American Graduate Day: Let’s Make It Happen
WITF has launched a local multimedia series in support of “American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen,” a national public media initiative supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to help Central Pennsylvania and other communities across America to address the high school dropout crisis. This project is supported locally by Orrstown Bank, The Harrisburg, Mont Alto and York Campuses of Penn State, and York College.
WITF is one of more than 60 public media and television stations around the country that are working directly with their communities to address the dropout crisis. WITF and “American Graduate” project partners have developed a blend of TV, radio, online and community engagement efforts designed to raise public awareness and offer solutions to increase Central Pennsylvania high school graduation rates.
“Education has always been at the center of public broadcasting and WITF’s mission,” said Cara Williams Fry, Senior Vice President of Content at WITF. “That’s why we are proud to be a part of this important national initiative and are honored to work with the local community to make sure Central Pennsylvania students stay in school and graduate. We cannot allow a generation of our young people to fall through the cracks.”
“Every year, one million of our nation’s young people make the life altering decision to drop out of school resulting in severe consequences for their future and our country,” said Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of CPB. “Through the ‘American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen’ initiative, America’s public radio and television stations – locally owned and operated – are engaging local non-profit partners, business leaders, parents and teachers to help young people stay on the path to a high school diploma.”
WITF’s “American Graduate” initiative will kick off with a series of “Stories of Champions” profiles. They will highlight the achievements of remarkable educators from the region. The profiles will air on WITF TV and will be available online at witf.org/AmericanGraduate.
WITF will also hold a special “Stories of Champions” event on Thursday, October 1, 2015, at the Public Media Center in Harrisburg. The event will recognize educators featured in “Stories of Champions” profiles. RSVP is available online.
Watch American Graduate Day: Let’s Make It Happen on WITF TV Saturday, October 3, 2015 from 11a-6p. Visit AmericanGraduate.org for more information.
