Standley Lake High School Students Teach Senior Citizens How to Use the
Internet
DENVER, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In collaboration with AARP
Colorado, Standley Lake High School in Westminster, Colo., today will launch
an innovative program spearheaded by EarthLink (Nasdaq: ELNK), one of the
nation's leading Internet service providers (ISP), to bring together seniors,
net-savvy teenagers and the Internet.
The program, GenerationLink, is a national classroom-based initiative that
enlists high school students to teach seniors how to use the Internet.
Developed and launched by EarthLink in 2002, GenerationLink seeks to foster
intergenerational understanding by using the Internet to forge a connection
between teens and seniors.
"What better way to bring people together than through the Internet," said
Dan Greenfield, vice president of corporate communications for EarthLink.
"GenerationLink gives us the opportunity to create a dialogue between teens
and seniors in a way that enriches the lives of both generations."
"Computers can provide an important way for seniors to communicate with
family and friends. The Internet can be a lifeline connecting individuals to
new resources and information, encouraging them to be engaged, grow and meet
their ever-changing needs and interests. The Internet also can provide a
critical linkage that reduces isolation and allows more people to remain
independent and lead satisfying lives," said Audrey Duman, associate state
director for AARP Colorado.
Beginning today, GenerationLink will bring 10 local senior citizens from
the Denver area, aged 60 and above, to sit side-by-side with Standley Lake
High School students. The students will teach the seniors how to send email,
surf the Web and download attachments.
The one-hour class will run for six weeks, with the high school students
serving as Internet mentors and teachers for the seniors. In addition,
EarthLink will award a scholarship to the high school student who best
captures the essence of the intergenerational experience in an essay contest
following the six-week program.
"Teaching a vital skill like this gives students a sense of accomplishment
and furthers their understanding of the seniors' lives and perspectives," said
Tammy Weatherly, principal at Standley Lake High School. "There is no doubt
that this is how you build character among our youth, and we applaud EarthLink
for supporting this partnership."
"As a school district, we realize that our mission is not only to educate
the future leaders of our community, but also to prepare better citizens for
Colorado, as well as trustworthy and responsible human beings for the world.
Collaborations such as this between EarthLink, AARP Colorado and the Jefferson
County School District are a win-win situation. The students learn about the
importance of taking an active role in the community, and our community
seniors benefit from the care and technical expertise of our students," said
Dr. Cynthia Stevenson, superintendent of the Jefferson County School District.
To date, EarthLink has launched GenerationLink programs in Atlanta,
Orlando, Dallas and Philadelphia. As testimony to the program's success,
participating seniors continue to use email to stay in touch with faraway
children and grandchildren, while others are using the Internet to explore
information and hobbies, such as reading a hometown newspaper.
The program was created in part to address a study published in February
2002 by the U.S. Department of Commerce that found teenagers to be the most
prolific Internet users, while seniors over age 55 show a sharp drop in
Internet use.
Greenfield noted that plans are underway for launching GenerationLink
programs in additional cities. "We've seen so much enthusiasm for this program
in Atlanta, Orlando, Dallas and Philadelphia. The seniors are eager to go
online and use email, and the students are proud of their roles as teachers
and mentors -- ultimately we'd like to bring this program to more schools and
senior centers across the country," Greenfield said.
About EarthLink
"EarthLink revolves around you(TM)." Celebrating ten years as a leading
national Internet service provider (ISP), Atlanta-based EarthLink has earned
an award-winning reputation for outstanding customer service and its suite of
online products and services. According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2004
Internet Service Provider Residential Customer Satisfaction Study(SM),
EarthLink is ranked highest in customer satisfaction among dial up and high-
speed Internet Service Providers. Serving over five million subscribers,
EarthLink offers what every user should expect from their Internet experience:
high-quality connectivity, minimal drop-offs and ISP-generated intrusions, and
customizable features. Whether it's dial-up, high-speed, Web hosting, or
wireless Internet service, EarthLink provides the tools that best let
individuals use and enjoy the Internet on their own terms. Learn more about
EarthLink by calling (800) EARTHLINK or visiting EarthLink's Web site
at http://www.earthlink.net .
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to
making life better for people 50 and over. AARP provides information and
resources; engages in legislative, regulatory and legal advocacy; assists
members in serving their communities; and offers a wide range of unique
benefits, special products, and services for our members. These include AARP
The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP
Segunda Juventud, our quarterly newspaper in Spanish; NRTA Live & Learn, our
quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our Web site, http://www.aarp.org . We
have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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