News Releases

CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE AND TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OUTLINE CHOICES FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES

Nearly 100 students attend Career Day
& learn about opportunities in the hospitality industry

LEBANON, TN (October 27, 2006) – For the third consecutive year, the Tennessee Department of Education brought its "Jobs For Tennessee Graduates" program to the corporate offices of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. During the "Cooking Up Success" Career Day in Lebanon, Cracker Barrel commended students and counselors for helping the Jobs For Tennessee Graduates program achieve a 96 percent graduation rate.

"As a company, Cracker Barrel values education and we’re very proud to partner with the Jobs For Tennessee Graduates program," said Thomas Pate, Cracker Barrel’s vice president of training and management development. "The counselors and students in this program are all working very hard to achieve success."

Nearly 100 students and career counselors learned about careers in the hospitality industry and took part in classes on management training, computer technology and administration. As in years past, the students also enjoyed cooking in the company’s training kitchen where they baked made-from-scratch biscuits.

Speaking on behalf of TDOE Commissioner Dr. Lana Seivers, Assistant Commissioner Ralph Barnett thanked Cracker Barrel for the company’s commitment to education. Barnett urged students to take control of their future plans. "Eighty percent of the new jobs created in the next ten years will require some level of higher education," said Barnett. "The opportunities discussed today will help students select a career path that leads to success."

"Tourism and travel is a $650 billion industry in the United States," said Susan Whitaker, state tourism commissioner. "The Tennessee tourism industry grew by $1 billion in the last year alone. More people are visiting Tennessee and the career opportunities are endless."

Jobs for Tennessee Graduates is a two-year program administered in partnership between the Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development aimed at preparing high school seniors for success after high school. Students engage in training to provide skills necessary for post-secondary education or a viable career. It is the only program that tracks and provides services to students for one year after graduation.