Women Business Leaders Launch STUDENTS IN HIGH GEAR

Entrepreneurs and co-authors Amy D. Howell and Anne Deeter Gallaher launch their second book, "Students in High Gear: A Guide for Aspiring Game Changers in Transition" from College to Career as a practical guide for today's 21 million U.S. college students.

"Students in High Gear" is packed with powerful insights from every stakeholder in the skills gap and college life conversation. If a college education is the great equalizer, then preparing higher education students to shorten their learning curve from college to career is paramount for U.S. economic competitiveness. "Economically active and in high gear are where 'changing your stars' takes place," said Deeter Gallaher and Howell, both business owners of public relations firms.

"Students in High Gear" is also an antidote to the alarming rate of college loan delinquencies. With The Wall Street Journal reporting nearly 7 million people have defaulted on their federal student loans, this presents a crushing debt problem for graduates with severe consequences on the U.S. economy, borrowers' credit, and earning potential. Chapter 7 highlights "The Importance of Debt Control and Understanding Financials" which helps prepare students to make intelligent borrowing and spending decisions.

College students form the foundation of the knowledge economy. Your choices, ambitions, and opportunities will determine career success and life purpose. In this small window of discovery, Howell and Deeter Gallaher define the path to high gear and weave powerful insights from students, professors, deans, University presidents, parents, and employers. Whether you're a senior in high school considering the value of a college investment, a recent graduate navigating the interview process, or a professor wanting to imbue high gear employable skills, "Students in High Gear" is fuel for success.

"There is much to love about this book. It is so practical and useful for a generation of students who are subject to cataclysmic changes in both the workforce and the nature of work life," says Mark W. Schaefer, professor at Rutgers University, author, consultant, and social media marketing speaker. "As an educator myself, I am relieved to see the authors take a serious, entertaining, and inspirational look at these dynamics."

"This 13-chapter, 178-page resource complete with goal-setting guide is a call to arms for big ideas, passionate workers, and an energized economy," said Deeter Gallaher and Howell. "And it demonstrates the unbridled capabilities of collaboration between students, colleges, and the business community."

In addition to student voices from The University of Memphis, Penn State, Belmont University, Mississippi State, Texas Christian University, Messiah College, and Rhodes College, several University presidents contributed: Dr. Eric Barron, president of Penn State University; Dr. Bob Fisher, president of Belmont University; Dr. M. David Rudd, president of The University of Memphis; Dr. Karen Scolforo, president of Central Penn College; and Dr. John "Ski" Sygielski, president of Harrisburg Area Community College.

"Books such as 'Students in High Gear' provide a first-hand account of what it takes to conquer the college landscape, and this book will act as an experiential multiplier to assist students in realizing their goals for success. When students share their testimonials and insights as to what nurtured their path to triumph, there could not be a better playbook," says Dr. Bob Akin, professor, Texas Christian University.

Chapter titles include:

• Your Digital Footprint Starts Early
• The Road to College: High Gear High School
• Your Father's Resume Is Dead
• DNA, Drive, and Your Potential
• The Importance of Debt Control and Understanding Financials
• Curriculum and Careers Are Different
• Dot-Connecting and Why You Must Master It
• High Gear Professors and How to Connect with Them
• Advice from 35 Years of Business Ownership
• Workbook: Your Goal-Setting Guide

"The Future Belongs to Students in High Gear" can be purchased for $15 on Amazon.

Follow the conversation on Twitter at @StudentsInHG using the hashtag #SiHG and visit http://www.StudentsInHighGear.com for more resources.

Amy D. Howell is CEO of Howell Marketing Strategies, a public relations and marketing firm headquartered in Memphis, TN. Anne Deeter Gallaher is CEO of Deeter Gallaher Group LLC, a public relations and marketing firm with offices in Harrisburg, PA and Nashville, TN.

To post a comment, you must register and login.