More than 5,000 middle school students spend Groundhog Day shadowing BellSouth employees to learn more about the work environment and develop career interests. Students participate in career awareness and exploration programs, including employee visits to classrooms and job shadowing and mentoring at the company's regional offices. Local public high schools, such as those that sponsor the Academy of Business and Finance programs in San Francisco. An independent car dealer and automotive repair business in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Students in high school and college participate in an apprentice-training program, which may include instruction in junior college academic programs sponsored by General Motors and Chrysler.
Many students stay on with the company as automotive technicians.
The program culminates with a project that showcases skills that student have learner. Many students go on to take full-time positions with the company. Program activities are developed for at-risk youth and introduce them to various healthcare careers. Participating companies provide job shadowing opportunities, workplace internships, tours, mentoring, and curriculum development. High school students work as apprentices in local franchises, taking course in consumer services management developed especially for this program at a local university.