Aspiring 4-H Filmmakers Get
Boost from Motorola
 CHEVY CHASE, MD – (November 19, 2009) –The Motorola Foundation contributed $100,000 to 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) programming to expand the 4-H Filmmaking Studio & Workshop. The new online portal allows 4-H youth the opportunity to learn how to use free video editing and remixing tools to produce their own unique films.
The 4-H Filmmaking Studio & Workshop is the online space for 4-H youth to discover the tools and resources needed for filmmaking. Currently featured on the home page of the
4-H.org Web site is the “Filmmaking Workshop” – a collection of 11 short videos comprising a virtual workshop, which provides youth with the techniques needed to create their films. The site also includes a series of downloadable tip-sheets with suggestions on everything from selecting the right camera to using sound effects.
“Motorola is the ideal partner to support 4-H in the expansion of our science, engineering and technology programming,” said Donald T. Floyd, Jr., president and CEO of National 4-H Council. “We’ve had great demand for new filmmaking learning opportunities and with the expansion of our filmmaking offerings, we encourage 4-H youth to take a step forward and explore all of the new filmmaking technologies that are available today.”
This expanded partnership with Motorola will provide 4-H youth, volunteers, and staff direct access to the full suite of video editing tools developed by Kaltura. With this open source, online video platform, users will be able to upload and modify videos directly from their computer desktop, regardless of the format, without installing additional computer software.
The Motorola Foundation is proud to support an organization like 4-H with its strong commitment to youth,” said Eileen Sweeney, director of the Motorola Foundation. “By funding the efforts of the 4-H Filmmaking Studio and Workshop, we are encouraging the creativity of the next generation and we are all learning from the insights and unique perspectives they share in their films.”
The 4-H Filmmaking Studio & Workshop has quickly become a resource for short, clear and illustrative information for young filmmakers. Eighty percent of users give the site a rating of “excellent,” and would recommend it to others. As one user stated, the Web site provides “sound advice for beginners and advanced alike. Well done.”
About 4-H
4-H is a community of six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of National 4-H Headquarters (USDA). The 4-H programs are implemented by the 106 Land-Grant Universities and the Cooperative Extension System through their 3,100 local Extension offices across the country. Learn more about4-H at www.4-H.org.
About Motorola
The Motorola Foundation is the charitable and philanthropic arm of Motorola. With employees located around the globe, Motorola seeks to benefit the communities where it operates. The company achieves this by making strategic grants, forging strong community partnerships, fostering innovation and engaging stakeholders. The Motorola Foundation focuses its funding on education, especially science, technology, engineering and math programming. For more information, on Motorola Corporate and Foundation giving, visit www.motorola.com/giving
Contact
Kyle Jones, 301-961-2889, kjones@fourhcouncil.edu
2009 National 4-H Hall of Fame, Salute to Excellence Honorees to be Recognized
Chevy Chase, MD (October 27, 2009) -- On October 9, 2009, the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NAE4-HA) inducted 15 honorees from around the country into the National 4 H Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame Award recipients were recognized for their lifetime achievements and contributions to 4-H. National 4-H Council also honored two recipients with the National 4-H Salute to Excellence Award.
"National Association of Extension 4-H Agents is proud to acknowledge the outstanding 2009 National 4-H Hall of Fame honorees for the passion, dedication, vision, and leadership they’ve shown toward our young people during their many years of service to 4-H,” said Karen Hatch-Gagne, President, NAE4-HA.
National 4-H Hall of Fame honorees are nominated by their states based upon their exceptional leadership at the local, state, national, and international level. This year’s recipients are: Chester D. Black, NC; Janet A. Blanchard, MI; Sen. Saxby Chambliss, GA; H.T. Tom Davison, TX; Barbara Hatfield, NAE4-HA; Jim Kemp, NAE4-HA; Sen. C. William Nelson, II, FL; Jack Odle, AL; A. Lois Redman, KS; William F. Stevens, MN; Ella Agnew, 4-H National Headquarters; Dr. Joe Hughes, OK; Fern Shipley Kelley, 4-H National Headquarters; Rhonwyn Lowry, 4-H National Headquarters; and Tom H. Scott, LA.
The National 4-H Salute to Excellence Award is reserved for those 4-H volunteers who promote service as both an opportunity and a privilege. This year, the award was presented to two exemplary individuals: Priscilla Rice, AK and Karen Russi, FL.
The National 4-H Hall of Fame was established in 2002 as part of the Centennial Project of the NAE4-HA, and partners with National 4-H Council and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA. The ceremony was held at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Md. Learn more about National 4-H Hall of Fame events and past recipients.
About 4-H
4-H is a community of six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of 4-H National Headquarters located at the USDA. The 4-H programs are implemented by the 106 land-grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System through their 3,100 local extension offices across the country.
