HUNTSVILLE — Yep! That was a couple of UFOs you saw hovering over downtown Huntsville yesterday and they are not going back to where they came from anytime soon.
If any little green creatures crawl out, they will have to demand they be taken to the nearest Lockheed Martin engineer.
It was the finale of Engineers Week, a national, yearly celebration of the positive contributions engineers make to society, and Lockheed Martin and Downtown Huntsville Inc. partnered to land the UFO fixtures in Washington Park.
“This project is exciting because it allows us to continually bring our employees into the community to make a lasting impact,” said Stephanie Bastiaans, Government Relations representative for Lockheed Martin. “Our employees were a part of the creative design process for a permanent install in Downtown Huntsville; and that’s something tangible that they can see and touch for years to come.
“It’s important to provide these opportunities to employees and there’s something very powerful about leaving your mark in your community.”
The light fixtures, shaped like glowing UFOs, were designed by Lockheed Martin engineers through a special design contest hosted during last year’s Engineer Week. They were illuminated for this year’s celebration.
The lamps are part of several art installations sponsored by Lockheed Martin to support community revitalization and beautification. Other projects included a utilities box art project in Huntsville and a mural in Courtland.
Approximately 35 community members attended the event. They were encouraged to bring a lock to hang on the Washington Park arch and were treated to the Downtown Huntsville Secret Art Tour, led by DHI.
E-Week is also a push to encourage students to focus on careers in STEM.
As one of the area’s largest employers with 2,933 employees in 23 facilities across Alabama, Lockheed Martin said growing the next generation of STEM professionals is a priority.
“Lockheed Martin supports local workforce development and academic partnerships through initiatives like an apprenticeship program and a robust college and high school internship program,” said Bastiaans.
Last summer, Lockheed Martin Space employed 59 college interns and six high school interns at its Huntsville site.
“Inspiring the next generation is a big part of why we celebrate Engineer’s Week each year,” Bastiaans said.
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