1. For more information, contact:
Sarah Briggs,
AT&T Public Affairs
614-223-7641
sarah.briggs@att.com
Denice Schafer
Sr. District Director, Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio
Wireless: 330-503-9937
denice@jaofnco.org
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, OH, December 6, 2012 — Akron area high school students will team up with AT&T*
employees, joining thousands of their peers across the country, to participate in the AT&T / JA
Worldwide Job Shadow Initiative, a five-year effort to increase high school retention and
workforce readiness. In its fifth year, the initiative has reached more than 100,000 students.
"Education is more important than ever and our young people depend on teachers,
administrators and mentors to help them achieve inside and outside of the classroom,‖ said
State Senator Tom Sawyer. "In our highly competitive economy, we must do all we can to help
students succeed, and I am thrilled to hear about the partnership between Junior Achievement
and AT&T here in Akron.‖
Since the initiative started in 2008, more than 645 Akron area students have had the opportunity
to benefit from the AT&T / JA Worldwide Job Shadow Initiative. The initiative enables students,
grades 9-12 – as well as second-semester eighth graders, to shadow AT&T employees to see
firsthand the educational background and skills they will need to succeed on the job.
-more-
2. The acclaimed report The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Dropouts, conducted by
Civic Enterprises and Peter D. Hart Research Associates and funded by the Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation, reveals that many students dropout, despite the fact they have passing
grades. They simply don’t see the relevance of their school work today to their future life
success.
―AT&T is proud to partner with Junior Achievement on this job shadow for students right here in
Akron to showcase career exploration activities that will help motivate them to stay in school
and achieve meaningful careers,‖ said Tom Pelto, AT&T Ohio President.
On December 6, 2012, 75 students from Akron’s Buchtel’s High School are scheduled to
shadow AT&T employees at the 48 West Bowery Street, Akron location.
―This initiative is Junior Achievement’s largest and most ambitious corporate job shadow action,
impacting the lives of more than 100,000 students through this one initiative to date,‖ said Jack
E. Kosakowski, president and chief executive officer of Junior Achievement USA. ―We are proud
to collaborate with AT&T to empower young people to take charge of their future career
success—and help them make the connection between the importance of education and the
skills they need to succeed.‖
Recent findings from a report that measures the impact of the program on students show the
program is making a significant difference and is changing attitudes about staying in school:
97% of students agreed that doing well in school helps them achieve career goals.
91% of students felt the Job Shadow experience made them more aware of career
options.
88% of students felt that participating in Job Shadow made them realize the
importance of staying in school.
-more-
3. The AT&T / JA Worldwide Job Shadow Initiative, is part of AT&T Aspire, a $100 million initial
philanthropic commitment. AT&T launched Aspire in April 2008 and it is one of the largest-ever
corporate commitments to address high school success and workforce readiness.
Earlier this year AT&T announced a new $250 million financial commitment planned over 5
years to expand the Aspire program. AT&T Aspire will build on that commitment 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 employees.
For more information about the AT&T/JA Worldwide Job Shadow Initiative, please visit
www.att.com/jobshadow.
*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.
Find More Information Online:
Web Site Links: Related Media Kits:
AT&T Web Site AT&T Aspire media kit
AT&T Awards and Honors
About the AT&T Philanthropy
AT&T Job Shadow
*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. 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 and voice services. A leader in mobile
broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones
®
that work in the most countries. It also 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. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50
®
Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE magazine.
