FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Penn Foster CEO Stuart Udell Appointed Chairman of The National Dropout Prevention Center/Network
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SCRANTON, PA, January 7, 2009 — The National Dropout Prevention Center/Network (NDPC/N), Clemson University, South Carolina, has named Stuart Udell, CEO of Penn Foster, Inc., Chairman effective January 1, 2009.
Udell has served as NDPC/N Vice Chairperson for two years and has been an executive board member for six years.
“I am proud to continue my relationship with the NDPC/N in this new capacity. I’m looking forward to continuing the goals initiated by our previous chairman John Murray and working with the board to develop and implement strategies that will address our high school dropout crisis and fulfill the mission of the Center,” Udell said.
Called by many a “Silent Epidemic,” the high school dropout rate has become disturbingly high. According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are 1.2 million recent high school dropouts. And many experts believe that the dropout rate is likely to increase substantially through 2020 unless significant improvements are made.
“If the graduation rate does not improve,” states Jay Smink, Executive Director of the National Dropout Prevention Center/Network, “this nation faces a crisis of major proportions—where communities will no longer have competent workers to do the jobs of the 21 st century, and where societal problems—crime, teenage pregnancy, increased welfare, alcohol and drug abuse, health problems—will be on the rise. All of these issues are related to the school dropout problem.”
The NDPC/N is playing a significant role in stemming the tide by providing schools and communities with effective solutions that can reduce the number of dropouts. Its mission is to increase high school graduation rates through research and evidenced-based solutions.
Udell also serves as CEO of Penn Foster, Inc., one of the oldest and largest distance learning institutions in the world. Included in the Penn Foster family is Penn Foster Virtual High School, one of the nation’s leading distance high school providers with 45,000 active students.
“Penn Foster and the NDPC/N, to a great extent, share a common mission,” Udell added. The National Dropout Prevention Center/Network works to improve opportunities for all young people to fully develop the academic, social, work, and healthy life skills needed to graduate from high school and lead productive lives. “At Penn Foster Virtual High School, we offer students the opportunity to earn their high school diploma by providing an alternative to traditional classroom learning. We deliver a supportive, self-paced online environment, where our students are free from the pressures and frustration that can at times accompany traditional secondary study and lead to their leaving the academic system. In many cases, Penn Foster Virtual High School is precisely the kind of opportunity our students needed to complete their high school education, graduate, and lead a successful life.”
About NDPC/N
The National Dropout Prevention Center/Network (NDPC/N) was begun in 1986 to serve as a clearinghouse on issues related to dropout prevention and to offer strategies designed to increase the graduation rate in America's schools. Over the years, the NDPC/N has become a well-established national resource for sharing solutions for student success. It does so through its clearinghouse function, active research projects, publications, and through a variety of professional development activities. In addition, the NDPC/N conducts a variety of third party evaluations and Program Assessment and Reviews (PAR). For more information on the NDPC/N go to www.dropoutprevention.org.
About Penn Foster
Penn Foster College, Penn Foster Career School, and Penn Foster High School are part of Penn Foster, Inc., a global leader in distance education. For more than 117 years, Penn Foster has been providing career-focused training programs in the fields of health care, business, technology, automotive technology, and select trades. Each year more than 140,000 national and international students enroll in a Penn Foster degree or vocational program. Nationally and regionally accredited Penn Foster High School serves more than 40,000 online students seeking individual courses or a complete diploma program. Penn Foster College (www.PennFosterCollege.edu) is headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ. Penn Foster Career School (www.PennFoster.edu) and Penn Foster High School (www.PennFosterHighSchool) are headquartered in Scranton, PA, with regional offices in Montreal, Canada.
Penn Foster, Inc.
CONTACT: Michelle Dempsey of Penn Foster, (570) 961-4641
Michelle.Dempsey@pennfoster.edu |