AT&T ASPIRE MENTORING

ACADEMY/DECA PROJECT

JANUARY – DECEMBER 2015

Those without a high school diploma experience life-long negative impacts on themselves, their families and society. Some of the impacts include lower earnings potential, dysfunctional family relationships, less education, and lower self-esteem. However, we know that one way to overcome the negative impacts and encourage students to graduate from high school is through the presence of positive adult relationships in a student’s life. Through student mentoring, adults demonstrate and illustrate the relevance, value and importance of education for underserved student populations to ensure they will graduate from high school and have plans for their future. AT&T is commended for their recognition of the need for all students to have a high school diploma, be prepared for

college and careers, and for committing the necessary resources to achieve this goal. DECA is proud to be a collaborator

with AT&T in this important work. The DECA/AT&T project leveraged the core competencies of each organization to

improve high school graduation rates through mentoring. Using DECA’s co-curricular model as a foundation, the project

supported the Common Core Standards and 21st Century Skills. For year one, DECA and AT&T selected five markets to

pilot the project. The AT&T ambassadors and DECA advisors worked together to design innovative plans that:

• Identified needs and talents unique to their local market

• Used DECA’s Comprehensive Learning Program as their delivery model

• Included valuable assessments on student outcomes and AT&T student mentoring hours

• Collaborated with external affairs staff to tell the stories

This report details the accomplishments of our pilot project. We are pleased to report that our pilot was a clear success

for students and mentors. We met or exceeded every goal approved by the AT&T Aspire Mentoring Academy and look

forward to additional achievements and further collaboration.

2015 PROJECT

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Pilot project participants with Kristian Cosme, Manager - Credit & Collections and AT&T Aspire Ambassador for Central Florida, at the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Orlando.

THE SCHOOLSFive pilot cities were selected based on the following criteria:

• A student population that matched the AT&T Aspire Mentoring Academy (AMA) target audience

• Local DECA chapter advisor and school administration support of the program goals and responsibilities

• State DECA advisor support for program goals and responsibilities

• Proximity to AT&T offices and volunteers

The schools selected were:

• George Washington High School Philadelphia, PA

• Global Connections High School SeaTac, WA (Seattle suburb)

• Langston Hughes High School Fairburn, GA (Atlanta suburb)

• Lyman High School Longwood, FL (Orlando suburb)

• WT White High School Dallas, TX

THE STUDENTSA total of 1327 students at the pilot sites

were served directly through classroom presentations in school, AT&T work site visits, and events with AT&T volunteers.

Demographic data for the students in the project during the spring and fall semesters of 2015 revealed that :

An additional 8872 students were served through regional, state, and international events with AT&T volunteers:

• 3375 students interacted with four AT&T executives at the Texas DECA Conference and at DECA’s Executive Mentor

program at ICDC

• 5867 students interacted with AT&T volunteers serving as judges at regional, state, and international DECA events

AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE PROJECT

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67% 77% 16% 17% 8%Were ‘at-risk’ for behavioral issues

Were ‘at-risk’ for attendance

Were ‘at-risk’ for academic performance

Received free or reduced meals

Minority

THE VOLUNTEERSHundreds of AT&T volunteers in all levels of the organization and with a wide variety of backgrounds came together

to mentor students at dozens of events throughout the year. The cadre of 562 volunteers contributed a total of 28,512 hours. The participation from the volunteers enhanced student engagement in school by connecting learning to the real

world for students.

THE EVENTSAT&T ambassadors and DECA advisors worked together to plan and execute a total of 59 events over the course of the

year. The five pilot site schools benefited by multiple interactions with the AT&T volunteer mentors.

Volunteers supported DECA’s Comprehensive Learning Program by integrating their expertise and areas of specialty into

classroom instruction, hosting work site visits and serving as primary assessors in the evaluation of student competitions.

In their 24 visits to classrooms, volunteers:

• Delivered business-related presentations

• Conducted role-play scenarios in preparation for DECA

competition

• Reviewed written DECA projects for competition

• Evaluated resumes for successful job searches

• Explored careers within AT&T

In the seven work site visits, volunteers:

• Practiced interviewing skills with students

• Provided tours of the work site

• Worked with teams of students to solve problems

• Shared information about education and skills required

for professional careers

• Networked with students over lunch

In the 29 local, state and international events, volunteers:

• Judged industry-validated career events

• Presented college and career focused workshops

• Delivered a keynote address

• Mentored students as they transition from high school to

college and careers

(Left photo) Cynthia Marshall, Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer and former DECA member delivers keynote address at Texas DECA conference.

(Right photo) Carlos Blanco-Sposito, VP & GM, Mobility Sales & Service, mentors students in Orlando at DECA’s International Executive Mentor Program

Collaboration, creativity and communication being used to solve a problem during a work site visit in Dallas, TX

Volunteers assisting students in competition preparation in Seattle, WA

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STUDENT IMPACTStudents in the pilot project with AT&T mentors completed impact surveys distributed and tabulated by DECA

partner, the National Research Center for College and University Admissions (NRCCUA). The surveys were designed to

determine the effect of the #DECAATTProject on students’ college and career plans and their readiness for each upon

high school graduation.

