PHOTOS: Baldwin Students Learn Importance of Workforce Skills

students teamed up with AT&T employees on Tuesday to participate in the AT&T/Junior Achievement Worldwide Job Shadow Initiative, a five-year effort to increase high school retention and workforce readiness.

Now in its third year, the initiative has reached more than 92,000 students, according to a statement from AT&T.

Twenty-five students from Baldwin High shadowed AT&T employees on Tuesday to learn about some of the company's operations in Pittsburgh, including management, sales support and customer service, as well as the kinds of skills that AT&T employees need on the job.

Tuesday's event was especially unique in that the students who participated are refugees enrolled in the 's English as a Second Language program. The event was designed to give those students a deeper understanding of American culture and work life. The students represented a variety of countries, including Nepal, Somalia, Bosnia, Russia and Kenya.

AT&T and Junior Achievement's $5.5-million Worldwide Job Shadow Initiative has, since 2008, provided job shadow opportunities for 342 students in Pennsylvania.

"Our successful partnership with Junior Achievement provides students in Allegheny County and across Pennsylvania with career exploration activities that help motivate them to stay in school and achieve meaningful careers," said J. Michael Schweder, the president of AT&T Pennsylvania.

Dennis Gilfoyle, a resident and the president of Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania, added, "Our mission in western Pennsylvania is to reach all children with a fundamental message of hope and opportunity through the programs and partnerships we create at Junior Achievement.

"We are very proud of our job shadow initiative and the direct impact it has on the future of local high school students, and we are grateful for the support we have received from AT&T to make this project happen."

Ninety-one percent of students that have participated in the initiative feel that the experience made them more aware of career options, according to AT&T, and 88 percent of the students feel that participating made them realize the importance of staying in school.

The initiative is part of AT&T Aspire, a $100-million philanthropic commitment launched by AT&T in April 2008 to address high school success and workforce readiness.

For more information about the AT&T/Junior Achievement Worldwide Job Shadow Initiative, visit www.att.com/jobshadow.

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