#DECAATTPROJECT
YEAR IN REVIEW
#DECAATTPROJECT
REWIND In true DECA fashion, DECA members from across the country leaped into this school year with a “Here We Go” theme and accomplished some of the most incredible educational feats. From participating in local DECA events to quickly changing plans to attend a virtual International Career Development Conference (ICDC) and host virtual graduations and proms—DECA members found a way to overcome so many challenges. Through each of these moments, AT&T volunteers continued to inspire our students and remind them to reach their highest potential. Mentoring took on a new meaning as community champions hosted virtual sessions within their working groups, virtually judged team presentations, and recorded industry sessions through Nepris. As one student mentioned, “With DECA and AT&T, new doors have opened and I’ve been able to have more opportunities that others may not have.” This sentiment, along with others like it, has allowed the #DECAATTProject to reach the #NextLevel and bring us to the year ahead.
PROJECT PARTICIPANTS
12,139 STUDENTS SERVED
9,830 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN MENTORING EVENTS AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND/OR REGIONAL LEVEL
2,309
STUDENTS COMPRISED THE TRADITIONAL #DECAATTPROJECT, WHICH INCLUDED 26 SCHOOLS IN 17 STATES 2 | #DECAATTProject Year in Review
A total of 12,139 students were served throughout the year. Of these students, 9,830 participated in mentoring events at the local, state, and/or national level through DECA’s competitive events and special on-site college and career workshops. In addition to participating in unique #DECAATTProject functions, students in this category also engaged with AT&T volunteers through dedicated Employee Groups (EG) and business units as described throughout the report. In addition, 2,309 students comprised the traditional #DECAATTProject, which included twenty-six schools in seventeen states. The demographics of the #DECAATTProject are described as follows:
77% 56% 44% 72%
SELF-REPORTED MINORITY POPULATION
MALE
FEMALE
RECEIVED FREE OR REDUCED MEALS
EACH INTERACTION MATTERS In collaboration with DECA partner, the National Research Center for College and University Admissions (NRCCUA), students in #DECAATTProject completed surveys designed to determine the impact of the project on students’ college and career plans and their readiness for each. The results are included below:
Working with Ms. Uloma and the other AT&T oxyGEN volunteers has helped me to greatly improve my confidence and better my leadership skills. This project has allowed me to realize how much I love DECA and how impactful working with the volunteers is to my future. With the help of the volunteers, I am now an officer in my DECA chapter and I’m excited about the upcoming school year.” DECA member, Tyee High School, WA
95%
88%
Attained 21st Century Skills: collaboration, communication, creativity & critical thinking
Reported that DECA participation academically prepared them for college and a career
86%
87%
Felt empowered to become an effective leader
Helped to recognize the benefit and responsibility of community service
84%
94%
Connected school to the real world
94%
Learned how to communicate thoughts and ideas
93%
Gained skills in problem solving
Learned to work as part of a team
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PROJECT OUTREACH
DECA students, AT&T volunteers and project supporters utilized social media to promote their project highlights throughout the year. As schools across the country transitioned to online learning in March, platforms such as Nepris made virtual mentoring a reality. As the school year came to an end, five schools participated in virtual sessions with mentors. Students, teachers and mentors were all pleased with this alternative to their scheduled in-person sessions.
#DECAATTProject
VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT AND SATISFACTION
Throughout the year, 386 AT&T mentors engaged with students at over 149 events nationwide. Not only did mentors participate in a variety of school events, host on-site workshops, and judge at DECA conferences, volunteers continued to connect with students by scheduling virtual mentoring sessions and brainstorming online engagement ideas with educators.
