Contact: Lisa Deffendall • First Posted: Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Washington, D.C., August 10, 2006 – The National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP), in partnership with Booz Allen Hamilton, recently convened its Youth Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. Now in its fourth year, the Summit provides an opportunity for student scholars to contribute to the ongoing dialogue on education reform.

NCCEP received applications from students around the country who are participating in GEAR UP, the nationwide program designed to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in college. Deloreon Burton of Paul L. Dunbar in Lexington, Kentucky was one of 34 student scholars selected, based on academic achievements, leadership roles, and letters of recommendation.

The four-day Summit program included a series of leadership development and team building activities, along with facilitated discussions designed to bring out the students' perspectives on what educators should consider when designing strategies and programs aimed at improving student achievement. Among the key recommendations in the students' final report were:

• the creation of information centers to help students and families find and easily access materials on college and postsecondary education; and
• the creation of an organization to provide peer and adult mentoring, workshops, and support for middle and high school students.

Joseph Suarez, Director of Community Relations at Booz Allen, said, "At Booz Allen, we believe it is imperative for business to support education. We rely on a well-prepared, capable, adaptable, workforce to meet our clients' needs. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to support education and organizations that serve students' needs. That's why we're proud to partner with NCCEP on the Youth Leadership Summit, and with other organizations that support our country's youth."

NCCEP, a non-profit organization committed to creating and sustaining K–16 education partnerships, works to increase academic achievement and access to higher education for economically disadvantaged students. By building broad-based partnerships, linking schools and communities, developing new initiatives, supporting proven programs, and using research findings to create successful frameworks for action, NCCEP aims to invigorate the principle of equal educational opportunity for all, and to help improve K-16 education in the United States. For more information about NCCEP, visit www.edpartnerships.org.

For information about GEAR-UP in Fayette County, visit http://www.fcps.net/gearup or contact Angela Roberts.