In early March, 25 Business Honors students toured government and defense contractor Raytheon’s McKinney, Texas, unit. There they played with thermal imaging devices (what one student called “real James Bond technology”) and heard from Raytheon VP Colin Schottleander.

Raytheon leaders also detailed the company’s financial leadership development program, in which recent graduates spend six months in four company divisions to get a feel for the business. The company employs 80,000 worldwide and posted $21.5 billion in sales in 2005.

Junior accounting major and honors student Zach Neal said he was drawn to the work environment at Raytheon, which focuses on employee satisfaction to retain workers on top-security projects. “Raytheon would be an excellent company to work for,” he said. “Employees get to experience first-hand the latest in defense technology and make a difference in protecting the United States.”