Career Mentoring Programs & Community Events

PartnerUp is a career-readiness program led by PNC and a coalition of regional employers who believe that future talent is found in our own backyards.  When employers PartnerUp with educators and students with the shared goal to help young talent take the first steps towards a secure future, everyone thrives.  The curriculum prepares 12^th graders to launch careers after high school graduation by engaging them in sessions focused on skill assessments, resume building, and interview prep.  The program ends with interviews for positions in our area with competitive pay, health and tuition benefits, and potential career advancement.  Email Mrs. Keller at [email protected] to sign up.

Check out these resources for more information.

PartnerUp WQED video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrwycb61-NA

PartnerUp Website: www.pnc.jobs/partnerup

Are you a high school Junior interested in a career in a STEAM-related field? The Westinghouse Science Honors Institute (WSHI) offers a free lecture series from numerous experts in their fields, including NASA, UPMC, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and more! Join us for 8 Saturday morning presentations from October - March. Participation in the program includes a certificate of completion (great for college applications!) and the chance to meet and listen to leading industry experts in a wide range of STEAM careers. The program also includes the opportunity to tour the Breazeale Nuclear Reactor at Penn State University. Email Mrs. Keller at [email protected] if interested. Click HERE for the registration link.

Students and families are invited to the Big Sewickley Creek Watershed Festival on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 11:00AM–4:00PM at the Big Sewickley Creek Fire Hall, 1850 Big Sewickley Creek Road, Sewickley, PA 15143. Hosted by the Big Sewickley Creek Watershed Association and Big Sewickley Creek Volunteer Fire Department, this free, family-friendly festival features three presentations: Allegheny Land Trust and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers discussing a local flow study. LSCWA exploring beavers in Western Pennsylvania. BSCWA discussing a stream restoration project with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. More than a dozen local environmental organizations will host informational tables. Families can also enjoy kids’ crafts and activities, fire trucks, a seed swap, and Travelin Tom’s Coffee Truck. Food will be available for purchase from the fire department’s Ladies Auxiliary. Come ask questions, connect with local organizations, and learn about projects supporting our watershed and the surrounding community.

Explore Pittsburgh’s past, present, and future alongside students from across Allegheny County at the Heinz History Center on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 9:30 AM–12:30 PM. During this morning experience, students will hear directly from Andrew Masich, President and CEO of the Heinz History Center, and get an inside look at the work of preserving Pittsburgh’s stories. Participants are encouraged to explore, ask questions, share their perspectives, and consider how the region’s history connects to its future. This opportunity invites students to think about their own role in Pittsburgh’s next chapter while connecting with peers from across the county. Whether you are interested in history, storytelling, community involvement, or simply learning more about the place you call home, the morning offers a chance to discover new connections. Students and families can discuss how this experience connects to personal interests and future goals. Come curious and ready to contribute your own perspective. Register here

Interested in a health care career? Explore your options through Virtual Health Career Exploration, offered in partnership with Pennsylvania hospitals and health systems. Two sessions will connect students directly with professionals working in high-demand health care fields. Participants will learn what a typical workday looks like in entry-level and advanced roles across different settings. Professionals will explain education and training pathways and share firsthand advice about preparing for a future in health care. These virtual sessions offer students and families a starting point for discussing career interests, comparing pathways, and identifying questions to explore further. Click HERE to register.

Thursday, November 12, 2026 | 9:00–9:45 AM
Featured careers: Nursing and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

Thursday, November 19, 2026 | 9:00–9:45 AM
Featured careers: Medical Assistants, Pharmacy Technicians, Sterile Processing Technician, and Physical and Occupational Therapists and Therapist Assistants.

What could your future at UPMC look like? The annual UPMC Pathways for Students Career Education Event introduces high school students and young adults to more than 50 career areas across UPMC and UPMC Health Plan. Students can connect with professionals, participate in hands-on learning, and explore potential employment opportunities in hospital and office settings. Career areas may include nursing, imaging, pharmacy, emergency medical services, information technology, engineering and maintenance, marketing, accounting, and finance. UPMC’s “Choose Your Tomorrow” framework helps students connect their interests with career possibilities. Whether you enjoy helping people, working with technology, solving problems, or completing hands-on tasks, this event offers a chance to discover options you may not have considered. Students and families can use this opportunity to start conversations about goals, education, and training. Learn more about UPMC’s career exploration framework at mycareer.upmc.com/opportunity and explore where your interests could lead. Email Mrs. Keller at [email protected] if you are interested in attending.

Explore how your interests connect to NASA! Discover how technical skills help NASA explore the universe! NASA’s Career Technical Education (CTE) Day takes place Wednesday, December 9, 2026, at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, with in-person and virtual participation options. Space exploration relies on careers in welding, machining, robotics, coding, electronics, and materials science. This event introduces students to the engineers, researchers, and technicians who work together to design and build space hardware.

Virtual Career Connection: 12:30–1:15 PM ET. Registration deadline: December 2, 2026

Email Mrs. Keller at [email protected] if interested in attending.

The Society of Women Engineers is the world's largest advocate for women in engineering and technology with a community of over 47,000 professional and collegiate members. SWENext is a way for students to become a part of the SWE engineering community as a student through the age of 18. Although our program focuses on girls, all students are encouraged to get involved.  What’s available from SWENext…Best practices on applying for scholarships. Advice on what you can do each year in HS to prepare for college success. SWENext awards - be recognized for the awesome STEM things you do. Invitations to STEM events (camps, competitions, networking, etc.). Leadership training and workshops for HS students. Women engineers and engineering students to answer your questions or become your mentor. Monthly newsletters, geared towards HS students. SWENext clubs - you can start one at your school with others STEM-minded students. Any student can become a SWENexter. For those younger than 13, a parent will need to be the primary contact. Click HERE to sign up!

Learn from local leaders in Manufacturing.  Click HERE for the recorded discussion.

It’s really difficult to imagine what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes. In essence, that’s what students are trying to do when they explore careers. Are they suited to the work? What’s a typical day on the job like? Are they good candidates for the necessary education or training?  To help young people begin answering those questions, the Consortium has launched Career Journeys. This video series is made up of informal conversations that we’re filming with people in a wide array of occupations spanning many industries. The conversations should give students at least a taste of what each career is like and help them know whether they’d like to learn more, perhaps through research, a job-shadow or some other work-based learning experience.  Check back often because we are building a library.  Click HERE to access the complete collection organized by career cluster.

Troutwood was established with a dream to bring financial independence to all those willing to work for it. Founded out of Carnegie Mellon University’s Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, the company designs and develops financial applications and educational tools.  Click HERE to listen in to learn from professionals about the power of investing.  

One of the greatest benefits of Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW) is the opportunity for students to interact with many dynamic business leaders, world-class motivational speakers and subject matter experts. The Foundation for Free Enterprise Education proudly offers a Speaker Series which will give viewers a peek into a broad array of viewpoints, subject matter and people, all supporting their vital mission of teaching students about their critical role in the American free enterprise system and society.  They hope that you find these videos useful career exploration tools, and encourage you to connect directly with the presenters for more information as you travel your path to success!  Click HERE for access to the complete Speaker Series.

Self-Advocacy may sound simple - but it can be quite challenging skills to master. Chaz Kellem helps us learn about how making decisions about your life and learning how to gather information can be so important for your future. This skill can be a vital addition to success as students transition to post-secondary education and employment.  Click HERE to view the presentation.