Empowerment Tour Career Coaches Help Thousands and Inspire a Quarter Million People to Apply for Full-Tuition “Career Stimulus Package” Scholarships
Coaches Advise “Do Not Depend on Internet Job Boards” and “Pursue Online Education” for Those Who Need a Degree
Hoboken, New Jersey (October 19, 2009)—The Empowerment Tour RV, presented by eLearners.com, (http://www.eLearners.com) has rolled to a stop after traveling to nearly 40 cities across America from June to September 2009, providing free career coaching to more than a thousand Americans. Beyond the career coaching, the “Career Stimulus Package” campaign attracted a quarter of a million applicants for the $4 million in full-tuition scholarships during the tour stops and online at http://www.careerstimulus.com. eLearners.com, a web resource of EducationDynamics which connects prospective students with online classes, launched the campaign to give people the confidence to continue their education and to pursue their ideal careers, despite the tough economy.
“Millions of people are unemployed and frustrated. The Career Stimulus Package scholarship and internship opportunity, plus this summer’s Empowerment Tour helped inspire hope and confidence through coaching and education,” said Terrence Thomas, executive vice president of marketing for eLearners.com. “Our career coaches helped thousands of Americans think about their careers and set a path for career success. It was truly incredible to see the excitement when they experienced their breakthrough moment.”
Through “laser coaching” sessions, the career coaches helped people identify what was holding them back and the strategies needed to move toward success. Perhaps the most surprising of the coaches’ advice was not to depend on Internet job boards during their job search.
“Instead, it is important for people to become known in their field by actively participating in job related associations and conferences,” said Ayn Fox, an Empowerment Tour career coach. “If they act as if they are already in the profession and are contributors, they are more likely to hear about and be recommended for appropriate openings."
Another common topic was higher education. Many Americans expressed interest in going back to school to pursue a degree in a new field, or to help them advance in their current job.
“In order to remain competitive, you must have a relevant and up-to-date education,” said Michael Cushman, another career coach on the tour. “For many adults, online education is an opportunity to secure education while bringing balance to life.” Of the 30 fastest growing occupations, 76 percent require a college degree. By 2016, four out of every 10 new jobs will require some form of advanced education or training.
To help eliminate the cost roadblock, many people face when deciding whether to go back to school, eLearners.com created the Career Stimulus Package full-tuition scholarships, as part of the Empowerment Tour. The scholarships, totaling about $4 million, are provided by eight accredited online schools: American Public University, Ashworth College, Bryant & Stratton College, Capella University, Ellis University, Everest University, Virginia College, and Western Governors University. Applicants can apply for a scholarship through October 31, 2009 at http://www.careerstimulus.com. To be eligible, applicants must be at least 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen and complete an essay describing how an online degree would improve their life.
To see a video showcasing the various stops along the Empowerment Tour and to learn more about the campaign visit http://www.careerstimulus.com. To read bios of the Empowerment Tour coaches Michael Cushman, Ayn Fox and Stephanie Clark, visit http://www.empowermenttour.com.
About eLearners.com®
eLearners.com is one of several high visibility websites operated by EducationDynamics. Since 1999, eLearners.com has been successfully connecting learners to online education, including online degree and certificate programs, specialized career training, and a variety of online courses. For prospective students, eLearners.com provides a powerful search engine for users to find thousands of online program offerings, as well as educational evaluation tools and financial aid resources. For online colleges and universities, the eLearners.com website offers a low-cost, performance-based method to provide national exposure and increase enrollments in their online learning programs. For more information on eLearners.com, visit http://www.eLearners.com.
About EducationDynamics
EducationDynamics, a portfolio company of Halyard Capital, is higher education’s leading marketing services company dedicated to helping institutions find, enroll and retain students. Its content-rich and highly visible education websites, including EarnMyDegree.com, eLearners.com, GradSchools.com, StudyAbroad.com, and its more than 50 special interest microsites, make EducationDynamics the premier provider of qualified prospective students for colleges and universities. In addition, the company offers a full suite of Web-delivered services proven to drive enrollment growth and reduce student attrition. Through its Market Research and Advisory Services division, the company brings a decade of proprietary research, unparalleled market and student intelligence, and best practice insights to its clients. For more information, visit http://www.educationdynamics.com.