ALABAMA A&M and AUBURN UNIVERSITIES

AUBURN, JULY 9---Eric Chester, renowned for his high-impact, motivational speeches and seminars, is the keynote speaker for the 1999 State 4-H Congress opening ceremonies July 13 at Alabama A&M University. More than 500 youth, volunteer leaders and Extension agents are expected to attend.

Since 1986, Chester has been listening to, speaking to and working with "Generation Why." He's addressed more than 2 million teens in his presentations and reached countless others through his motivational books and tapes.  He's authored four books, including TeenPower, TeenPower Too, Pre-Teen Power and Teen EmPower.

Dialed-in to the mindset of "Generation Why," Chester has gained a reputation nationally as the guy who can break through. In short, he causes teens to examine their choices while motivating them to create a better future.

In the past 10 years, Chester's been featured at more than 350 state, regional and national youth conferences and rallies throughout North America. He speaks at more than 100 schools a year.

With an undergraduate degree in marketing and education, Chester became a high school business teacher and varsity football coach by age 22. While teaching by day and studying by night, Chester earned a master's degree in counseling.

At age 27, he founded a sports promotion company that became the largest of its kind in Colorado. He has served as a master of ceremonies for various sporting events and as a broadcaster for ESPN and PSN. Chester also served as the host for Teen Talk 2000, a regionally broadcast PBS talk show series.

Through his work with hundreds of schools and organizations, Chester discovered his passion: helping others reach
their true potential.

Chester also will address participants in the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation's 4-H Leadership Program July 14 at Alabama A&M University.

SOURCE: DR. WILLIE LARKIN, leadership and organizational development specialist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System (334) 844-3681.