Campaign at a Glance
Stay In School Campaign 2008:
The North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals is concerned about the high dropout rate of Hispanic students from high school. Approximately five out of 10 Hispanics students drop out of school.
The 2008-2009 video contest is the first initiative of its kind directly involving students in the process of creating public service messages impacting their entire generation.
The video contest is open to middle and high school students in the North Carolina public school system. The students are encouraged to think creatively about ways to effectively convey “stay in school” messages to their peers which will be captured in a video they create of 30 seconds or less.
Prizes will be awarded to the highest quality submissions which contain a compelling, creative message and effectively communicate the message of staying in school and graduating from high school. The student(s) producing the top three video works will receive cash prizes plus gift certificates in the amounts of $500.00 (first prize), $300 (second prize) and $150 (third prize). The top video/announcement winners will also be given the opportunity to make a public service announcement based on their video or to have the actual video aired on the TV Hispanic Station Univision 40.
In addition to launching the video contest, as a part of the Stay in School campaign, the Society will distribute a campaign poster “Your Life, Your Future, Your Destiny… Is Now… Stay in School!” and will promote wide dissemination of a “graduation pledge” students are asked to read and sign. In further recognition of the need to address educational issues amongst Hispanic youth, on Friday October 17 the Hispanic Achievement Conference “Crossing the Bridge Together” will take place at the McKimmon Center on the NCSU campus. One conference objective is to empower education leaders and teachers with a better knowledge of the Hispanic student population and the factors that interfere with their educational performance.
Marco Zarate, President of the North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals (NCSHP) pledges full support of the organization in finding solutions and implementing strategies and programs to keep youth in the schools. The “Stay in School” campaign reaches more than 25,000 students and their parents. The video contest has the potential to reach substantial numbers of Hispanic youth.
Video Contest Flyer-English Version
Video Contest Flyer-Spanish Version
2002 Launching Ceremony
Raleigh, NC, September 4, 2002
At a ceremony at the Exploris Museum in Raleigh, NC., the North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals (NCSHP) kicked off the first phase of their Stay in School Campaign "Tu Vida, Tu Futuro, Tu Destino...Es Ahora...¡Edúcate! (Your Life, Your Future, Your Destiny...Is Now...Stay In School!
Following a reception at the facilities of Exploris, Ms. Anne Bryan, President of the Museum welcomed the more than 180 people attending the ceremony. "It is necessary to go beyond this campaign. In order to be successful, our youth have to finish at least high school"...said Ms. Bryan while offering the support of the Exploris Museum to the campaign.
This campaign, sponsored by Nationwide Foundation and Nationwide Insurance, and supported by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), is aimed at educating and convincing Hispanic youths and their parents of the importance of staying in school, graduating from high school, and pursuing a higher education.
The campaign will run during the Hispanic Heritage month (September 15 – October 15) and will be covered in certain areas of the state by local newspapers in Spanish, local Hispanic radio stations, and local cable TV Hispanic programs.
Also, campaign posters will be distributed to all middle and high schools, and handbooks explaining the importance of education will be made available in October to selected public schools.
"...No doubt that education is the key to success, no doubt that with education the future of Hispanic youth in North Carolina will be brighter. Today is only the start of our campaign, but this campaign should be a continuous endeavor and effort that should never end"...said Marco A. Zárate, President and Co-founder of NCSHP.
The ceremony was attended by several personalities, including First Lady Mary P. Easley, who stated that in the last three years, the percentage of Hispanic students in public schools has increased up to 75%. "...In the same period, the amount of students of English As Second Language (ESL) has doubled, and the interesting part is that more than 80% of them are Latinos"...said Ms. Easley.
Dr. Nolo Martinez, Director of Hispanic/Latino Affairs of the Governor’s Office, read Governor Easley's Proclamation below, which proclaims September 15 - October 15, 2002, as "LATINO STUDENT STAY IN SCHOOL CAMPAIGN MONTH" in North Carolina.
Other participants, such as the H. Consul of Mexico in Raleigh, Carolina Zaragoza-Flores, discussed the importance and role of the parents in the education of their children.
Other personalities attending the NCSHP campaign's kick off included Priscilla J. Maynor, Senior Assistant to the State Superintendent Dr. Michael E. Ward, and Bill McNeal, Superintendent of the Wake Co. School System, among others.
The logo, message, poster and public service announcement of the campaign was presented by Marco A. Zárate, President of NCSHP and Ms. Susan Valauri, Director of Government Relations of Nationwide Insurance.
"...At NCSHP, we believe we have a moral responsibility to help our Hispanic children to realize their dreams, including the dream of getting an education"...said Marco A. Zárate.
"...In the school year 2000-2001, 1,258 Hispanic students finished high school, but also more than 1,042 students dropped out...that's the reason because we are here tonight"...said Marco A. Zárate before introducing to the audience the logo for the campaign.
Governor's Proclomation
