News release describing a job shadow event held at AT&T offices in Akron, Ohio on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 which marked the AT&T/Junior Achievement Job Shadow Initiative reaching 100,000 students nationally as part of the AT&T Aspire program.
1. AT&T JOB SHADOW INITIATIVE REACHES 100,000 U.S. HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS— INCREASING HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS AND
COLLEGE/CAREER READINESS
AKRON-AREA STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM INITATIVE AND COMPANY LOOKS
FORWARD TO EXPANDED JOB SHADOW UNDER NEW $250M AT&T ASPIRE
COMMITMENT
AKRON, Ohio, March 28, 2012 — As part of a nationwide celebration, students from Buchtel
High School, Firestone High School and Garfield High School in Akron; Stow-Munroe Falls
High School in Stow; and Norwayne High School and Wayne County Schools Career Center in
Wayne County teamed up with AT&T employees to celebrate the milestone of reaching
100,000 students nationwide to help reduce the high school dropout rate, through the
AT&T/Junior Achievement (JA) Worldwide Job Shadow Initiative, a pillar program of
AT&T Aspire's first four years.
AT&T Aspire is already among the most significant U.S. corporate educational initiatives with
more than $100 million invested since 2008 to focus on high school success and workforce
readiness for students at-risk of dropping out. AT&T recently announced a $250 million
expansion of Aspire to help more students graduate from high school ready for careers and
college, and to ensure the country is better prepared to meet global competition.
The Akron event was held at the AT&T facility at 50 West Bowery Street, one of 62 locations
across the country simultaneously holding events to acknowledge the accomplishment and to
encourage employees to participate in the company’s first ―Bring Your Student to Job Shadow
Day.‖
Ohio was one of 41 states that participated in the Job Shadow program. Since the program
launch in 2008, more than 500 North Central Ohio students have teamed up with AT&T
employees to connect the dots between success in the classroom and life.
In the groundbreaking report, The Silent Epidemic, Perspectives of High School Dropouts, four
out of five students indicated that making a clear connection between their classes and getting
a job would have helped them stay in school.
―Equipping our students to graduate ready for the workforce is an important issue for students,
our company and our country. Without key college and career readiness skills, students miss
out on significant work and life opportunities,‖ said Margaret Williams, AT&T Area Manager of
External Affairs. ―Our company and every American business needs an educated workforce to
compete globally — our economic future depends on it.‖
AT&T employees have dedicated more than 270,000 volunteer hours to help high school
2. students learn the educational background and skills they need to succeed on the job – thus
making AT&T/JA Worldwide Job Shadow Initiative J.A.’s largest corporate Job Shadow
program to date.
Building on the success of AT&T’s first Job Shadow Initiative, a key component of Aspire,
AT&T will create an evolved Job Shadow program in which employee-student teams learn
work/life skills, explore real business problems and form lasting relationships. This Job
Shadow program will be part of Aspire Mentoring Academy, launching in fall 2012.
AT&T Aspire, already among the most significant U.S. corporate educational initiatives with
more than $100 million invested since 2008, will expand its effort by using technology to
connect with students in new and more effective ways, such as with interactive gamification,
Web-based content and social media. The company will also tap the innovation engine of the
AT&T Foundry to look for fresh or atypical approaches to educational obstacles. Finally, AT&T
Aspire will capitalize on the power of personal connections in the form of mentoring,
internships and other voluntary efforts that involve many of AT&T’s approximately 230,000
employees.
Links
Web Site Links: Related Media Kits:
AT&T News AT&T Aspire
AT&T Foundry
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio
Related Releases: Related Fact Sheets:
AT&T Announces Quarter-Billion-Dollar AT&T Aspire: Helping Students Prepare for the Future
Expansion of Education Commitment Through
Aspire
Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this news release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that
are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. A discussion of factors that may
affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims
any obligation to update or revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or
otherwise.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T
brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in
the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the
United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest
mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-
based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless
coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also
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offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse and AT&T │DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-
based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T
Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and
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http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at
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About Philanthropy at AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives.
Through its philanthropic initiatives and working with other organizations, AT&T has a long history of supporting
projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; and address
community needs. In 2011, more than $115 million was contributed through corporate-, employee- and AT&T
Foundation-giving programs.
About Junior Achievement® (JA)
Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young
people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JA provides in-school
and after-school programs for students which focus on three key content areas: work readiness,
entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Junior Achievement strengthens our community by providing
local students with the knowledge and skills necessary for them to succeed in work and life.
For more information on local programs please call 330.434.1875 or visit www.jaofnco.ja.org.
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