Office Depot Foundation 'Dream Up' Program Enables Five Middle School Essay Contest Winners to Experience Dream Jobs

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Thanks to the Office Depot Foundation's Dream UP! Career Exploration Program, more than 30,000 middle school students from across the country have a clearer picture of what they want to be when they grow up – and how to make their dreams come true. This spring, five of these students will take their first steps toward the future through hands-on mentoring experiences with professionals in their chosen fields.

The students are the winners of the latest Dream UP! Essay Challenge, which attracted more than 200 entries from schools nationwide. The Dream UP! Program is offered to middle school teachers at no cost by the Office Depot Foundation - the independent, nonprofit foundation that serves as the primary charitable giving arm of Office Depot, Inc. ODP - in collaboration with USA TODAY Charitable Foundation.

The most recent winners include:

• Lily Alai, Long Valley Middle School, Long Valley, N.J. – Dream job: occupational therapist (Teacher: Garrett LaBar)
• Alahji Barry, Ralph J. Bunche Middle School, Atlanta, Ga. – Dream job: neurosurgeon (Teacher: Naja Freeman)
• Hailey Carpenter, Coral Springs Middle School, Coral Springs, Fla. – Dream job: baker (Teacher: Suzanne Fronrath)
• Abby Gottesman, Lexington Traditional Magnet School, Lexington, Ky. - Dream job: neuropsychologist (Teacher: Camellia Rizk)
• Sarah Tisinger, Leland Middle School, Leland, N.C. – Dream job: veterinary technician (Teacher: John Holleman)

During the current school year, approximately 30,000 students and 280 educators in 30 states participated in the Dream UP! program - the largest number of teachers to participate in a single semester since the program's inception in 2009. Dream UP! Essay Challenge winners in previous years have experienced careers as diverse as aerospace engineering, journalism, teaching, automobile design, accounting, chemistry and psychiatry. More than 120,000 students have participated in the program.

"We created the Dream UP! Program to address the concern that children are dropping out of school at younger ages. What used to be a problem that occurred almost exclusively in high school has moved into middle school," says Office Depot Foundation president Mary Wong. "Our premise is that if we can encourage middle school students to begin thinking about careers and exploring possibilities about the world of opportunities that exist for them in the future, then it will inspire them to stay in school and work toward their goals."

Using the Dream UP! project-based curriculum, students study current workplace trends and read and analyze the latest industry news from USA TODAY to identify career opportunities and to understand professional requirements. Through Dream UP!, students research several career options and develop a career portfolio. The project culminates with students selecting and writing essays about the professions that most intrigue and inspire them. Schools select the best essays to submit to the national Dream UP! Essay Challenge and, each school year, five student winners are given the opportunity to experience their dream job for a day.

To learn more about Dream UP!, visit the USA TODAY Charitable Foundation website or the Office Depot Foundation website.

About the Office Depot Foundation

The Office Depot Foundation is an independent foundation − tax exempt under IRC Sec. 501(c)(3) − that serves as the independent charitable giving arm of Office Depot, Inc. In keeping with its mission, Listen Learn Care^®, the Foundation supports a variety of programs that give children tools to succeed in school and in life; build the capacity of non-profit organizations through collaboration and innovation; and help communities prepare for disasters, as well as recovering and rebuilding afterwards. For more information, visit www.officedepotfoundation.org.

About USA TODAY Charitable Foundation

USA TODAY Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, supports and builds alliances that enhance innovative instructional programs and community outreach by providing the resources to promote opportunities and inspire all. It welcomes participation in efforts to engage, enlighten and inspire today's students and educators by opening their classrooms to the real world. The Foundation seeks funding from other foundations, private companies and organizations to help provide educational programs for elementary, secondary schools, community colleges and/or programs in specific disciplines or curriculum areas. Staff works with interested parties to collaborate on the creation of an educational program that meets the mission and goals for respective companies or organizations. For more information, visit www.usatodaycharitablefoundation.org.