Through the impact surveys, students reported that DECA participation motivates them for the future...

Project participants indicated that through their participation they are prepared to become leaders...

SURVERY RESULTS

87% 79% 73% 72% 67%Influenced in their college plans.

Attained 21st century skills of collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking skills.

Are academically prepared for college and a career.

Are more interested in attending school.

Influenced in their career plans.

84% 79% 79%connected school to the real world for me

empowered me to become an effective leader

helped me recognize the benefit and responsibility of community service

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5

AT&T MENTOR SATISFACTIONFollowing local, state and international events, volunteer satisfaction surveys were conducted to determine employees’

ease of executing events, their understanding of event responsibilities, and their gratification from their volunteer

activities. The results were extremely positive, and DECA leaders at all levels are grateful to the AT&T volunteers for

sharing their time and expertise so generously on weekends, evenings, and during the workday to help connect students

with business. Of those responding to surveys,

SHARING THE PROJECT AND ITS SUCCESSESAll local, state, and international efforts and activities

were connected with AT&T external affairs staff to share

components and successes of the project.

During the project year, eight articles about the

initiative were published in DECA Direct. DECA Direct

is the weekly online magazine, and it has 30,000 email subscribers which include DECA advisors, DECA

members, National Advisory Board members, and other

interested parties. During the 2015 calendar year, DECA

Direct Online boasted 838,949 page views from 222,127

users. Throughout the year, DECA also used social media

to communicate aspects of the #DECAATTProject project and share good news about the interaction with

AT&T mentors. Nearly 5000 messages were shared by

@DECAInc with a potential reach of 60.9 million users.

The culminating event of the DECA year, DECA’s

International Career Development Conference (ICDC)

in late April, featured significant AT&T presence. AT&T

had a prominent page in the conference program

distributed to 17,000 students and DECA advisors in

attendance. In addition, the opening session introduced

the AT&T project to the membership with an onstage

announcement by an AT&T ambassador, and recognition

of students from the pilot sites. The grand awards

session included an AT&T ambassador presenting

awards to the international winners in the Principles

of Business Administration and Management event,

the recommended assessment tool for use through

the project. Throughout the conference, attendees

interacted with the Women of AT&T who staffed an

exhibit booth.

95% 97% 96%stated that the DECA event they participated in was extremely well, or well organized

stated that they would volunteer again in the future for this type of experience

stated that they would likely recommend this type of event to a colleague

REWARDING

WORTHWHILE

ORGANIZED

WORDS USED TO DESCRIBE VOLUNTEERING AT A DECA EVENT:

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A PREVIEW OF YEAR II WITH THE PROJECTBased on the success of the pilot project, DECA was

honored to submit a new proposal creating a twelve-

region skills-based mentoring project leveraging the

core competencies of our national organization with the

unique knowledge and innovation of regional and local

AT&T operations. The #DECAATTProject will:

• Empower AT&T regional and community leaders,

DECA and DECA’s regional and local leaders to

design a socially innovative plan that scales the pilot

activities that serve the unique needs of underserved

populations

• Expand the focus, where possible, to include the

unique needs of students of military families and those

in rural areas

• Engage DECA’s robust delivery system to deliver turn-

key student mentoring opportunities, for up to 1500

AT&T volunteers, for up to 100,000 mentoring hours

• Use DECA’s research tools/methods to deliver valuable

assessment on student outcomes and AT&T volunteer

satisfaction

• Enhance collaboration with AT&T external affairs staff to share the story and success

The twelve project regions include the five, currently operating, programs in Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Texas, and

Washington. Additional sites in Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee

were added. Participating regions and schools were jointly selected by AT&T Aspire Mentoring Academy (AMA) and

DECA staff. The criteria for selection included: student population matching AT&T AMA target audience to include

students from military families and rural areas, DECA chapter advisor and school administration support of program goals

and responsibilities, state DECA advisor support for program goals and responsibilities, and proximity to AT&T offices and

volunteers.

The first year of the #DECAATTProject experienced great success. Having the advantage of serving students through

an entire school year in year two, a goal is to recognize gains in academic performance, and school attendance in the

underserved student population. The second year has had a promising start, and there are great expectations for a strong

second half in all areas of the project. We look forward another successful year as a collaborator with AT&T.

Mayo Flynt, President, AT&T Mississippi, mentoring students at AT&T in Jackson, Mississippi

Collaboration with an AT&T volunteer during a work site visit in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

1908 ASSOCIATION DRIVE, RESTON, VA 20191 | 703.860.5000

DECA Inc. is committed to creating and maintaining a healthy and respectful environment for all of our emerging

leaders and entrepreneurs. Our philosophy is to ensure all members, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national

origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status are treated equally and respectfully. Any behavior

in the form of discrimination, harassment, or bullying will not be tolerated. It is the responsibility of all members to

uphold and contribute to this climate.