YMCA and KnowHow2GO Announce Radio PSA Contest Winners

YMCA and KnowHow2GO Announce Radio PSA Contest Winners

Teens use creativity to inspire their peers to make college dreams a reality

CHICAGO, June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Winners of On the Air, Off to Orlando -- a radio public service announcement (PSA) contest for college-bound students in middle and high school -- were announced today by YMCA of the USA and KnowHow2GO, an innovative multimedia campaign designed to help young people take practical steps toward making their college dreams a reality.

The contest is part of a larger partnership between KnowHow2GO and YMCA of the USA to promote college access among low-income students and those who will be the first in their families to pursue higher education. Launched in March 2007, On the Air, Off to Orlando encouraged students to participate as teams at Ys across the country to write, perform and produce radio PSAs telling their peers how to prepare for college.

The teams worked with YMCA leaders from local YMCA Black and Hispanic Achievers programs, as well as other Y teen initiatives, to create and submit their PSAs. A panel of judges from the American Council on Education, Lumina Foundation, the Ad Council and YMCA of the USA evaluated the entries and determined first-, second- and third-place teams. The winners are:

-- First place: "At the Mall," submitted by the North Community Branch
YMCA in Minneapolis
-- Second place: "Listen Up," submitted by the Black Achievers Branch of
the YMCA of Greater Boston
-- Third place: "Show Me the Way," submitted by the Wilmington (N.C.)
Family YMCA

The first-place team won an all-expenses-paid trip to the YMCA's Black and Hispanic Achievers Teen Leadership Summit in Orlando June 8-10. Second- and third-place teams received gift cards.

"We were thrilled with the creativity the students displayed in developing these radio spots and believe their efforts will help convince even more teens to take action now to make college a reality in the future," said David Cournoyer of Lumina Foundation. "We hope it will also show the students that their ideas and voices can make a difference."

Entrants in the On the air, Off to Orlando contest were asked to address one or more of the KnowHow2GO campaign's four simple steps for postsecondary education preparedness:

1. Be a pain-in a good way. Find an adult who can help you navigate the
steps to apply to college. Let everyone know you want to go to
college, and don't stop until you find someone who can and will help
you.
2. Push yourself. Colleges require you to take certain classes in high
school. Find out which classes are necessary and sign up. Also, to
improve your chances for admission, boost your GPA if needed or sign
up to participate in school clubs and activities.
3. Find the right fit for college. Think about interests and activities
that you enjoy. Explore colleges with programs that suit your
interests.
4. Get your hands on some $$$. There's money out there to help pay for
college. Apply for it! If you need help, ask an adult or a peer who
has gone to college.

"There may be four key steps to prepare teens for getting into college, but there are many more creative ways to motivate teens to action," said Gayle Brock, national director of the YMCA of the USA's Black and Hispanic Achievers Program. "These public service announcements, created by teens for teens, are just one example of what opportunity and support can produce."

For more information, or to listen to the winning PSAs, visit KnowHow2GO.org.

About KnowHow2GO: Big dreams and good grades aren't enough to get into college. KnowHow2GO is a national public service campaign designed to inform young people about the actual steps they need to take to make their college dreams a reality. The campaign includes television, radio, print, outdoor and interactive advertising. It is sponsored by Lumina Foundation for Education, American Council on Education and the Ad Council. Visit KnowHow2GO.org for more information.

About YMCA of the USA: YMCA of the USA is the national resource office for the nation's 2,617 YMCAs, which serve nearly 20.2 million people each year, including 9.5 million children under the age of 18. YMCAs unite men, women and children of all ages, faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income levels. From urban areas to small towns, YMCAs are collectively the nation's largest nonprofit provider of child care and afterschool programs in nearly 10,000 diverse communities and neighborhoods across the U.S. A place for people to belong, YMCAs have proudly served America's communities for nearly 160 years by building healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Visit http://www.ymca.net/ to find your local YMCA.

CONTACT:
Diane Hurles
Donor Relations Manager
YMCA of the USA
312-419-8374
diane.hurles@ymca.net

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: YMCA of the USA

CONTACT: Diane Hurles, Donor Relations Manager of YMCA of the USA,
+1-312-419-8374, diane.hurles@ymca.net

Web site:

http://www.ymca.net/

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