Contact: Lindsay Hyman
lhyman@qorvis.com
202-683-3238

Fort Lauderdale, Florida Student Provides Opinions on Teen Survey in Washington, DC
Thomas Maranges Speaks for Nations Teens at State of Our Nation’s Youth Announcement

WASHINGTON (August 5, 2008) –Thomas “Tommy” Maranges of Fort Lauderdale, Florida spoke today in Washington, DC on behalf of teens across the country at the 10th State of Our Nation’s Youth announcement, issued today by the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. The report compiles the results of the national survey conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates. Thomas was one of six student panelists selected to give context to the study of high school students’ opinions, apprehensions and aspirations during a press conference today at The Newseum in Washington, D.C.

Tommy recently graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. In high school, he ran cross-country, where he served as co-captain of the varsity team and even ran in the 2008 Miami Marathon.  An amateur comedian, Tommy is a National Merit Scholar Finalist, a Harvard National Student Congress Finalist, a 2007 Global Issues Summit participant at Notre Dame, and was a contestant on Jeopardy! Summer Games Teen Tournament in 2007.  As a National Honor student, Tommy graduated with a 4.7 GPA and will be attending Notre Dame University, where he plans to major in Theology/Philosophy with concentrations in Ethics, Logic, and Mariology.

“I’m interested to learn what teens think,” said Tommy. “I look forward to the dialogue and varied opinions of the survey results.”

Highlights from this year’s survey include:

• Presidential Election – 75% of teens say the election outcome will make a substantial difference in the direction of the country. Students’ biggest concerns are the economy and jobs (34%), and the war in Iraq (31%).
• Global Warming – 72% of teens believe global warming is an urgent or serious problem. Caring about the environment is important to them, however the majority (58%) of teens do not consider themselves “environmentalists.”
• Education in the Global Economy – To prepare themselves for the global economy, one in three teens say the most important school subjects are science and technology, and 38% wish their schools had more up-to-date technology.
• Cyber Bullying – Of the 14.9 million American high school students, 2.4 million (16%) reported that they have been a victim of cyber bullying. A remarkable portion of teens, almost one-third (30%), now view online bullying as a greater threat than traditional bullying in schools.
• Immigration – Teens are divided on immigration in the U.S., with 49% saying that it is more of a positive force then negative, while 40% believe the opposite. Teens’ opinions on immigration are in disagreement with their parents’ opinions, with only 39% of adults in another recent survey seeing immigration as a positive force.

“This year’s survey brings us valuable insight to American teens. They are confident, ambitious and optimistic in spite of the many challenges we all face as a nation,” said Peter D. Hart, president of Peter D. Hart Research Associates. “What emerges from the research results is a portrait of a generation who believe in themselves and their abilities, despite anxieties about the country.”

Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc. has conducted more than five thousand public opinion surveys encompassing interviews with more than three million individuals over the past 30 years. This is the 10th State of Our Nation’s Youth survey that has been conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.

The telephone survey included 1,006 students in grades nine through 12 and between ages 13 and 19.  The sample of high school students was based on a compiled list provided by American Student List, the well-respected national list management firm, which specializes in maintaining lists of K-12 students.  The survey sample closely matches U.S. Government (Census and Department of Education) statistics for age, area, race, and gender.  The margin of error is ±3.1 percentage points.

“A key mission of the Association is to invest in our nation’s teens, and with this research, we continue to utilize the tools to gain an understanding of America’s teenagers,” said David L. Sokol, President and CEO of the Horatio Alger Association. “Our aim is to initiate a dialogue between teens and the adults in their lives which encourages growth, appreciation, and most importantly success.”

For more information on the State of Our Nation’s Youth report, please see the following links or contact Lindsay Hyman, lhyman@qorvis.com, 202-683-3238.

The State of Our Nation’s Youth Report in PDF form and Broadcast Quality Press Conference Video: http://www.horatioalger.org/youthreport08.cfm

About The Horatio Alger Association

Founded in 1947, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans continues to fulfill its mission of honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals in our society who have succeeded in spite of adversity and of encouraging young people to pursue their dreams through higher education. The Horatio Alger Association offers three annual scholarship programs: the National Scholarship Program and State Scholarship Programs, available to high school seniors in all 50 states, and the Horatio Alger Military Veterans Scholarship Program for U.S. veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts. The Association awards more than $12 million annually in college scholarships and has given over $63 million to deserving students since 1984. The Association is a 2008 Combined Federal Campaign participant, ID# 77062. For more information about the scholarships, please visit www.horatioalger.org.

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