FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 30, 1998

CONTACT: Mary Ann Maloney (202) 606-1800 mamalone@opm.gov

OPM WILL MENTOR 10 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA STUDENTS DURING NATIONAL GROUNDHOG JOB SHADOW DAY 98

Washington, D.C. -- While Punxsutawney Phil may see his shadow on Groundhog Day, employees at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management will see another kind of shadow in the form of Washington, D.C. youngsters who will follow agency employees throughout the day in a career-education experience.

In celebration of National Groundhog Job Shadow Day 98" on February 2, OPM will give ten students from the District of Columbias Coolidge High School real-life experiences in the working of the federal government by arranging shadow assignments at the human resource agency.

We are delighted to host these young people and to exemplify President Clintons State of the Union message challenge to provide opportunity, act responsibly, and be rooted in our community. With the challenges of the next century upon us, there has never been a better time for young people to explore the many career paths available to them in the civil service, OPM Director Janice Lachance said.

The first-ever National Groundhog Job Shadow Day was initiated by Americas Promise, Junior Achievement, the American Society of Association Executives and the National Employer Leadership Council as a way to capitalize on the annual idea of Punxsutawney Phil looking for his shadow. Students will get a first-hand look at the work world by spending part of the day in the workplace. The goal of the shadow experience is to connect for students how the skills they learn in the classroom are put into action in the workplace.

Students from Coolidge Sr. High School will have an opportunity to shadow OPM professionals working in the area of federal labor-management relations, merit system enforcement, and government-wide investigations. In addition, students will also be assigned to the OPM Directors office, the agencys communications office, the Inspector Generals Office and the agencys own human resources and EEO office.

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