Teens Re-Examine Goals, Future, Place in World Nearly One Year After Sept. 11; 'State of Our Nation's Youth' Report to be Announced

8/1/2002

From: Anthony Hutcherson, Arnold Landers, or Kesha Hutcherson, all of the Horatio Alger Association, 301-753-4384

News Advisory:

A new comprehensive national survey of young Americans ages 13 to 19 provides new insights into what teens across the country say affect their lives and futures. The report reveals how the tragedies of September 11th figure greatly among the most important events of these young people's lives, and how the attacks have shaped their interactions with their community, family and one another. Other issues addressed in the report are:

-- What are the greatest pressures in a teen's life -- school, money, drugs, sex? -- Who do teens look to as role models? -- How does this year's survey compare to last year's? -- What issues most affect their education -- standardized testing, school safety, parental involvement, jobs and family pressure? -- What factors most affect teen's post high school choices -- job, college, military?

The report compiles the results of the national survey conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates on behalf of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. This marks the seventh consecutive year the association has issued the report. "Each year this report allows us a remarkable look into how the young people of America see their world," remarked Horatio Alger President and CEO Walter Scott, Jr.

Peter Hart, president of Peter D. Hart Research will present the survey results on Tuesday at 11 a.m. ET, August 6, 2002 from the Zenger Room in the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Hart will be joined by Dr. Vicki Baker, associate superintendent of the North Kansas City School District and six high schools students from California, Maine, Missouri, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Peter Hart and Dr. Baker will be available for interviews 9 - 10 a.m. ET and 12 - 2 p.m. ET. To arrange an interview contact 301-392-6053. Topics Hart and Baker can address are:

-- What is the State of Our Nation's Youth survey designed to measure? What were the results?

-- (To the teen panel) How did the survey show today's youth coping in a post 9/11 world?

-- What findings in this year's surveys differ from prior years? Any surprises?

-- How a survey like this helpful to educators and parents?

-- Where can someone access the survey results?

The Horatio Alger Association is a non-profit educational association providing more than four million dollars in college scholarships annually through the generosity of its membership. For more information about the Association visit http://www.horatioalger.org.