Contact
Kyle Jones, National 4-H Council, 301-961-2889
4-H Youth Take the Lead on Alternative Energy
New University Study: 4-H’ers Excel Beyond Peers
 Chevy Chase, MD (October 7, 2009) – Today, hundreds of thousands of young people across the nation will simultaneously create biofuel. As part of 4-H National Youth Science DayTM, middle-school-aged youth will participate in Biofuel Blast, the 2009 National Science Experiment, which teaches how cellulose and sugars in plants – such as switchgrass, sorghum corn and algae – can be converted into fuel. Following the experiment, the young participants will lead local discussions about alternative energy and join their voices with those involved in the national energy debate.
Created to combat a shortage of American young people pursuing science college majors and careers, 4-H National Youth Science DayTM seeks to spark an early youth interest and leadership in science. 4-H year-round, out-of-school programming is developed by the nation’s 106 land-grant colleges and universities and is implemented through the 3,100 local Cooperative Extension offices across the nation. Currently, more than five million young people across the nation participate in 4-H science, engineering and technology programming in topics as varied as robotics, rocketry, wind power, GPS mapping, agricultural science, film making, water quality and water conservation. And, through the One Million New Scientists, One Million New IdeasTM campaign, 4-H has undertaken a bold goal of engaging one million additional young people in science, engineering and technology programming by 2013.
“It has been shown that engaging youth in scientific exploration early sparks a lasting interest in the sciences,” said Donald T. Floyd, Jr., National 4-H Council president and CEO. “Whether it’s 4-H youth in Michigan creating biodiesel to power their school buses, 4-H’ers in Indiana building robots for their local police station or in California where 4-H youth are increasing the health of local streams, rivers and the ocean through water testing and conservation projects – when young people are given the opportunity to learn and take a leadership role in their community, it inspires confidence and a lifetime of achievement.”
In fact, now there’s proof of 4-H’s positive impact on youth. Youth development scholar, Dr. Richard Lerner, worked with researchers at the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University to conduct The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development. The longitudinal study found that, when compared to other youth, young people involved in 4-H are:
- Nearly two times more likely to get better grades in school;
- Nearly two times more likely to plan to go to college;
- 41 percent less likely to engage in risky behaviors; and
- 25 percent more likely to positively contribute to their families and communities.
Overall, the study found that the advantages of 4-H participation include higher educational achievement and higher motivation for future education. In addition, youth in 4-H are more civically active and make more community and civic contributions than youth in other out-of-school activities.
On 4-H National Youth Science DayTM, six million 4-H youth and 514,000 volunteers nationwide will join with academics from the land-grant colleges and universities to lead parents, teachers, students, and other youth organizations in Biofuel Blast. For more than 100 years, 4-H has lead out-of-school science education through the delivery of robust, university research-based science curriculum and exciting rallying initiatives like 4-H National Youth Science DayTM. Through their membership and participation, today’s 4-H youth will gain the skills and scientific interest necessary to help America maintain its competitive edge in the global marketplace.
About 4-H National Youth Science DayTM:
4-H National Youth Science DayTM takes place every year during National 4-H Week (October 4th through the 10th). In 2008, 4-H National Youth Science DayTM kicked off its inaugural year by partnering with Steve Spangler to showcase Helpful Hydrogels – an experiment that uses scientific principles to teach youth across the nation about water conservation. Youth from every state in the nation tested the effectiveness of water absorbing polymers in an easy-to-administer soil and water experiment followed by sharing their results online and engaging youth around the country in a dialogue about important environmental issues. This year’s National Science Experiment – Biofuel Blast – was developed in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension and Wisconsin 4-H with generous sponsor support provided by John Deere and DuPont. For more information on 4-H National Youth Science DayTM, please visit www.4-H.org/NYSD.
About the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development:
The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development is a longitudinal study which began in 2001, through the support of National 4-H Council. Youth development scholar, Dr. Richard Lerner, worked with researchers at the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University to conduct the study. The 4,701 adolescents surveyed are racially and geographically diverse representing 34 states in the nation. Youth are measured in “waves” across time which compared those that participate in 4-H to those that do not. The study is currently in wave six. For more information about the study or to download a PDF copy, please visit The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development.
About 4-H:
4-H is a community of six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of National 4-H Headquarters at USDA. 4-H programs are implemented by the 106 Land-Grant Universities and the Cooperative Extension System through their 3,100 local Extension offices in every county across the country.
4-H Zooms into National 4-H Week Thanks to Jeff Gordon and DuPont
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Chevy Chase, MD (Sept. 17, 2009) — National 4-H Week will take off with a speedy start on October 4th, as the 4-H emblem makes its debut appearance in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The well-known national icon will be featured on the ‘TV panel’ of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet driven by Jeff Gordon at Kansas Speedway that day. The placement of the 4-H clover on the No. 24 Chevrolet was made possible through a generous donation by DuPont, sponsor of both the No. 24 team and of 4-H.
