ARCHER SCHOOL FOR GIRLS HONORED BY SIEMENS FOUNDATION AND DISCOVERY EDUCATION IN “SIEMENS WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD CHALLENGE”

ISELIN, NJ, April 22, 2013 — The Siemens Foundation, Discovery Education, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the College Board have named two teams of high school students from The Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles, CA, as finalists in the 2013 Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge. High school students from across the country participated in this year’s competition and were challenged to address an environmental issue related to energy, biodiversity, land management, water conservation and cleanup, and/or air and climate. Under the guidance of a teacher, Archer School for Girls students created sustainable, reproducible improvements for their community and their world using web-based curriculum tools powered by Discovery Education. Two of the 50 teams selected as finalists for the competition are from the Archer School for Girls and include the following projects: • A L Cool J - The team researched the effect of plastic six-pack rings on the ocean and decided that the best alternative material is one that becomes soft and breaks down like cardboard but whose pH, dissolved O2, and dissolved O2 levels were unaffected, like plastic. • The Fresh Princesses of BEL Archer – After establishing a material waste problem in their school, the team identified school lunch packaging as a source of the problem and discovered that if their school altered its lunch serving style, waste production would be reduced by half. As part of a rigorous three-part judging process, a panel of environmental advocates and science educators selected finalists based on the project’s ability to creatively present a viable solution to some of today’s greatest environmental challenges. Each member of the selected teams will receive a finalist certificate and a Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge green prize pack. The Archer School for Girls will also receive a congratulatory Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge banner. “These students are the new environmental guardians for our planet and will help advance policy and technological improvements that will help protect the world around us,” said Jeniffer Harper-Taylor, president of the Siemens Foundation. “The ideas we’re seeing from these young students are amazing and impactful. The Siemens Foundation and its partners are proud to honor these students and their mentors for their commitment to environmental change.” The national K-12 challenge is designed to encourage students to tackle environmental issues in their own communities and seek solutions to those problems. More than 80,000 of today’s youth have participated in the Challenge since it was introduced, proving themselves as “Agents of Change” in their own communities. In the past, Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge winners and participants have run grassroots campaigns to reduce energy consumption at their schools. Others designed a pilot program to recycle food waste to create energy and tested the program in their town. As a result of the Challenge, past students have been able to change their schools’ policies, open up their neighborhoods to new ideas and even inspire politicians to craft green legislation on both the state and national level. For more information on the Challenge, the state finalists and their projects, visit www.wecanchange.com. About Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge (www.wecanchange.com) is a premier national sustainability challenge that empowers students in grades K-12 to develop and share environmental solutions that can help change the world. The Challenge is a collaborative effort of the Siemens Foundation, Discovery Education, the College Board and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) to educate, empower and engage elementary, middle and high school students and teachers to become “Agents of Change” in improving their schools, communities and world. To date, more than 80,000 students have participated, creatively engaging their communities to find solutions to a local environmental issue or global energy challenge. All participants research their issue using scientific investigation and create a replicable green solution using web-based curriculum tools powered by Discovery Education. For more information, visit www.wecanchange.com. About the Siemens Foundation The Siemens Foundation provides more than $7 million annually in support of educational initiatives in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the United States. Its signature programs include the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement, and The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, which encourages K-12 students to develop innovative green solutions for environmental issues. In February 2010 the Siemens Foundation launched its newest initiative, The Siemens STEM Academy, a national STEM education program for teachers designed to support educators in their efforts to foster student achievement in these fields. By supporting outstanding students today, and recognizing the teachers and schools that inspire their excellence, the Foundation helps nurture tomorrow's scientists and engineers. The Foundation's mission is based on the culture of innovation, research and educational support that is the hallmark of Siemens' U.S. companies and its parent company, Siemens AG. For further information, visit www.siemens-foundation.org. About Discovery Education Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content that supports the implementation of Common Core, professional development, assessment tools, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Available in over half of all U.S. schools, community colleges and in 50 countries around the world, Discovery Education partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that accelerate academic achievement. Discovery Education is powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world, Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.