Houston, TX May 3, 2005

1st Annual "I Contribute!" Challenge

Houston, TX- Project GRAD Houston, a nonprofit pre-k through 16 comprehensive education reform model serving over 48,000 students in 71 HISD schools will host its first annual “I Contribute!” Challenge May 12 from 9:00a.m.-2:00p.m.

According to Analisa Goudeau, Educational Climate Manager, the “I Contribute!” Challenge is an opportunity for students to practice shared responsibility, value-based discipline and clear communication. By performing service projects, students become active participants in their community. Students have the opportunity to perform needs assessments and use critical thinking skills to devise ways to address identified problems at school, home or in the community. The “I Contribute!” Challenge will give students the opportunity to “learn how to apply concepts such as commitment, self-discipline, respect, trust and justice to their academics,” said Goudeau.

Nearly 70 student representatives will participate in a summit meeting and will have the opportunity to experience the benefits of goal focused action and personal effort as they are recognized for their achievements. The “I Contribute!” Challenge will be held at Project GRAD Houston at 6700 W. Loop South.

Project GRAD Houston was established in HISD in 1993-1994, and has a proven track record of increasing graduation rates and improving student academic success. Project GRAD now serves 133,000 students nationally in 217 schools in Akron, Atlanta, Brownsville, Cincinnati, Columbus, Kenai Peninsula, Knoxville, Lorain, Los Angeles, Newark, and Roosevelt, New York. For more information about Project GRAD Houston, please visit www.projectgradhouston.org