92%
OF VOLUNTEERS SELFREPORTED THAT THEY WOULD MENTOR AGAIN NEXT YEAR
100%
OF INTERESTED VOLUNTEERS CONSIDERED A VIRTUAL MENTORING FORMAT FOR THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR
THE SCHOOLS
Twenty-six schools were selected to participate in the #DECAATTProject based on the following criteria: • •
• •
A student population that matched the AT&T target audience Local DECA chapter advisor and school administration support of the program goals and responsibilities State DECA advisor support of the program goals and responsibilities Proximity to AT&T offices and volunteers
Gulfport High School, Gulfport, MS Northeast High School, Kansas City, MO Riverview Gardens High School St. Louis, MO Terry Sanford High School, Fayetteville, NC
Decatur High School, Decatur, AL
Edison High School, Edison, NJ
Wenonah High School, Birmingham, AL
Cleveland Heights High School, Cleveland, OH
Northglenn High School, Louisville, CO
North High School, Akron, OH
Overland High School, Aurora, CO
RB Stall High School, Charleston, SC
Smoky Hill High School, Denver, CO
Overton High School, Memphis, TN
Lyman High School, Longwood, FL (Orlando area)
South Houston High School, Houston, TX
Campbell High School, Smyrna, GA (Atlanta area)
Townview High School, Dallas, TX
Langston Hughes High School, Fairburn, GA (Atlanta area)
Woodrow Wilson High School, Dallas, TX
Borah High School, Boise, ID
WT White High School, Dallas, TX
Streamwood High School, Schaumburg, IL (Chicago area)
Tyee High School, SeaTac, WA (Seattle area)
Madison Park High School, Boston, MA
Poca High School, Poca, WV (Huntington area)
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#DECAATTPROJECT IN THE CLASSROOM XANDR
To kick off the school year, DECA students embraced a pilot mentoring program with AT&T’s advertising analytics divsion, Xandr. This project encouraged DECA students from select areas to be mentored in small groups by Xandr employees to discuss college and career readiness. This creative program allowed students the chance to explore internship opportunities and challenged them to better understand a new side of the corporate world. I must say that I really enjoyed being part of the DECA team at Northglenn High School. I found the students to be very engaging and inquisitive. I enjoyed the material and the conversations that went along with it. It is unfortunate that COVID-19 put an abrupt end to these sessions. Hopefully, we will be able to participate again in the future.”
CORPORATE REAL ESTATE, REAL ESTATE OPERATIONS & FINANCE TRANSFORMATION
Seeing a need in their community for students to become more financially competent, AT&T volunteers collaborated with DECA to engage a student cohort at a Dallas school. Within small groups, students and volunteers discussed the importance of financial literacy, investment opportunities, inclusion, and obtaining financial success. These topics not only allowed DECA students to expand their self-worth, but also aided students in DECA competition.
Andy Mutter, AT&T Senior Engineering Manager, CO
When the idea of this program bloomed, I had no way of knowing how we were going to implement. With the collaborative efforts of Joel Lang AVP- Finance, Community Engagement, DECA, the Townview School of Business Administration, and finally, the support and generosity of all the AT&T volunteer mentors, it was a successfully impactful program. It takes the type of commitment exhibited to make a program such as this significantly meaningful for all.” Tameka Jackson, AT&T Area Manager- Environment, Health & Safety, TX
BELIEVE DALLASSM
A new project, Believe DallasSM, sought out an opportunity with DECA to engage the local homeless and the homeless insecure student populations. By working in a school with a similar demographic, AT&T mentors met once a month to instill the importance of life skills, such as financial success, goal setting, and college and career exploration. Through these sessions, students benefitted by networking with the mentors and accessing need-based resources through AT&T’s programs and organizations.
CUSTOMER CARE TEAM
To better prepare students for college and career success, AT&T call centers hosted one-day skill workshops for DECA students across the country. In this pep rally-like atmosphere, DECA students excitedly connected with each volunteer to discuss topics like resume building, networking skills, and team building. These interactive sessions provided a safe space for students to work with each other and problem solve real world scenarios and explore career paths.
The #DECAATTProject has proved to be an invaluable experience for Madison Park Technical High School in Boston, MA. Our AT&T Community Champion has proved to be an excellent role model for our students, especially our female students. They have been empowered to strive towards achieving their educational and professional goals, while maintaining integrity and staying true to themselves. This program has strengthened the confidence of all of our students, while providing valuable networking opportunities. We look forward to continuing our relationship!” Donna McFadden, Massachusetts DECA Association Advisor
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#DECAATTPROJECT IN THE CLASSROOM PRO BONO
DECA was thrilled to be invited to take part in AT&T’s Pro Bono Week for a fourth consecutive year. A cadre of AT&T attorneys and legal professionals shared their experiences with students discussing topics related to education, career paths, and the importance of law in business operations. Students were able to use these helpful tips to prepare for DECA’s Business Law and Ethics competitive event. In total, 14 attorneys participated in one of the six events across the country.
