Tammy-Lynne Moore
Michael F. Shaughnessy

Biography of Jim Whaley, President of the Siemens Foundation

Mr. Whaley has served as President of the Siemens Foundation since June, 2006 and also serves as the Director of Public Affairs for Siemens Corporation.From October 2004 through June 2006, Mr. Whaley was Vice President of the Siemens Foundation.During this time, the Foundation expanded its Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement program to all fifty states, recognizing students, teachers and schools for exceptional achievement in AP math and science courses nationally.  The Foundation also launched Siemens Teacher Scholarships in collaboration with the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund and United Negro College Fund.  This initiative awards college scholarships to encourage minority students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities to pursue teaching careers in science and math.  Mr. Whaley also initiated Siemens Science Day, a national program created to captivate young students' interest in math, science, and technology.

Mr. Whaley was the Director of Communications for the United States Military Academy at West Point.As a result of an innovative communications plan for the celebration of West Point's 200^th anniversary, Mr. Whaley received the 2003 Public Relations Society of America Award of Excellence, as well as the 2003 PR Week Public Campaign of the Year.

Mr. Whaley has had more than 20 years experience in the management field, including integrated marketing, media relations, crisis communications, strategic communications, internal communications, and community relations.

He is a graduate of Lock Haven University where he received his undergraduate degree in 1984.  He completed his MBA at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Frankfurt, Germany, in 1989.  Mr. Whaley also attended the Defense Information School (graduate level management), Ft. Meade, MD, 1998 and completed the U.S. Army Helicopter Instructor Pilot Course at Fort Rucker, AL in 1990.

All Biographical information was taken from the Siemens Foundation 'Who's Who' web site: http://www.siemens-foundation.org/about/WhosWho.htm.

1.First of all, what is the Siemens Science Program and how did it get started?

Siemens Science Day is an innovative program designed to captivate young students' interest in math, science and technology.Siemens employees visit their local elementary and middle schools to talk about the importance of math and science on everyday life and to perform hands-on science activities.The program positions math and science as "cool" subjects that can lead to exciting career opportunities.

From grade school to grad school, Siemens is supporting the next generation of scientists, engineers and business leaders through our educational initiatives.Whether it's introducing engineering to grade school students through our employee mentoring program Siemens Science Days, rewarding excellence in high school science and math through the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology and Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement, or providing scholarships for minority students to pursue teaching careers, Siemens touches the lives of thousands of students and teachers nationwide everyday.

2.Where do Siemens Science Competitions take place?

The Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology takes place annually on a regional and national basis. The winners from each regional competition are given the opportunity to compete on a national level at the National Competition at New York University in New York.Here is the competition calendar:

3.What are the criteria used for determining eligible participants?

The Siemens Competition, administered by the College Board, is open to high school students who are citizens of the United States. Students submitting individual projects must be enrolled as high school seniors.Teams may have a total of two or three members who are each enrolled in high school.In addition, teams do not need to include a senior and may include students from different high schools.For more information regarding eligibility criteria, please visit http://www.siemens-foundation.org/competition/.

4.How do students register?What is the cost?

Every individual or team entering a research project in the Competition must register online on the Collegeboard's website, www.collegeboard.com/siemens. The deadline for entries for the 2006-07 Siemens Competition is October 2, 2006.There is no fee associated with entering the Siemens Competition.

5.Is there any affiliation between the Siemens Science Competition here in the United States and the Siemens Science Program in Australia?How are they the same/different?

Similar to the Siemens Competition, yet not directly affiliated, is the Siemens Prize for Innovation, one of the richest and most coveted awards in Australia. Now in its fourth year, the prize attracts Australia-wide entries from final year students who submit innovative business solutions for industry sectors such as bio-technology, health and telecommunications.

6.Are students able to compete on an international level?

While the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology is only open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, Siemens companies around the globe are initiating similar programs.Siemens Germany, Russia and Siemens China are currently in the process of developing their own national Math, Science and Technology competitions.These Competitions will be in place come 2007.Our commitment to supporting the next generation of scientists and engineers is a global initiative.

7.Why should students participate – what are the short and long term benefits?

Scholarship awards are granted to finalists and winners on the regional and national levels.Regional finalists receive a $1,000 scholarship for individual entries or a $1,000 scholarship to be divided equally among a team.Regional winners receive a $3,000 scholarship for individual entries or a $6,000 scholarship to be divided equally among a team, and also are invited to the National competition in New York City.Regional winners and their chaperones receive an all-expense-paid trip to New York to compete.

Scholarships on the National level range from $10,000 to 100,000 for the grand prize winner.Last year's Siemens competition grand prize winner, Michael Viscardi, received a total of $103,000 in scholarship money and was featured as "Person of the Week" on ABC World News Tonight.He is now a freshman at Harvard University.

The long term goal of the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology is to stimulate interest in, and encourage the pursuit of, collegiate and advanced studies, in the fields of science, mathematics and technology.It is also to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

8.Research indicates that we are approaching a dangerous shortage in scientists and mathematicians.What advice can you offer to educators and parents for promoting student motivation in these areas?

Our advice to educators and parents is to relate this issue back to the students.It's important for students to understand how math and science affect their daily lives – energy and power, transportation, water, medical, etc.It's also important to communicate the exciting career opportunities available when you study math and science.

9) Where can students and educators and parents obtain more information?

See answer to question # 10.

10) Do you have a web site or 800 number for interested people to contact?

For more information and to sign up for a Siemens Science Day, please visit www.usa.siemens.com/scienceday.

For information on scholarships offered by Siemens Foundation, please visit www.siemens-foundation.org or call 1-877-822-5233.

11) What question have we neglected to ask ?