Horatio Alger Association Releases Results of First-Ever 2016 Young Voter Insights Survey in Advance of Political Conventions

WASHINGTON, July 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., a nonprofit educational organization honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals and encouraging youth to pursue their dreams through higher education, today announced findings of its 2016 Young Voter Insights survey. Results highlight the attitudes of approximately 1,500 high school students and recent high school graduates nationwide toward the presidential candidates, outcomes of the election and most critical political issues. High school students surveyed were all enrolled in high school during the 2015 to 2016 academic year and recent high school graduates surveyed were ages 18 to 23, having graduated high school within the past six years. Among high school graduates, roughly two-thirds were pursuing some form of postsecondary education.  

With the surveyed students reflecting the younger Millennials (born between 1993 and 1997) and post-Millennial (born between 1998 and 2014) generations, many of these young Americans will be first-time voters in a presidential election. Of the high school students and recent high school graduates surveyed, results showed:

• Young Americans believe the outcome of the 2016 presidential election will have real consequences for the United States and feel personally invested in what happens this November.
  • 85 percent of high schools students and 89 percent of high school graduates surveyed say they care who wins the election.
  • 80 percent of high school students and 86 percent of high school graduates believe that the outcome of this election will make a difference in the direction of the country
  • Investment in the election is up significantly from 2012, when just 57 percent of high school students said they cared who won, and up from 2008 when 75 percent cared.
    
    
• The economy, education and national security are top issues for young Americans.
  • When given a list of 10 different high profile issues, high school students chose economic growth and job creation (35 percent), terrorism and national security (30 percent), and education (29 percent) as most important
  • High school graduates said that economic growth and job creation (29 percent) and education (32 percent) are issues of importance to them for this year's election.
    
    
• The leading presidential candidates have yet to win over young Americans.
  • 36 percent of high school students and 23 percent of high school graduates feel positive toward Hillary Clinton, while 43 percent and 54 percent respectively feel negative.
  • 26 percent of high school students and 17 percent of high school graduates feel positive toward Donald Trump, while 57 percent and 70 percent respectively feel negative. 
    

"Results of the 2016 Young Voter Insights survey provide valuable insight into the young men and women in our country," said Peter Hart, founder of Hart Research Associates. "The surveyed group of students is paying more attention to the news cycle and staying up to date on the presidential election and how it will affect their futures. In fact, the data shows that 60 percent of high school students and 63 percent of recent high school graduates are following the presidential election very or fairly closely, which is a 21-point increase from 2008 for high school students. It is clear that many first-time voters are more invested than ever in the outcome of this particular election and it would seem imperative for candidates to better understand their attitudes and viewpoints on important issues before ballots are cast in November."

The survey was commissioned by Horatio Alger Association and conducted in partnership with Hart Research Associates and renowned higher education research expert Dr. Gregory Wolniak, associate professor of higher education and the director of the Center for Research on Higher Education Outcomes (CRHEO) at New York University's Steinhardt School. The interviews for the survey were conducted from April 21 to 28, 2016 during the primary season and before the party conventions.

"Horatio Alger Association is deeply committed to providing resources and opportunities for young people to thrive in pursuit of higher education," said Terrence J. Giroux, executive director, Horatio Alger Association. "The results of this survey allow us better understand what matters most to young Americans and helps inform the ongoing support and programming that the Association provides to them. These young men and women are our nation's future leaders and by understanding their concerns and priorities, we can better support them in their efforts and helping them to succeed the best way we can."

Horatio Alger Association aims to educate young people about the limitless opportunities afforded to them by the free-enterprise system. Since the establishment of its scholarship programs in 1984, the organization has awarded more than $125 million in undergraduate, graduate and specialized scholarships to students across the United States (including all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico) and Canada. The Association also annually bestows the Horatio Alger Award upon outstanding business, civic and cultural leaders who have succeeded despite facing significant adversity, and who are committed to philanthropy and higher education. Scholarships are funded solely through the generosity of Association Members, Life Partners and friends. 

For the full 2016 Young Voter Insights key findings and more information about Horatio Alger Association, please visit www.horatioalger.org.  To engage on social media, please "Like" the organization on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/HoratioAlgerUS).

About Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans:
Founded in 1947, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. is dedicated to the simple but powerful belief that hard work, honesty and determination can conquer all obstacles. The Association honors the achievements of outstanding leaders who have accomplished remarkable successes in spite of adversity by bestowing upon them the Horatio Alger Award and inducting them as lifetime Members. Horatio Alger Members support promising young people with the resources and confidence needed to overcome adversity in pursuit of their dreams through higher education. Through the generosity of its Members and friends, the Association awards more than $12 million annually in undergraduate and graduate need-based scholarships across the United States and Canada and provides college support and mentoring services to its Scholars. Since 1984, the Association has awarded more than $125 million in college scholarships to more than 22,000 deserving young people. For more information, please visit www.horatioalger.org.

About the Survey:
This memo summarizes key findings from a national online survey of 1,010 high school student and 502 recent high school graduates conducted on behalf of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans.^[1] The interviews were conducted April 21 to 28, 2016 during the primary season and before the party conventions.

^[1] High school students were all enrolled in high school during the 2015 to 2016 academic year. Recent high school graduates were ages 18 to 23 and graduated high school within the past six years (most graduated in or after 2012).
^[1] Comparable trend data for high school graduates is unavailable for investment, interest, and attention in the election.
^[1] High school students were all enrolled in high school during the 2015 to 2016 academic year. Recent high school graduates were ages 18 to 23 and graduated high school within the past six years (most graduated in or after 2012).

CONTACT:
McKenna Young
484-385-2913 (office)
[email protected]

SOURCE Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc.

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