity of sound in consumer electronics and prolong battery life in cell phones. About National Semiconductor National Semiconductor, the industry's premier analog company, creates high-value analog devices and subsystems. National's leading-edge products include power management circuits, display drivers, audio and operational amplifiers, interface products and data conversion solutions. National's key analog markets include wireless handsets, displays and a variety of broad electronics markets, including medical, automotive, industrial, and test and measurement applications. Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., National reported sales of $2.16 billion for fiscal 2006, which ended May 28, 2006. Additional company and product information is available at http://www.national.com/. Contact: Scott Kahl 817-468-6404 LuAnn Jenkins 408-721-2440 DATASOURCE: National Semiconductor Corporation CONTACT: Scott Kahl, +1-817-468-6404, or , or LuAnn Jenkins, +1-408-721-2440, or , both of National Semiconductor Corporation Web site: http://www.national.com/

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