April 18, 2005
Great Oaks Teams with US Digital Partners to Create Appealing, Interactive CD for 8th Graders

Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development, the high school technical and career education program serving Cincinnati and southwest Ohio, has announced the release of a new interactive CD for prospective students. Developed with the assistance of US Digital Partners, a web solutions firm based in Over-the-Rhine, the new CD uses fun, age-appropriate animation and graphics to inform 8th-grade students of the career and technical education opportunities available to them through Great Oaks.

All students attending school districts served by Great Oaks are introduced to the career and technical education school as 8th graders and then decide two years later, as 10th graders, whether to attend Great Oaks for their junior and senior years. According to Jean Ciancio, Great Oaks public relations coordinator, the 8th-grade visit to Great Oaks was the number one decision factor of students who later chose to attend the school as 10th graders.

“The CD is designed to complement that visit and gain their attention and interest so that whether they choose to attend a Great Oaks school or to remain at their home school, they have the information to make the right choice for them,” Ciancio said. “That way they are prepared to enter college or to get a great job when they leave high school.”

The CD will be distributed to approximately 12,000 8th graders in southwest Ohio and will also be a valuable resource for their parents, Ciancio noted.

“Great Oaks has a very informative website that students and their parents can visit for more information about attending Great Oaks” added Mark Miller, Partner at US Digital Partners. “We chose a roller coaster theme since almost all teens love to go to the amusement park. The goal is to grab their attention with the CD and encourage them to find out more information about Great Oaks by visiting the website or discussing Great Oaks with a parent, teacher or advisor.”

About Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development

Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development is the largest career and technical education district in the United States. Great Oaks has been providing career development, workforce development and economic development services to individuals, business, industry, labor, communities and other organizations in southwest Ohio since 1970. For more information visit www.greatoaks.com.

About US Digital Partners
A Cincinnati web design firm, US Digital Partners helps its clients develop successful business relationships online. The firm’s mission is to deploy and manage business websites that result in higher revenue, reduced costs, and increased customer loyalty for its clients. US Digital Partners is a dynamic combination of strategic, creative and technical talent. For more information visit www.usdigitalpartners.com.