CLEVELAND - More than 150 Cleveland, East Cleveland and Euclid high school students will compete in the Youth Career Olympics from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16 at Tri-C's Eastern Campus. Held by Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.) with support from a cross-section of local businesses, this 10-event* competition engages at-risk teens in honing their job-readiness and job-seeking skills as a foundation for future success.

The Youth Career Olympics theme, "Life is a Journey," reflects the profound pathway Y.O.U. has built over the last 20 years via its work with urban school systems to increase graduation rates and breathe life into the local economy through workforce development. Events ranging from decision-making to job interviewing and public speaking will be judged by business and community leaders, including Margaret Wong, attorney, Margaret W. Wong & Associates; Danny Williams, Director of Workforce Programs, Greater Cleveland Partnership; Margaret Bernstein; features editor, Plain Dealer; and Lisa Oliver, KeyBank Cleveland District president.

Eighty-six percent of students participating in Y.O.U. programs graduate from high school versus the average high school graduation rate of 40 percent. Last year, Y.O.U. helped more than 4,400 youth complete high school, acquire entry-level jobs and set achievable goals in planning for success and pursuing further education or training.

Y.O.U. President Carol Rivchun says unconventional events like the Youth Career Olympics are critical for today's youth to secure their economic futures.

"We're just scratching the surface in terms of tapping these students' potential," says Rivchun regarding the future well being of youth currently facing barriers to successfully completing high school, such as low grades; families at or below the poverty line; poor classroom attendance; or risky behaviors. "There's just no substitute for the kind of motivation and pride these kids feel when receiving medals, applause and encouragement from the 30 corporations involved in the competition."

Vice President, Business Banking Sales Manager Wesley Gillespie is one of five KeyBank employees coaching student competitors at Cleveland's East High School. Gillespie calls his experience at the bank's partner school humbling.

"Today's youth must grow up just as career-wise as they do streetwise," says Gillespie. "How quickly we forget what little we knew back then in trying to make sense of what came next in our lives. Those of us who consider high school a stone's throw away from independence, should think again. Many students already bear heavy responsibilities for sustaining their current homes and families. For some, 'A life of my own' just isn't in their vocabularies.

"From a career standpoint, there's some incredibly raw talent here, and the chance to help these kids gain perspective, confidence and apply themselves is extraordinary. It's easy to see that, no matter how 'at-risk,' these students are of some of smartest future professionals and business owners in Cleveland's classrooms today."

Lead sponsors of the Youth Career Olympics include FirstEnergy Foundation, KeyBank, Matco Tools and Minutemen Staffing. Major supporters include Dominion East Ohio Foundation; Medical Mutual; The Ohio Lottery Commission; and Swagelok. Other supporting organizations include the Greater Cleveland Partnership, Harvard Business School of North Eastern Ohio; Jones Day; Lincoln Electric; National Machine; Thompson Hine; USBank; and Zinner & Company.

*Youth Career Olympic Events:
1. Employment Test: Student demonstrates knowledge of general employability skills, including career vocabulary and basic math.
2. Job Interview: Student demonstrates skills in a simulated employment interview situation.
3. Employment Application: Student uses knowledge of application techniques to complete an application form for a fictional applicant.
4. Program Design: Student creates a program cover for the 2005 Youth Career Olympics, based on this year's theme, "Life is a Journey."
5. Community Service: Student team presents a display of the community service activities he/she performed.
6. Corporate Team Challenge: Team of students and their corporate mentors compete in game-show format, answering questions on the world of work, college, and current events.
7. Telephone Technique: Student demonstrates ability, using a telephone call, to secure an appointment for a job interview.
8. Decision-making: Student uses decision-making skills in situations related to employment, peer groups, and school situations.
9. Visual Display: Student is given a specific theme this morning and demonstrates creative talents by making a visual display or poster right on the spot.
10. Oral Communication: Student demonstrates public-speaking skills in a three- to five-minute speech on the 2005 Youth Career Olympics theme, "Life is a Journey."

Youth Opportunities Unlimited
Youth Opportunities Unlimited is Northeast Ohio's largest youth workforce preparation nonprofit organization. Since 1982, Y.O.U. has placed over 43,000 young people in jobs where they earned $35 million and helped about 125,000 at-risk youth ages 14 and up stay in school through to graduation, the first major step in preparing for a successful career. Visit www.youthopportunities.org or call (216) 566-5445 for more information.

KeyBank

KeyBank

KeyCorp's roots trace back 190 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $176.2 billion at March 31, 2021. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,100 branches and more than 1,400 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC. 

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