PARAGON’s Next Gen EPPRENTICE Experience ... a calling to all of Michigan’s school districts, industries, legislators and community leaders to join Paragon in bringing our state’s high school students (Michigan’s future leaders) together to be part of the solution to some of our state’s most critical challenges.

As we head into 2010, Michigan is faced with unprecedented challenges at a time when we didn’t think things could get any worse.

. . . Funding for our K-12 schools is facing unprecedented cuts of up to $127 per student and in some cases up to $600 per student, thus compromising education, one of the most signification factors to creating a talent pool for attracting and retaining knowledge-based enterprises needed to transform Michigan’s economy.

. . . Today, one out of every four Michigan students fail to graduate from public high school with their class. The high school graduation rate is a proven barometer of the health of our region and the skill level of our future workforce.

. . . Michigan is 34th among all states in four-year degree attainment (with Metro areas such as Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland running at 24.61%; and Detroit-Warren-Flint running at 26.94%)

. . . Michigan is losing its recent graduates at double the rate since 2001, up from 24% to 49%; taking with them their education and the talent needed to help rebuild Michgian’s economy.

. . . Unemployment in Michigan has risen to 15% (5% above the national average) the highest it has been since 1983, currently the highest in the nation and predicted to go higher in 2010.

. . . Since December 2007 through January 2009, low education attainment industries (primarily manufacturing, construction, retail and hospitality) have suffered job losses of 3,735,000 that are not predicted to return; with not nearly enough knowledge-based, high- paying jobs being created to replace the loss.

What does all this mean? Simple. If our state cannot find ways to turn the staggering and bleak statistics listed above around, Michigan will become a “poor state” . . . one that our young people won’t want to stay in, and one that knowledge-based industries will not want to come.

To solve some of these critical challenges, our government, school administration, citizens and private industry must work together. Plus, perhaps the most important element of all . . . WE MUST INVOLVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN HELPING SOLVE MICHIGAN’S FUTURES PROBLEMS!

Please help Michigan back to prosperity by encouraging our young people to get involved with the ‘solutions’ as THEY ARE THE FUTURE!

To learn more about the 2010 Next Gen EPPRENTICE, whereby Paragon will invite high school students throughout the state to participate, contact us.