Students from across the region attend JA Inspire event
Kasey Hart, a sophomore at Valley View High School, operates a miniature remote-control excavation vehicle at the Mericle Construction Inc. exhibit.
Sydney Allabaugh | Times Leader
Alex Snyder, a junior at Holy Redeemer High School, participates in a simulation at the Tobyhanna Army Depot exhibit.
Sydney Allabaugh | Times Leader
Ethan Domenick, a sophomore at Valley View High School, participates in a welding simulation at a Luzerne County Community College exhibit.
Sydney Allabaugh | Times Leader
A student sits in an excavator at the Medico Construction Equipment Inc. exhibit.
Sydney Allabaugh | Times Leader
Students play mini golf to earn the opportunity to answer a trivia question for a cash reward at the NET Credit Union exhibit.
Sydney Allabaugh | Times Leader
Students visit UGI’s table at the 2026 JA Inspire Career Exploration Experience.
Sydney Allabaugh | Times Leader
Students participate in the ‘The Game of REAL Life’ breakout session hosted by the Wyoming Valley United Way.
Sydney Allabaugh | Times Leader
Thousands of regional students explored career paths through interactive activities at Junior Achievement of NEPA’s 2026 JA Inspire Career Exploration Experience.
About 3,000 students from more than 30 school districts across six counties visited about 90 hands-on exhibits, ranging from virtual reality simulations to mini golf, during the two-day event held Tuesday and Wednesday at the Mohegan Pennsylvania Convention Center.
“It’s the future of the region, these kids,” said Susan Magnotta, president of Junior Achievement of NEPA. “We’re trying to expose them to all the jobs that are here.”
This year is the fourth annual career exploration experience. Magnotta said it continues to grow each year, offering more exhibitions and welcoming more students.
This year’s event features 10 industry clusters, ranging from health services to skilled trades to government and public safety.
Magnotta said the interactive component is a unique aspect of the event and has resulted in a high-energy environment for students.
“It’s all about the connections that the students are making today with the exhibitors, with the actual exhibits themselves,” Magnotta said. “The kids are super engaged.”
Mericle Construction Inc. offered several interactive exhibits, including operating miniature remote-control excavation vehicles and assembling PVC pipes.
“We want the kids to know that there’s many things we do in our company, whether it’s excavation, electricity, plumbing, and carpentry,” said Tom Thornton, a Mericle Construction marketing employee. “This gives them some activities to get a taste of it.”
In addition to exhibits, the event featured interactive breakout sessions, such as “The Game of REAL Life,” hosted by United Way of Wyoming Valley. The session taught about resources offered through United Way initiatives and its partners in a game format.
“We just want (students) to graduate from high school on a really good pathway to economic mobility for themselves so that they have good futures,” Magnotta said.
According to a Junior Achievement survey, 97% of the participating students last year reported that the event directly helped them determine their future career paths.
This year’s participating students spoke highly of the event, noting exhibits that interested them.
Takeira Wright, a Wyoming Valley West student interested in pursuing nursing, visited several college tables.
“It’s really interesting,” Wright said about her experience.
Alex Snyder, a Holy Redeemer High School student, said the event offered a lot of good information.
“Everyone’s really kind and just ready to share what they learned through their years in the industries,” Snyder said.
Local journalism matters, and your support makes it possible. You can help sustain this work by making a donation or choosing one of our subscription options. Subscribers enjoy valuable benefits, including full access to our e-edition, a reduced ad experience on timesleader.com, and more.
Your support helps ensure independent, high-quality local news remains available today and for future generations. Thank you for standing with local journalism.