OASIS
INFORMATION AND DATA TEAM
Working with AT&T Employee Group, OASIS (Organization of Asian Indians at AT&T), DECA students from select areas across the country were immersed into the world of entrepreneurship during one-day corporate workshops. Not only did students learn the tips and tricks of starting a business, they also discovered the qualities of becoming a successful entrepreneur through discussions with AT&T employees and local industry professionals.
Even with new job responsibilities and work groups, employees continued to build strong foundations with project schools and created lasting memories with the students. More than 30 volunteers engaged in mentoring sessions with students, ranging from juniors to seniors, to develop life skills as they begin their college and/or career journey. Students were joined by mentors on college visits, trips to AT&T facilities, and innovative community events.
oxyGEN
The oxyGEN program at Tyee High School embraced a new normal as in-person mentoring transitioned to a virtual setting. This dynamic collaboration continued to shine as students remained connected to their mentors through conferencing platforms, with the goal of learning life skills and developing insight into the professional world.
When Suzanne and I first started, we started a relationship with a great teacher. I’ve never seen a teacher so encouraging and willing to do whatever it takes for these kids to get a real shot. That encouragement is inspiring. I really hate that our school year was put to a halt abruptly, because not only do we get the opportunity to teach them, but each one of them has something to teach us. We are so grateful to be apart of this program and be a mentor while also getting inspired by these wonderful kids.” Jen Ludwig, AT&T Senior Specialist – Systems Administrator, MO
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AT&T STEPS IN DURING PANDEMIC
As schools across the country began closing their doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students and teachers quickly began adjusting to distance learning and new instructional methods. Luckily, DECA and AT&T were there to help! Coming to the rescue as creative collaborators, AT&T mentors, Community Engagement staff and DECA educators immediately began brainstorming creative ways for students and mentors to stay connected. Many AT&T volunteers were trained through Nepris, an online platform that virtually connects industry professionals around the world with students, to bring real-world relevance to daily learning, in short, 30-minute micro engagements.
I just wanted to thank you so much for providing my DECA chapter with these resources during the health crisis. I am very appreciative and grateful for everything that AT&T does for us here at Gulfport. I decided to give my gift card to my dad to help him pay for gas. Once again, thank you for helping me and my family out financially. It truly is a blessing, and the little things mean a lot.” DECA member, Gulfport High School, MS
In addition, through a generous contribution from the AT&T Foundation, students in the #DECAATTProject and their families received assistance from DECA to meet their immediate needs during the pandemic. The students and their families are grateful for the contributions to ensure that they can continue learning and eating during this time.
Thanks for taking time out of your day to think about me and my family during these hard times. My family and I appreciate it a lot, as well as all you’ve done for me and my peers throughout the year. From teaching us how to be successful to helping us with competition-- I will use everything I learned through #DECAATTProject and my business classes to continue to grow. Hopefully, I will be successful one day and I will never forget the people who helped me achieve that. Thanks for everything again.” DECA member, Overland High School, CO
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PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: LATER HATERS DECA students banded together to join AT&T in the promotion of online positivity by taking part in a movement to drive awareness about cyberbullying. Through a student video challenge and a chartered association pledge challenge, DECA students made their voices heard as they pledged to be online champions in their local communities. To stop the hate and spread the love, DECA chapters across the country used their creativity and social media following to ignite a movement in their local communities and peer groups. After watching a series of AT&T lessons designed to inform and empower students in the fight against cyberbullying, students were encouraged to create a unique public service announcement (PSA) and execute a Later Haters pledge drive at their schools. From working with school administration to host Later Haters Day, driving activity over morning announcements and social media, to writing an article for a local newspaper—DECA students were up to the challenge to change their online community. As the challenge concluded, AT&T graciously awarded challenge winners for their originality and participation. With AT&T’s support and DECA’s remarkable execution, DECA secured over 17,200 pledges!
