Avnet Express' Drive for Innovation Steers into Salt Lake City to Fund Science and Technology Education for Students at Academy for Math, Engineering and Science

PHOENIX and SAN FRANCISCO, May 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Science and technology students from the Academy for Math, Engineering and Science (AMES) in Salt Lake City, Utah will be presented with a check for $500 on May 23, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. to help with the purchase of much needed educational materials. This donation is made possible by the Drive for Innovation – an inspired initiative in partnership between UBM Electronics, the daily source of essential business and technical information for the electronics industry's decision makers, and Avnet Express, the e-Commerce engine for Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT). 

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During its year-long, cross-country road trip, the Drive for Innovation has been making pit stops at innovation hubs all across America. AMES is one of them. This public charter high school partners with the University of Utah to help students go beyond what is normally possible in a typical high school environment. Many students graduate from AMES with a year's worth of college credit in areas as physics, math, chemistry, writing, and humanities, in addition to their normal high school diploma. AMES was founded as part of Governor Leavitt's New Century High School Initiative to give Utah high school students greater access and opportunities for advancement in specialized fields of study for a better Utah, especially into the worlds of technology, math, science and engineering. 

"On behalf of Academy for Math, Engineering and Science, I would like to thank Avnet Express for investing in our students. This donation will enhance the educational experience of our students and help them gain the technical skills necessary to compete in the global economy," said Brian McGill, principal, Academy for Math, Engineering and Science.

"It is a privilege for us to give back to the local community and showcase Avnet Express' commitment to education," said Brian Fuller, editorial lead, Drive for Innovation. "We are very excited to meet with the students from the Academy for Math, Engineering and Science. We hope our visit fuels their learning now and for years to come."   

"The Academy for Math, Engineering and Science's philosophy and passion for encouraging students to participate in science, technology and engineering is truly inspirational," said Beth Ely, senior vice president, Avnet Express. "Through this donation, it is our hope that these students are able to continue to expand upon their education and ultimately become a part of the new generation of American scientists, engineers and innovators."

AMES joins University of Pennsylvania and University of Massachusetts Amherst, as well as Thomas Jefferson High School, Girls Leadership Academy of Arizona, Brooks County High School, Xavier College Preparatory and High Tech High International as educational stops on the Drive for Innovation, where Fuller discussed innovations in the electronics industry with students. In addition, the Drive for Innovation, through a University Grant program, sponsored 20 students from San Jose State University to attend UBM Electronics' DESIGN West conference in March.

Since July 2011, the Drive for Innovation Chevrolet Volt has been making periodic stops throughout the journey, where Fuller, the driver of the Chevrolet Volt, has been interviewing engineers, entrepreneurs, innovators and students, and blogging and posting video updates about his experiences. The trip details the electronic innovations behind the Chevrolet Volt and the future of plug-in electric cars. The multi-faceted program is anchored by a website that features content from the road trip, a drive tracker and an interactive map that highlights the tour as well as games and prizes to fuel community engagement.

Avnet Express gives design engineers and purchasing professionals online access to the world's largest catalog of electronic component products, which tops five million parts. Avnet Express offers parametric searching capabilities and the ability to upload a bill of materials (BOM) for easier sourcing of products and a consistent global platform of localized content. The site can be accessed in nine languages and 13 currencies.

Check www.driveforinnovation.com for upcoming locations and to sign up to follow the stories and request that the Volt pull into your town or city for a visit. To learn more about Avnet Express, visit avnetexpress.com. To follow the "Drive for Innovation" and the Chevrolet Volt as it travels across the United States, visit www.driveforinnovation.com. Follow the "Drive for Innovation" on Facebook and Twitter.

About Avnet Electronics Marketing
Avnet Electronics Marketing is an operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. that serves electronic original equipment manufacturers (EOEMs) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers in more than 70 countries, distributing electronic components from leading manufacturers and providing associated design-chain and supply-chain services. The group's website is located at www.em.avnet.com.

About Avnet, Inc.
Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers in more than 70 countries worldwide. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended July 2, 2011, Avnet generated revenue of $26.5 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.

About UBM Electronics
UBM Electronics is the global leader in media and marketing solutions for the electronics industry, delivering results for the key influencers and decision makers involved in the design, development, and commercialization of technology through its market leading brands, peer communities, and professional education services. More than 2.2 million engineering professionals engage with UBM Electronics brands which include EE Times, EDN, Design News, Test & Measurement World, TechOnline, EBN, DataSheets.com, Designlines, and Embedded.com across the globe to accelerate technology sales. The international electronics community gathers at UBM Electronics market leading events such as the Embedded Systems Conferences, DESIGN, DesignCon and ARM Technology Conference to share, learn, discuss, and advance the critical issues and challenges facing the electronics industry. Additionally, UBM Electronics provides end-to-end services ranging from next-generation marketing, integrated media, custom solutions and research. UBM Electronics is part of UBM (UBM.L) a global provider of media and information services for professional B2B communities and markets.

For more information, go to www.ubmelectronics.com; follow us at @ubm_electronics to get the latest UBM Electronics news.

For more information on UBM Electronics please contact:
Felicia Hamerman, Vice President, Marketing
T: 516.562.5652, E: felicia.hamerman@ubm.com

For more information on Avnet Express please contact:
Bethany Helvie, Public Relations, Avnet Electronics Marketing
T:  480.643.7183, E: bethany.helvie@avnet.com

SOURCE UBM Electronics