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Success Story Content (450-650 words)
Title: 4-H ExCEL (Exploring Careers, Education and Leadership) for Workforce Readiness
Summary
In today’s uncertain economic times, high school youth face unique challenges and must be better prepared
to make decisions and actions now that will ensure a successful post-high school education and subsequent
career. And while career exploration and education is essential to help teens prepare for the inevitable world
of work, it must involve more than workplace skill development. Career education must inform youth of the
challenges of adult life (Byers, 1996). Local and national statistics show that unemployment and unemployment
among college graduates since 2009 is alarmingly high. A 2012 Gallup poll found that 46% of young adults 1829 are unemployed or underemployed (Gallup, 2012). The unemployment and underemployment of youth with
only a high school education is even higher
Youth must have strong job skills; clear understanding of various career paths, financial literacy, and strong
interpersonal skills if they are to achieve success in both post high school education and future careers. Career
development, for most people, is a lifelong process of engaging the work world through choosing among
employment opportunities made available to them. Each individual undertaking this process will be influenced
by many factors, including the context in which they live, their personal aptitudes, and educational attainment
(Bandura, Barbaranelli, Caprara, & Pastorelli, 2001).
To address these issues the 4-H ExCEL program was developed in partnership with the Oregon zoo to provide
high school youth interested in animal sciences with experiences in exploring education paths, leadership and
career options for helping
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Develop a realistic plan for their future education and career
Increase their knowledge, skills and attitudes about a variety of post secondary education and career
paths in animal sciences;
Feel prepared and confident for their future education and career paths;
Use this information to make changes or adaptations to their current post high school education and
career plans.
Youth were recruited through 1) Oregon Zoo teen staff supervisors; 2) teachers and school staff from schools
who currently partner with the Oregon Zoo Teen Staff programs; and 3) high school 4-H members. Oregon Zoo
Staff who oversee teen volunteer programs are partners in this program. Staff from 4-H, the Oregon Zoo and
Zoo partner schools distributed flyers and social media to promote the program. Scholarships were provided to
those youth who cannot afford the full cost of training.
The 25 hour training included seminars, a college campus tour, student team presentations, and take home
assignments. A key component of the program was to expose youth to other options in animal careers beyond
vet medicine and zoology.
Through this program, teen participants explore career options in animal sciences, learn how to select the best
college that meets their needs, discover how to creatively fund their education, and identify what steps they
can take now while still in high school to ensure they are successful in pursuing their education and career
paths.
Results from the last class evaluation demonstrate participant satisfaction and short-term impacts Students
found the career presentations valuable and had already begun to apply the knowledge they learned in the
program.
In 6 month follow-up survey, participants noted that after the program they were more confident in their ability
to select a career that fits them and prepare competitive applications. They knew more about how much their
education would cost and had taken steps to select a post-high
school educational program. A three-
year study of the impact of this program is still ongoing .
Contact Information
Maureen Hosty
www.4hwildlifestewards.org
OSU Extension Faculty
4-H Youth Development
College of Public Health and Human Sciences
Oregon State University
Portland Metro Area Snap Ed and 4-H
5444-B SE International Way
Portland, OR 97222
PH 503-657-7385 | cell 503-360-6060 | fax 503657-7384
maureen.hosty@oregonstate.edu
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