Statewide campaign encourages students to think about their future and “Go for it!”

( DOVER, DEL.) April 27, 2007 — Can I find a job that I love? Can I get into college? Can I find money for college? These are just a few of the questions high school students ask as they look to the future and wonder if —and how—they can achieve their dreams for careers or college.

“Yes You Can!” is the answer coming from the Department of Education (DOE), which launched a campaign by that name at its Student Success Summit in Dover today.

Developed with input from students, parents, teachers, college professors and employers, the “Yes You Can! Campaign supports DOE’s Reaching Higher for Student Success initiative to ensure that Delaware students graduate prepared for success in college, work and life. It will feature an interactive website, posters, and other engaging communication tools to motivate and assist students as they plan for the workplace or college.

“Through this campaign, we’re giving students the encouragement they need to think about their future and go for it. We’re inviting them to open a door to the possibilities. Find out about career and college options. Get excited about life after high school and realize that they can be successful. There’s a whole world of opportunity out there and we’re here to help them explore it,” said Education Secretary Valerie Woodruff.

The new website, www.yesyoucande.com, will go live in May. It will offer a variety of career and college planning resources, including Delaware job information, resume samples, career exploration, education & training opportunities, links to Delaware’s colleges and universities, online applications, scholarship and financial aid information, and a section for parents, to name a few.  New information and resources will be added to the website on an ongoing basis.

A series of “Yes You Can!” posters to be displayed in Delaware public high schools show students imagining their dream jobs, and direct them to the website to find out more. The tagline is: “It’s Your Future! Go for it!”

Other aspects of the campaign will include a “What’s Your Dream Job?” video promotion, and a MySpace site for Delaware high school students and alumni to participate in a dialogue about life after high school.

“We gathered a lot of input from students about what kind of messages would motivate them, and how they want to receive information,” said Woodruff. “This campaign is all about engaging students and offering them the support and resources they need to be successful adults.”

The campaign will also include outreach activities to get parents, teachers, educators, and the business community involved in the effort.

Reaching Higher for Student Success and the “Yes You Can!” campaign is funded in part by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, through the National Governor’s Association’s Honor States Program. Delaware is one of 10 states to be awarded a $2 million grant.