Wyman Teen Leadership Program Boosts Success Rate for Local Students

ST. LOUIS, May 7, 2007 – The seriousness of the nation’s high school dropout rate, which has recently affected St. Louis and cities across the country, has prompted First Lady Laura Bush and national experts to gather with MTV: Music Television for a national summit on May 9, 2007, in Washington, D.C. The “National Summit on America’s Silent Dropout Epidemic” will seek solutions to help students stay in school. Local students are already benefiting from two nationally recognized signature programs designed by a St. Louis non-profit to engage teens after school.

Wyman’s Institute for Youth Development announced today that its Wyman Teen Leadership Program’s second class will achieve a 100 percent graduation rate in May 2007. The nationally recognized, five-year program is offered at no cost to area students ages 13-18. Each member of Wyman’s first graduating class received a diploma and 72 percent now attend college.

“With many parents working longer hours to make a living for their families, students are being left alone after school. These are make-or-break hours for teenagers and too many of them make poor choices that lead to dropping out,” said Wyman President and Chief Executive Officer Dave Hilliard.

The Wyman Teen Leadership Program provides a support network for students in financially disadvantaged circumstances. Parents, school counselors, and Wyman staff routinely check in with the student. The program includes a month in residence at its Eureka-based campus each summer, along with a year-round support system and ongoing opportunities for the teens in their home communities for five consecutive years. Wyman prepares the teens to lead successful lives and to build strong communities.

“The quality of our schools is a hot topic today, and rightfully so,” said Hilliard, “but supporting the student when they’ve left the school building is equally important.”

The Brookings Institution recently endorsed another innovative Wyman teen initiative called Teen Outreach Program (TOP). The Brookings report titled “Cost Effective Investments In Children” included TOP as part of a comprehensive recommendation to balance the federal budget.
Teen Outreach Program (TOP) empowers teens to prepare for successful adulthood and avoid problem behavior in an after-school environment that is delivered locally and replicated nationally. The program combines classroom/group discussion with community service and currently reaches over 12,000 teens in the United States, Virgin Islands, and the United Kingdom. Teens nationwide who participate in Wyman’s TOP program experience a 60 percent lower dropout rate.

Wyman is a nationally recognized youth development organization that is preparing youth from disadvantaged circumstances to lead successful lives and build strong communities. Its innovative programs are powerful and effective, and the staff is highly acclaimed and committed to preparing today’s youth. Wyman’s approach is comprehensive — drawing together many influences on a young person’s life and engaging them in their development. Results are evident by the achievements and bright future of youth in Wyman programs and the communities in which they live. Wyman Center, Inc., is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization sponsored by corporate, foundation, and individual contributors. For more information, please visit www.wymanteens.org or contact us by calling (636) 938-5245 or by e-mailing us at info@wymancenter.org.