Cisco Systems Supports National Groundhog Job Shadow Day 2006; More Than 100 Cisco U.S. Locations to Host Networking Academy Students.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Starting February 2, Cisco Systems(R) (NASDAQ:CSCO) will kick off Job Shadow Days at five primary sites across the country: Atlanta, Ga., Chicago, Ill., Herndon, Va., Raleigh, N.C., and San Jose, Calif. In conjunction with its business partners and customers, Cisco(R) will be helping thousands of students from the Cisco Networking Academy(R) program learn first-hand about working in the information technology (IT) industry. By May, Cisco will have hosted students in up to 100 field sites across all 50 states.

The Cisco Networking Academy provides students with the Internet technology skills essential in a global economy. The Program offers students and workers who want to expand their IT knowledge or consider a career in the high-tech industry valuable networking and IT skills.

"Hosting students from the Networking Academy provides Cisco employees with a tremendous opportunity to give back to the community and help shape the future leaders of our industry," said Tae Yoo, vice president of corporate affairs, Cisco Systems. "Job shadowing presents a wonderful chance for students to broaden their horizons. The program exposes young people to career opportunities and helps translate how what they learn in the classroom leads to success in the workplace."

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that demand for IT professionals will grow by nearly 50 percent through 2012. Cisco's Job Shadow Day will help students from Job Corp centers, high schools and colleges throughout the country position themselves for highly rewarding futures in the IT Industry.

Designed to encourage students to participate in careers and pursue educational opportunities in IT, Cisco's Job Shadow Day events feature technology demonstrations, facility tours and the opportunity for students to hear directly from a variety of technology professionals about what a career in IT entails on a day-to-day basis. Technology professionals will give presentations, and students will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with mentors during lunchtime roundtables and throughout the day.

National job shadowing is a coordinated effort of America's Promise, Junior Achievement, the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor honored Cisco as a Corporate Gold Award recipient as a result of its Job Shadow Day efforts. Cisco employees devote hundreds of hours to Job Shadow Day activities, and as a result, Cisco provides a matching donation to Junior Achievement.

Additional information about Cisco's Job Shadow Day initiative is available at: http://www.cisco.com/go/promoteitcareers

For more information about the Cisco Networking Academy Program, visit: http://www.cisco.com/go/netacad

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

Cisco, Cisco Systems, the Cisco Systems logo, and Networking Academy are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partnership does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. This document is Cisco Public Information.