FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Results Are In: Innovative Program Making Difference in Lives
Dallas Elevators Powered by Coca-Cola student earns $5,000 scholarship, plus five others receive paid summer internships
DALLAS (May 21, 2009) – High school juniors and seniors participating in the inaugural Dallas Elevators Powered by Coca-Cola program are going all the way to the top. More than 60 members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas worked throughout the year to elevate themselves in the classroom, at home, and in the community. On Thursday, students enrolled in the program were recognized high atop the city of Dallas at Reunion Tower at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
Program results, compiled by Heart of a Champion, a non-profit character development organization based in Colleyville, indicate significant improvement in measurable areas of attitude and behavior, including:
• 92% of students now consider their performance
at school to be above average to very good
• 22% increase in the student’s ability to
communicate with their parents
• 16% increase in students who consider
themselves to be good examples
• 18% increase in the student’s motivation
to succeed
• 12% increase in belief that they can now
reach their goals
During the ceremony at Reunion Tower, Ben Lawson, Director of Independents - South Region with Coca-Cola of North America, said the results of the program were very encouraging.
“This program is one of the most exciting projects in our community,” said Lawson. “Coca-Cola wanted to be involved in an endeavor which would dramatically influence the lives of students and ultimately have a profound impact on our community. Dallas Elevators Powered by Coca-Cola has demonstrated that students are receptive to elevating their lives if given the right tools and access to business leaders and role models.”
Tough-to-come-by Jobs and College Money for Students
Dallas Elevators members have been earning points throughout the year for participating in program activities. As the top point-earner, Bianca Williams was awarded a $5,000 college scholarship from Coca-Cola. Williams is a high school senior and a member of the East Dallas Boys & Girls Club. She plans to study art at Howard University this fall.
Inspired by the progress of program participants, Coca-Cola is funding five paid internships for Dallas Elevator students at local Boys & Girls Clubs this summer. After submitting an application and completing an interview, the following students involved in Dallas Elevators Powered by Coca-Cola were selected:
Uriel Carrasco, Senior & East Dallas Member
Alishia Givens, Senior & Grand Prairie Member
Marcus Greer, Junior & Oak Cliff Member
Stephanie Hayes, Junior & Mesquite Member
Marquinta Miller, Senior & Oak Cliff Member
Hours of Job Shadowing for Lifetime of Ambition
This unique program, the first of its kind in Dallas, kicked off last fall with the aim of nurturing Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas members and providing interaction with top leaders via once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Students participated in more than 60 unique experiences this year.
Students’ experiences have taken them from behind-the-scenes at a Dallas Stars game with Mike Modano to appearing on a popular Dallas radio station with Victoria Snee, and cooking in a five-star kitchen with Chef Felipe Gaytan to learning more about the business world from Terdema Ussery, president of the Dallas Mavericks.
“I never thought I would have an opportunity like this,” said Api Rincon, a Dallas Elevators participant who shadowed Chef Felipe Gaytan of Via Real for a day. “I am really glad I was able to take this opportunity and learn real world experience from a successful chef.”
Alishia Givens, a Dallas Elevators participant who is also the Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year in Texas, had the opportunity to see behind-the-scenes and obtain on-air time at Mix 102.9 and the former Movin’ 107.5 radio stations. In her blog, Givens wrote, “I’ve been looking forward to going back since the day I left! I can’t wait!”
Students’ blog entries are available at http://www.dallaselevators.com/blog/.
More Results
The core mission of the Dallas Elevators Powered by Coca-Cola program is to encourage students to elevate their skills in the classroom, at home, in extra-curricular activities or wherever their interests lie.
One element of the Dallas Elevators program is a comprehensive pre- and post-program assessment that provides measurable results regarding the efficacy of the program. Specifically, the assessment seeks to measure the change that takes place in students at home, in the classroom, with friends, and in the way they view themselves.
In their home lives, students reported a significant increase in their ability to communicate with their parents (22 percent), and to be leaders in their own family (26 percent). In the classroom, 92 percent of respondents felt their performance was above average or very good. In situations with friends, 96 percent felt that they were now influencing friends to make better choices or do the right thing. Participants showed a 26 percent decrease in frustration about their own circumstances.
Dallas Elevators Powered by Coca-Cola is lining up opportunities for a new season to kick off in September. Companies interested in offering one-time experiences for young people in the Dallas Elevators Powered by Coca-Cola program should email carolyn@aardvarktx.com with “Dallas Elevators” in the subject line.
Interested high school students should check with the nearest Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, which includes clubs in Dallas, Mesquite, Richardson, Coppell and Grand Prairie. More information is available at www.dallaselevators.com.
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