Junior Achievement announces 2025 JA Inspire Career Exploration Experience
Feb. 12—WILKES-BARRE — Jim Cummings, vice president of marketing for Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, said the Junior Achievement Inspire program is NEPA's premier event to help area students learn about career opportunities and the skills they'll need to be successful in those careers.
"Mericle and our marketing arm, DiscoverNEPA, are proud to again be the presenting sponsors," Cummings said. "We hope area school districts encourage their students to take full advantage of this wonderful opportunity."
Junior Achievement of NEPA this week announced the 2025 JA Inspire Career Exploration Experience to be held on April 1-2 at Mohegan Pennsylvania Convention Center.
This is the third year Junior Achievement of NEPA is hosting this experience, which engages high school students in hands-on, interactive exhibits with local companies and organizations, exposing them to career opportunities, providing career-readiness educational sessions, creating connections and inspiring them toward a pathway for future success.
Junior Achievement NEPA president, Susan Magnotta said JA Inspire 2024 was a resounding success with more than 2,300 students from 27 area school representing 21 school districts attending the two-day event. The event brought high school students together with business professionals from 80-plus local businesses, trades, educational institutions, organizations and entrepreneurs.
"JA Inspire provided students with the opportunity to learn about careers in a variety of industries and sectors," Magnotta said. "And 97% of students who attended last year's JA Inspire said that their experience helped them determine their future career."
Magnotta said Junior Achievement of NEPA thanks the many sponsors who are instrumental in providing this life-changing program to students by making JA Inspire a reality in NEPA. This includes: Presenting Sponsor: Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services & DiscoverNEPA, and Industry Champions: M&T Bank, Geisinger, Building Blocks Learning Center, William G. McGowan Charitable Fund, Procter & Gamble, UGI Utilities, Jacobi Capital Management LLC, the Times Leader and Cumulus Media.
"We are grateful that so many businesses and organizations are coming together once again to bring this hands-on, interactive learning experience to young people in our region," Magnotta said. "JA programs, like Inspire, provide students with an opportunity to discover their interests and passions and get better prepared to make informed decisions about their future upon high school graduation. These young people are the future of our workforce and our community, and we want them to be successful."
Magnotta said the career exploration experience will bring students together with local businesses and professionals in 11 industry clusters for a hands-on and immersive experience. In addition, Magnotta said students will benefit from various career readiness programs on topics such as interview skills, resume building, and career assessments.
"We're thrilled to be introducing new experiences, technology, and exhibitors for students to explore this year," said Ruth Corcoran, JA Inspire 2025 event chair. "By visiting organizations in our new Non-Profit Sector, students will not only learn about the diversity of jobs available within that industry, but also the important services they provide to our community. An expanded Entrepreneur Lounge will enable students to meet and talk one-on-one with successful small business owners in different fields, including art, marketing, restaurants, fitness, and more."
Industry Clusters Represented at the 2025 JA Inspire Live Career Exploration event:
—Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Technology & Trades.
—Hospitality, Media & Marketing.
—Banking & Finance.
—Business, Insurance, Sales & Service.
—Health Services.
—Education & Training.
—Energy, Utilities & Environment.
—Government & Public Safety.
—Manufacturing & Transportation.
—Entrepreneurship.
—Non-Profit.
Schools and businesses interested in participating:
For information on attending as a school, becoming a JA exhibitor to engage with the future workforce, or sponsoring this important initiative, visit nepa.ja.org or contact Alysia Clancy at 570-602-3600.
If you are a parent interested in having your child attend, feel free to contact your school and have them contact JA.
Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
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