American Graduate RoadTrip News Release

News Release:  April 4, 2019
For more information, contact:
Lisa Cohne, lcohne@media.utah.edu
801-581-5176

PBS Utah and UETN to host live event on career planning pathways
Live streaming platform OVEE will carry the event April 25 at 6:00 p.m.

            (Salt Lake City) — PBS Utah and UEN will host an online career exploration event for students, families and educators. The virtual event will kick off with an episode of Roadtrip Nation, followed by a Utah Career & Technical Education expert answering audience questions about alternative career pathways.

            Anyone with an internet connection and a laptop, tablet or smartphone can participate. The April 25 event will start at 6:00 p.m. with an episode of the television series Roadtrip Nation as three young people seek career paths that don’t necessarily include a four-year college degree. At 7:00 p.m. the event will shift to a live question and answer session with Travis Cook, the work-based learning specialist at Utah State Board of Education. Make a free reservation to attend here: www.uen.org/amgradroadtrip.

            The event is part of the UtahFutures American Graduate project, made possible by support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s American Graduate: Getting to Work initiative. Audience members can watch and ask questions via OVEE, a platform created by ITVS and funded by CPB. OVEE combines quality HD media and livestream content with the community-building conversation of social media in a single-screen experience.

            Through OVEE, filmmakers, educators, public media stations and other partners create online screenings that bring together fans, students, subject experts and special guests to watch media and chat live in a virtual theater. The OVEE chat enables them to discuss the topic, share resources and ask questions. Past OVEE topics have included: Elections, Civil Rights, Homelessness, Education, National & International Policy, Health and Arts & Culture.

What: Live event on career planning pathways with RoadTrip Nation episode and audience discussion with Travis Cook, work-based learning specialist for the Utah Board of Education.
When: April 25 starting at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Online via the OVEE platform. Anyone with an internet connection may attend the free event.

About UtahFutures American Graduate. UtahFutures American Graduate is a UEN project to help more Utahns make well-informed decisions about education and career. Part of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s national initiative American Graduate: Getting To Work and Utah’s career education resource UtahFutures.org, the communication project supports local partners who are addressing Utah’s workforce crisis: a gap between job openings in high-demand, high-wage technical occupations and the shortfall of people qualified to fill them.
           
About Roadtrip Nation. A public television documentary series, Roadtrip Nation brings resources, insights and inspiration to middle school, high school and college students throughout the United States. Through the series and a website (roadtripnation.org) the program helps students connect with their futures and open their eyes to college and career possibilities.

About UEN. The Utah Education Network is one of the nation’s premier education networks for higher education, technical education and public education. UEN broadcasts on station KUEN and connects public schools, colleges and libraries via broadband. Since 2014 UEN has been the education services provider of the Utah Education and Telehealth Network (UETN) that also provides broadband and technical support to hospitals, clinics and health departments throughout the state.

About PBS Utah. Utah’s PBS station PBS Utah provides the state with access to exceptional content that entertains, informs, and enriches viewers. PBS Utah airs PBS programming, plus award-winning, locally produced documentaries and series. Recognized as one of the leading public television stations in the country, PBS Utah is committed to serving and engaging with the Utah community through its diverse productions, as well as its educational and outreach programs. PBS Utah is always evolving to provide Utahns with relevant programming and services while maintaining its core values of integrity, fairness, independence, education, and innovation. PBS Utah also provides three additional broadcast channels: WORLD, PBS Kids 24/7, and Create.