National 4-H Week is an annual celebration for the 100-year old youth development organization. The highlight of the week includes the highly anticipated, 4-H National Youth Science Day, which brings together millions of youth to participate in the National Science Experiment. This year’s experiment, Biofuel Blast, will introduce youth to alternative energy. DuPont is a premier sponsor of 4-H National Youth Science Day and the Biofuel Blast National Science Experiment.
“The appearance of the 4-H emblem on Jeff Gordon’s car in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is a wonderful salute to 4-H by DuPont, and an amazing way for us to begin National 4-H Week,” said Donald T. Floyd, Jr., president and CEO of National 4-H Council. “Now, millions of current 4-H’ers, 4-H alumni and racing fans alike can watch with excitement as the clover takes to the track for the first time.”
The Kansas event is the third in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, and the 1.5-mile track is the site of two of Gordon’s 82 career victories in NASCAR’s premier division.
“4-H has been a leader among youth development organizations, enriching the lives of millions of young people for more than100 years,” said Gordon. “It is an honor to have such an iconic emblem featured on the DuPont Chevrolet and to provide such an exciting way to help the nation kick-off National 4-H Week.”
4-H National Youth Science Day was created to spark an early youth interest in science education and to combat a national shortage of young people pursuing science in college and future careers. Participants in this year’s National Science Experiment will learn how cellulose and sugars in plants – such as corn, switchgrass, sorghum and algae – can be converted into fuel, and how alternative energies can be used in their own communities. Youth will create their own biofuel through Biofuel Blast, lead discussions about what they’ve learned, and see how their small creations are a part of a larger, global discussion.
“Research into biofuels and bio-based materials is an important area for our company, and we are proud to sponsor 4-H in their extraordinary effort to help young people understand one of the most important issues facing our nation today,” said James C. Borel, group vice president, DuPont Agriculture.
Currently, more than five million youth across the nation take part in 4-H science, engineering and technology (SET) year-long programming that introduce youth to new areas of interest and help them explore environmental and scientific issues. 4-H SET programming span from robotics, rocketry, and computer science, to agricultural science, GPS mapping and renewable energy. According to a longitudinal study by Tufts University, youth who participate in 4-H programs are more likely to get better grades in school, to seek out science classes, to see themselves going to college, and to contribute positively in their communities. In addition, 4-H youth have been shown to better resist peer pressure and are less likely to engage in risky behaviors.
4-H National Headquarters and National 4-H Council
Sign Memorandum of Understanding
WASHINGTON, DC (Sept. 22, 2009) – 4-H National Headquarters and National 4-H Council (Council) signed a memorandum of understanding today signaling a renewed commitment between both organizations to jointly advocate for the 4-H Youth Development Program and the Cooperative Extension System.
“This agreement clearly outlines the responsibilities between 4-H National Headquarters and National 4-H Council and represents continued efforts to promote positive youth development in the areas of citizenship; healthy living; and science, engineering and technology,” said Colien Hefferan, Administrator of USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), the home of 4-H National Headquarters.
CSREES, through 4-H National Headquarters, agrees to administer a cohesive 4-H program with the land-grant universities to advance the 4-H Youth Development Program through professional and volunteer development, research and evaluation, curricular development, policies and procedures.
”Council’s partnership with 4-H National Headquarters and the Cooperative Extension System has never been stronger or more effective than it is today,” said Donald T. Floyd, Jr., National 4-H Council president and CEO. “The memorandum clearly articulates the important role that each organization plays in advancing the 4-H movement—and that will help us keep the partnership strong and help more young people to reach their full potential.”
National 4-H Council agrees to be the primary facilitator of resource development for 4-H at the national level, including soliciting, maintaining and disbursing funds in support of 4-H programs emanating from a strategic plan developed in collaboration with 4-H National Headquarters and the Cooperative Extension System. In addition, Council provides national-level support to the 4-H field through a broad range of activities that include marketing, licensing, managing the 4-H supply service and operating the National 4-H Conference Center.
4-H National Headquarters seeks to promote positive youth development, facilitate learning and engage youth in the work of the land-grant universities and USDA to enhance their quality of life. Nearly 6 million youth, ages 5-19, participate in 4-H youth development experiences in all 50 states, territories and military installations worldwide. More information is available at www.national4-hheadquarters.gov.
Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, CSREES focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. For more information, visit www.csrees.usda.gov.
National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of 4-H National Headquarters at USDA. 4-H programs are implemented by the 106 Land-Grant Universities and the Cooperative Extension System through their 3,100 local Extension offices in every county across the country.
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PR Contact: Kristin Walter, National 4-H Council 301-961-2973
Jennifer Martin, USDA 202- 720-8188 |