Detroit Native Big Sean to Act as Celebrity Principal for the Day to Recognize Get Schooled Detroit Attendance Challenge Winner

DETROIT, May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, May 14, 2012, musician Big Sean, a Detroit native, will act as "Principal for the Day" at Lincoln High School, one of United Way's "Network of Excellence" schools.  As principal, Big Sean will visit classrooms, co-teach classes and participate in an assembly of the entire Lincoln student body.  Lincoln High School won the Get Schooled Detroit Attendance Challenge after improving its attendance a dramatic 8.56% year-over-year during the competition.

"Showing up to school, all day, every day, is one of the most important things students can do to reach their educational goals and to go on to success later in life," said Big Sean. "I am so proud of my hometown of Detroit for tackling attendance issues head on and I am so excited to celebrate the achievements of the students who worked so hard throughout the attendance challenge."

Big Sean will also join MTV host Sway and local radio personality, Coco of FM 98 WJLB, at an all-school event to recognize the students' and staff accomplishments.  They will be joined on stage by Mark Reuss, President of GM North America, Chris Perry, Chief Marketing Officer of Chevrolet and United Way for Southeastern Michigan, Carl Folta, Executive Vice President of Communications of Viacom and Get Schooled Foundation Board Member, and Kevin Liles, former President of Def Jam and senior advisor to Get Schooled.  The special guests will encourage the students to stay focused on their education and to make their education a priority in their lives.

Big Sean attended the Detroit Waldorf School, a school of art, from kindergarten to 8th Grade.  He later attended and graduated from Cass Technical High School.  Big Sean signed first to Kanye West's music label, GOOD, in 2007 and then to Island Def Jam in 2008.  Following the release of Big Sean's trilogy of mixtapes, Def Jam released his hit album, Finally Famous, in July of 2011 which debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 chart.

Big Sean will also meet with No Excuses, a group of eleventh grade students at Osborn Academy of Mathematics, which wrote, produced and performed "Daily Routine," the winning entry in the Get Schooled Video Contest. In a show of collaboration between the schools that participated in the Challenge, the members of No Excuses, Amanda Swealingum, Destiny Mitchell, Shania Cobb, Tennie Jackson and Yazmine Roberts, will team up with a student from Osborn Academy of Mathematics, Edward Cunningham, for a live performance of "Daily Routine" at the assembly.

Thirty students from Osborn Academy of Mathematics, the Challenge's second place finisher, and East Detroit High School, the Challenge's third place finisher, will also be present at Lincoln to be recognized for their accomplishments in significantly improving their attendance. 

Get Schooled, Chevrolet, Viacom, and the United Way for Southeastern Michigan teamed up to sponsor the friendly challenge aimed at boosting attendance that involved nearly 10,000 students across 17 Metro Detroit high schools.  The competition, a series of student activities aimed at improving attendance, ran from Feb. 13 through April 27.  More than half of all participating schools posted attendance increases during the challenge.

Research shows that attendance is one of the greatest predictors of graduation and a significant driver of student achievement. According to a 2008 study by UCLA, students with more than 20 absences in any given year have only a 19 percent chance of graduating. 

Schools participating in the Get Schooled Detroit Attendance Challenge included: Detroit Central High School, Detroit Cody Campus of Small High Schools, Detroit Henry Ford High School, Detroit Osborn Campus of Small High Schools, Hamtramck High School, Harper Woods High School, East Detroit High School, Madison High School, River Rouge High School and Van Dyke Lincoln.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4 million cars and trucks a year.  Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

About United Way for Southeastern Michigan
United Way for Southeastern Michigan mobilizes the caring power of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties to improve lives throughout the region in measurable and lasting ways. The organization is led by a diverse group of volunteers from business, labor, government, human services, education and the community. United Way provides opportunities to invest in the metropolitan Detroit community through its annual Campaign and is a leader in convening partners to impact local residents each year by increasing economic self-sufficiency, protecting children and youth at risk, strengthening families, empowering neighborhoods and communities and promoting health and wellness. Additional information is available at www.liveunitedsem.org.

About Viacom
Viacom is home to the world's premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms in approximately 160 countries and territories. With more than 160 media networks reaching approximately 700 million global subscribers, Viacom's leading brands include MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, BET, CENTRIC, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., TeenNick, Nicktoons, Nick at Nite, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV Land, SPIKE and Tr3s. Paramount Pictures, celebrating its 100th year in 2012 and creator of many of the most beloved motion pictures, continues today as a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. Viacom operates a large portfolio of branded digital media experiences, including many of the world's most popular properties for entertainment, community and casual online gaming. For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com.

About Get Schooled
Get Schooled is a non-profit organization dedicated to using media, technology, and popular culture to improve high school graduation rates and college success rates.  Get Schooled connects with young Americans through its combination of on-air programming, online content, on-the ground events and school-based initiatives.  Together with hundreds of schools, educators, and students, and boosted by partners like Viacom and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Get Schooled motivates and empowers students to make high school education a priority and college education a possibility.  To learn more go to www.getschooled.com or follow Get Schooled at www.facebook.com/getschooledfoundation, or www.twitter.com/getschooled.

SOURCE Get Schooled