OVER 17,200 PLEDGES
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#DECAATTPROJECT STUDENT’S STORIES
MEET JAMARIA
MEET HUGO
I have been a member of R.B. Stall’s DECA program for two years now. I’m extremely grateful to be in a club like DECA. It has changed my life for the better. Not only have I started to grow out of my shell, but I’ve learned tips on how to work in large groups, speak publicly, and the ins and outs of the business world. In addition, I am entirely grateful for AT&T, the sponsors for our DECA club, and one of the only reasons I stayed in the club.
Being a part of DECA and the #DECAATTProject has opened the door to so many new experiences for me. It has made me a better communicator, a better student, and an overall better person. I have opened up so much since I joined DECA. I’m more talkative and I’m more out of my comfort zone because of this organization.
With AT&T’s support, we had many experiences without a financial burden. From the visits to the AT&T facilities, the mentoring events, and the DECA trips—our chapter was able to have a true DECA experience! It wasn’t until I qualified for state competition that I realized how lucky I actually am. At conference, it is an eye-opening and humbling experience to see the differences in resources many students, including me, endure. It made me realize that not all schools have the support we have. Just the thought of having to pay for everything that DECA provided made me light-headed. My family is already struggling with money and I would hate to be a burden to them. So, from me, my family, and all the other families that AT&T is so graciously helping… thank you. Another thing that I’m thankful for from the #DECAATTProject is interacting with Mr. Jack Mitchell, our AT&T mentor! This amazing man took the time out of his day to come and help ONE student at one LOW PERFORMING high school accomplish her dream. That one student is me. Mr. Jack made me feel confident. He made me feel like I could walk onto any stage with no fears in the world. Thanks to his inspirational and empowering speeches, the entire club always left each session motivated to conquer any obstacle. Though this school year didn’t end as planned and we could not thank Mr. Jack at our end of year program, we are so happy to be working with him and the other AT&T volunteers. Thanks to all of them we are looking forward to our bright futures.
I first became interested in DECA when Mr. Hoots, Overton High School marketing teacher, took me to the AT&T corporate building in Memphis. I had so much fun! Working with the AT&T mentors and my DECA peers, I have not only found the courage to compete, but embrace a new version of myself. At competition I support everyone, regardless of whether they are from my school or not. Through my experiences working with AT&T and Mr. Hoots, everyone needs support. I didn’t have a place to fit in before DECA and had thought about dropping out of school. The AT&T project helped me because my family are immigrants and we do not have a lot of money. Though, I felt like giving up multiple times, this experience has pushed me past my mental capabilities and that made me move all the way to state competition this year. I now have the confidence to run for DECA office.
“THANK YOU,
AT&T AND DECA.”
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#DECAATTPROJECT STORIES AFTER GRADUATION
MEET YESSICA
MEET ALEJANDRA
As I near the one-year anniversary of my employment with AT&T, I’ve come to realize how working for AT&T has positively impacted my life.
The word “Opportunity” has been the driving force behind my academic success. I come from a single-parent household, and have seen my mother work two to three jobs day and night to provide for us. Witnessing my mother’s hardships and lack of opportunity to finish high school has shaped me into the responsible, mature, and driven young woman I am today.
Since graduating from high school, I’ve found myself on a quest to become the best version of myself. To do so I’ve begun reading self-development books, investing in my image and taking self-care to a whole new level. I was extraordinarily lucky to have had the opportunity to be employed by a Fortune 500 company right out high school. One thing AT&T has taught me that holds near and dear is the importance of listening. At my store, people of all walks of life enter with unique situations. As a friendly expert, I have the opportunity every day to listen to our customers and make them feel heard. The better we listen, the more we understand. The more we understand, the better we can design a custom solution that our customers love! This applies in other areas of life too; people love a good listener. Another great thing about AT&T is the work-life balance. It is for that reason I’m able to attend college at Elgin Community College while working. I am currently in the process of obtaining a digital marketing degree I wish to someday use with AT&T. The arrival of COVID-19 has made us change the way we interact with our customers. Face masks are now mandatory, and we clean so rigorously and so frequently that Mr. Clean would be proud. This has demonstrated how crucial it is for business to stay nimble and adjust to situations that impact the way we do business. I am grateful for my DECA experiences in high school and for the participation in the #DECAATTProject that helped me secure a rewarding job while continuing my education. As I further my education, I strive to be a better person and better AT&T employee. Yessica Leon, 2019 graduate of Streamwood High School, Illinois and current AT&T employee and student at Elgin Community College.
