FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TECH PREP BRINGS NATIONALLY

ACCLAIMED YOUTH SPEAKER TO AREA

           DANVILLE, VA, January 6, 2003 – He has appeared on NBC’s Today Show and ABC’s The View.  He is a best-selling author who has been featured in TeenPeople magazine, and contributed to two Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul books.  This month, 24-year-old Jason Dorsey, a nationally acclaimed youth motivational speaker, will bring his strategies for success to students, parents, and educators in Danville and Halifax County.                                                                                                                                                 

            The Southern Piedmont Tech Prep Consortium at Danville Community College is sponsoring Dorsey on January 16 and 17 in three sessions of his presentation, Graduate to Your Perfect Job – named appropriately after Dorsey’s book by the same title. The sessions in the DCC service area are scheduled as follows:

• January 16: Halifax County High School Auditorium, 7:00 p.m.

• January 17: George Washington High School Auditorium, 7:00 p.m.

• January 17: Danville Community College Auditorium, (Oliver Hall in Temple Building), 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., an in-service program for area educators

       DCC Tech Prep Coordinator Cathy Conner said Dorsey’s presentation would highlight “non-traditional careers” as a way to find the “perfect” job.  She said Dorsey’s specialty is helping students with career planning, curriculum selection, work experience, and mentoring.  He is also considered an expert on school violence prevention, having interviewed thousands of youth across America as well as psychology and education leaders before writing his second book, Ending School Violence: Solutions from America’s Youth.

“Many people don’t realize it, but the time for career planning is while children are still in school,” Conner explained.  “Parents can help their children review options and identify learning paths that will lead to ideal careers.”

Non-traditional careers are defined as any job in which less than 25 percent of one gender is represented.  An example of a non-traditional career for women is electrical engineering, with an average annual salary in Virginia of $61,963 according to occupational wage data supplied by the Virginia Employment Commission.  However, only 11 percent of electrical engineers are women.  For men, an example of a non-traditional career is physical therapy, with an average salary of $63,065 annually, and of which men comprise only 17 percent of the workforce.   Comparatively, the median wage in Virginia for all occupations is only $28,059.

Dorsey’s background as a child might best be described as potentially high risk.   Encountering financial and family challenges from a young age, he was forced to constantly adapt.  Teachers became the major influence in his life, and he left his rural hometown to attend college at the age of 16.  By 18, he had authored the nationally acclaimed Graduate to Your Perfect Job, which is used by thousands of schools.  Shortly thereafter, Dorsey became a much-sought-after public speaker.  To date, he has spoken in 45 states, as well as in other countries.   

According to Jack Canfield, co-creator of the New York Times #1 best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul book series, Dorsey is described as an incredibly engaging and motivating speaker. 

"I am amazed every time I see Jason speak,” Canfield said.  “His brilliant message and non-stop energy impacts every person in his audience.  As a result, they walk away energized to succeed.  Jason Dorsey changes lives and I'm his biggest fan."

Admission is free to all three session.  Dorsey’s evening presentations at George Washington and Halifax County High Schools are targeted to middle and high school students and their parents, but youth of all ages are invited to attend. In addition, the evening events will offer door prizes and free refreshments.

Conner said that attendees at Dorsey’s sessions will come away with a lot of knowledge, direction, and motivation. 

“Jason is an incredibly inspiring young man,” Conner added.  “He has turned a lot of

young people’s lives around.”

              For more information on Dorsey’s visit, contact Cathy Conner at 434.797.8520, or toll free at 800.560.4291, ext. 8520. She can also be reached by email at: cconner@dcc.vccs.edu.