FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contacts:
Kevin F. Curtin, Director – Corporate Communications, BellSouth
404.986.1742
Michelle Gordon, Assistant Director – University Relations, Armstrong Atlantic
912.961.3173

BellSouth Foundation Awards $25,000 to Armstrong Atlantic State University

Savannah – July 6, 2004 – Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU) will receive $25,000 from the BellSouth Foundation. Armstrong Atlantic’s College of Education will conduct a study on the nationally-recognized Pathways to Teaching. This program brings non-certified school district personnel into the teaching profession by helping them return to school and earn their teaching certificates. Findings from this study will be used to strengthen Armstrong’s curriculum to better prepare teachers to work in high-needs schools as well as to improve teacher retention in schools that experience high teacher turnover.

"The BellSouth Foundation’s support of this initiative enables us to enrich an already successful program," said AASU President Thomas Z. Jones "The result of this study will be used to strengthen our curriculum and prepare more teachers to work in high needs schools."

"The BellSouth Foundation continues to seek grant making that promotes excellence in education," said Ethan Frederick, Regional Manager-External Affairs for BellSouth. "Excellence in education is essential for all students and preparing teachers to work and stay in urban areas is critical for our society."

The BellSouth Foundation will award $475,000 in opportunity grants throughout the Southeast during 2004. Opportunity Grants are made annually to organizations or programs whose work complements the BellSouth Foundation’s initiatives. This grant is one of 14 awarded from a pool of 450 applicants. Since 2001, the Foundation has awarded 29 Opportunity Grants totaling $1.6 million dollars.

College of Education professor Dr. Evelyn Dandy will be conducting this longitudinal study to determine why the Pathways to Teaching teachers have succeeded and thrived in high needs schools where so many others have failed. The purpose of this study will be to examine what makes teachers stay and achieve in high-need schools, and then use these findings to develop a curriculum to better prepare teachers to work in urban areas and, thus, facilitate teacher retention.

Armstrong Atlantic, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is part of the University System of Georgia. It is comprised of the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education, and Health Professions and the schools of Computing and Graduate Studies. The AASU community includes more than 6,600 students, more than 400 faculty members, and a staff of 250. The university serves a rich gamut of students of all ages. Forty-six percent are from the Savannah-Chatham County area. Others come from throughout Georgia, the nation, and seventy-two countries.

About the BellSouth Foundation
The BellSouth Foundation is an endowed trust of BellSouth Corporation that is devoted to education in the communities we serve. Since its creation in 1986, the Foundation has funded over 595 grants and operated numerous special initiatives, with a total investment of more than $56 million. For more information about the BellSouth Foundation, please visit www.bellsouth.com/foundation.

About BellSouth Corporation
BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and a parent company of Cingular Wireless, the nation’s second largest wireless voice and data provider.

Backed by award winning customer service, BellSouth offers the most comprehensive and innovative package of voice and data services available in the market. Through BellSouth AnswersSM, residential and small business customers can bundle their local and long distance service with dial up and high speed DSL Internet access, satellite television and Cingular® Wireless service. For businesses, BellSouth provides secure, reliable local and long distance voice and data networking solutions. BellSouth also offers online and directory advertising through BellSouth® RealPages.comsm and The Real Yellow Pages®.

More information about BellSouth can be found at www.bellsouth.com.

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