Governor, Mayor Join Bell Atlantic Baltimore City Public Schools To Launch School-To-Career Internship Program

Governor, Mayor Join Bell Atlantic And Baltimore City Public Schools To Launch School-To-Career Internship Program

Company Gives High-School Students High-Tech Training in Telecommunications

July 7, 1997

BALTIMORE - Bell Atlantic today launched a School-to-Career Internship
Program that will enable company workers to train Baltimore high
school students on the basic operations of the phone company.

Nineteen students, who will be high school seniors in the fall, will
participate in the new internship program, announced at a breakfast
ceremony with Governor Parris N. Glendening, Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke,
telecommunications leaders, Baltimore City school officials,
representatives of the Office of Employment Development, interns and
their parents. The occasion marked the start of the Mayor's summer
jobs program for city teens.

"Bell Atlantic has a century-old tradition of supporting education in
Maryland, and we are proud to continue that commitment by launching
this innovative program, designed to help prepare youth for the
future," said Sherry F. Bellamy, president and CEO of Bell Atlantic -
Maryland. "This internship program was developed by Bell Atlantic's
Network Engineering and Operations staff to help create a qualified
pool of technicians for the telecommunications industry and to enhance
Baltimore's school curriculum."

Over seven weeks, the 19 student interns will closely observe Bell
Atlantic technicians and vendors in Bell Atlantic's central offices.
Interns will learn how to run copper and fiber-optic cables, how to
place and test phone circuits, and how to safely operate all
equipment. Each student will be awarded a stipend of $1,470.

"I commend Bell Atlantic for its leadership in providing this
educational opportunity for young people in Baltimore City," said
Governor Glendening. "Through this partnership, these high school
students will learn the skills they will need to succeed in the 21st
century. I am pleased and proud that Sherry Bellamy and Bell Atlantic
share our vision for making children our top priority. I know this
program will make a positive difference in the lives of these young
people."

For students who want to learn more about telecommunications, Bell
Atlantic - Maryland has developed a course focusing on safety
training, and analog, digital and fiber-optic technologies which will
become part of the Baltimore City Public School curriculum.

"Bell Atlantic's outstanding commitment to Baltimore City youth this
summer underscores a long history of civic involvement," said Mayor
Schmoke. "This school-to-career partnership is helping our young
people realize that technical careers are within their grasp."

In addition to the new career internship program, Bell Atlantic is
involved in a variety of educational efforts with Baltimore City Public
Schools. Company employees mentor students at Lemmel and Hamilton
Middle Schools, and allow students from Polytechnic Institute to
observe Bell Atlantic engineers in their day-to-day operations
throughout the school year.

Bell Atlantic also donates $35,000 each year to the Mayor's YouthWorks
campaign, which sponsors young people in public and private sector
summer jobs. This summer, 12 YouthWorks students will work with Bell
Atlantic technicians wiring Baltimore City public schools for access
to the Internet. "By putting our youth to work, Bell Atlantic is
giving them an opportunity to combine hands-on experience with
classroom instruction," Bellamy said.

Today's breakfast ceremony was sponsored by the Baltimore City Career
Connections Partnership. This volunteer group of business leaders,
nonprofit executives, educators and school administrators, parents,
community organizers, student leaders and employment training
professionals is leading efforts to increase career exploration
opportunities for Baltimore City youth. Its goal is to promote the
academic and career development of all students through
school-to-career initiatives.

Bell Atlantic Corporation (NYSE: BEL) is at the forefront of the new
communications, entertainment and information industry. In the
mid-Atlantic region, Bell Atlantic's telephone company subsidiaries
are the premier providers of local telecommunications and advanced
services. Globally, it is one of the largest investors in the
high-growth wireless communication marketplace. Bell Atlantic also
owns a substantial interest in Telecom Corporation of New Zealand and
is actively developing high-growth national and international business
opportunities in all phases of the industry.