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I was brought to this country at the age of four. At a young age, I walked alongside my mother through the mountains connecting the U.S. and Mexico. Our journey lasted three days. We dealt with the climate conditions surrounding us, sleeping on the ground on cold nights and walking as far as we could under the burning sun during the day. We each had only what we were wearing and shared a gallon of water and one backpack of food. Being labeled illegal and looked down upon as I grew up in America has been the hardest challenge I’ve had to overcome. Since elementary school, I remember feeling as if I had to show my worth in this country every second of the day. Resiliently, I held on to my dream of going to college after high school and being undocumented wasn’t going to stop me. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I gained documentation through the U visa. At the start of high school, I had a goal of knowing what I wanted to study in college by senior year. This goal is what led me to join Mrs. Vinther’s marketing class and DECA my sophomore year at Tyee High School. Throughout my three years in DECA, I blossomed from a shy and scared girl to a young promising leader who is confident in anything she puts her mind to. I held leadership positions, competed in DECA events at the local and national level, and attended DECA’s International Career Development Conference (ICDC). Additionally, through my engagement with AT&T mentors, I was grateful to be awarded a scholarship that allowed me to pay a portion of my tuition at Highline College. Now, a year later, I have graduated from Highline College with my Associate degree in Business and will be transferring in the fall to attend The Michael G. Foster School of Business at the University of Washington to pursue a bachelor of science in finance. All this would not have been possible without the guidance and encouragement of my DECA advisor, as well as the constant support our DECA chapter received through AT&T providing funds, volunteers, and mentors.
LOOKING AHEAD TO
2020-2021
STUDENT IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
In response to the need for virtual events and engagements in the months ahead, many students and mentors will participate in a virtual internship project. AT&T Community Champions and project teachers will collaborate to design unique projects for students. Each project will span the course of the semester or school year and will focus on a business need or realistic need in the local community. With guidance from mentors during monthly virtual sessions, students will work in small groups throughout the year. In addition to their project work, students will receive tips from mentors on virtual communication skills and other skills to prepare them for college and careers. The culmination will be a presentation to a large group of mentors.
The project continues to grow and evolve as mentors provide engaging elements and provide experiences beyond the classroom for students across the country. The plans for the academic year ahead include a deeper dive into AT&T’s community initiatives and providing additional opportunities for students and champions to collaborate on innovative projects.
REFLECTIONS “This experience has been so rewarding for all of the mentors as well. At first everyone was hesitant and not sure what this would entail but everyone has told me many times that they are so happy that they volunteered, and they have learned so much from the students” Lori Chapman, AT&T Community Champion, NJ
“This experience has truly touched my heart and brought me to tears! It is such a great pleasure knowing that our team has made a great impact to the DECA members. I am proud and not surprised to learn that three students placed top three in the international AT&T/DECA Later Haters Challenge (they are awesome). All of the students are AMAZING and I am looking forward to working with everyone once again!” Jessica Winfrey, AT&T Community Champion, TN
“We will never be able to repay the generosity of time and financial support that AT&T has provided our DECA chapter. The kids ask about our community champion, JD, all the time. We hope to continue this dynamic relationship and hopefully have a get together early August.” Dianna Preteroti, DECA Advisor at South Houston High School, TX
“AT&T, thank you for your support during this pandemic. I truly appreciate the kind gesture. This school year was going really well before the outbreak and I am proud to have joined DECA. I also want to thank my teacher, Charles Tucker. Recently, I made the decision that I’d join the military after high school. Currently, I don’t know which branch I’d like to enter, but I am interested in the US Army. As previously stated, thank you all for this opportunity.” DECA member, Gulfport High School, MS
“ I cannot thank you enough, as it is an entire school community that educate students: mentally, emotionally, socially, financially, and academically. Thank you for being a part of Woodrow Wilson’s School Community and a huge contributor to our students/families’ success!”
“Me and my family deeply appreciated the amount of support you’re giving to the students during this situation.” DECA member, Overland High School, CO
Latisha Cole, Assistant Principal at Woodrow Wilson High School, TX
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