Gordon in the News: last updated 10/19/2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2009
MEDIA CONTACT
Jo Kadlecek
Office of College Communications
978.867.4752
[email protected]
WENHAM, MA--Thomas L. Phillips (pictured, center, with Gordon Vice President Dan Tymann), longtime Gordon College Trustee and former CEO of Raytheon Company, has donated his Raytheon archives to the College, recognizing its ongoing commitment to science and technology scholarship. The Phillips/Raytheon archives are the second technology related archives housed at Gordon College since Ken Olsen donated the archives from the Digital Equipment Corporation last fall.
To coincide with the donation, William H. Swanson, current Raytheon chairman and CEO, announced at a recent College tribute to Phillips, the creation of the Phillips/Raytheon Scholarship for women and minority students at Gordon College pursuing majors in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The $100,000 scholarship, in honor of Phillips’ service to Raytheon and his commitment to local communities, is the first of its kind for STEM students at the New England campus.
The Tom Phillips/Raytheon archives span his 42-year career with the company and include a collection of photographs (featuring photos with five United States presidents), videos, speeches, letters, articles, copies of his 11 honorary degrees, an original Amana microwave, a model of the Hawk missile and relevant publications from his career at Raytheon.
“As a real friend and a great board member, Tom has played an absolutely crucial role in making Gordon what it is today,” said R. Judson Carlberg, president of Gordon College. “We are grateful for his commitment to our students with both his archives and this scholarship, particularly for students whose circumstances might present challenges or obstacles to their education. He understands that the young leaders forged here at Gordon—who receive a rigorous liberal arts education that is also deeply Christian—are exactly the leaders needed in business, education, the sciences and arts, and the Church.”
For over 40 years Phillips served on Gordon’s Board of Trustees while also serving in leadership roles at the Raytheon Company and nonprofit organizations and ministries. He joined Raytheon in 1948 as an engineer and retired in 1991 as chairman and CEO. He and his wife, Gert, have consistently supported and encouraged Gordon students, faculty and staff.
“Tom Phillips is a pathfinder in many ways: engineer, family man, leader, inspiration, mentor and someone who has always given back to his community,” said Swanson. “It’s our honor to recognize Tom’s long-standing commitment to country, company and community with this endowment to Gordon College.”
The Phillips/Raytheon scholarship is a part of Raytheon’s commitment to support STEM education through its MathMovesU program, an initiative designed to engage middle school students in math and science, helping to create the next generation of innovators for the United States. The Gordon College scholarship joins a list of MathMovesU-based projects, including the “Sum of All Thrills” attraction with Disney, which combines the excitement of Disney ride technology with the challenges of engineering; Raytheon’s sponsorship of “The Hall at Patriot Place,” which helps relate math and science education to sports; and Raytheon’s role as the title sponsor of the annual MATHCOUNTS National Competition.
Both announcements about the Phillips/Raytheon archives and scholarship were made on May 30, 2009, at the Gordon College community celebration Life, Leadership, and Legacy: A Tribute to Tom Phillips. The event, which took place at the Ken Olsen Science Center (pictured, top and bottom), also featured a film highlighting his various accomplishments as well as speeches from friends such as Chuck Colson of Prison Fellowship, Richard Gross, former president of Gordon College, Joanna S. Mockler of World Vision, and Armand M. Nicholi, M.D., of Harvard Medical School.
For more information on the Tom Phillips/Raytheon archives or scholarship, or for information on Gordon College, contact the Office of College Communications at 978.867.4752, or visit www.gordon.edu/archives.
