As 2024 comes to a close, the team at the Readiness Institute is taking a moment to celebrate a year filled with connection and growth. From equipping high school students with the tools to shape their futures to supporting Penn State students on their pathways to success, the Readiness Institute has continued to uplift learners and communities alike. Here are some of the highlights from an incredible year.
A Foundation of Discovery for K-12 Students
The heart of our mission is preparing students for the future — whatever that may look like for them. The Summer Discovery program has been the launching point for that commitment, and this year, we had our biggest and best summer yet. This summer, 68 rising high school seniors from Pittsburgh and Central Pennsylvania participated in the six-week journey of exploration and learning, which included:
- Immersive Experiences: visits to more than 40 regional businesses and organizations to explore career paths in robotics and tech, health care, sustainability, agriculture, arts, education, and more
- Campus Connections: trips to several Penn State campuses, including University Park, Altoona, and Greater Allegheny
- Inspiring Guest Speakers: insight from industry leaders about their personal and professional journeys, including notable visits from Russell Reading (PA Department of Agriculture), Rich Fitzgerald (Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission), Kevin Schuyler (Penn State Board of Trustees), and Larry Terry (Penn State Outreach)
- Practical Workshops: afternoon sessions covering topics like social-emotional learning, financial literacy, civic engagement, and more
- Guidance and Mentorship: support from a team of dedicated instructors for current and future mentorship
In the fall, we continued support for Summer Discovery alumni with discovery workshops focused on college and career readiness. Highlights included a college essay workshop led by Deyo Olorunnisola, Director of Admissions for Schreyer Honors College, a virtual Scholarship Do’s & Don’ts workshop, and a Penn State application session held at the Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center with the Pittsburgh admissions team.
Other ways we engaged with K-12 students this year:
- Community workshops: The team hosted several interactive workshops for high schoolers at some of the regional Penn State campuses, addressing AI, entrepreneurship, and future readiness. A standout session at Penn State Fayette explored the power of entrepreneurship to drive meaningful change.
- Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamps: In partnership with the Mark Cuban Foundation, we hosted another successful year of AI Bootcamps, providing high school students with foundational knowledge in artificial intelligence.
- Launch Your Future Program: Collaborating with Carnegie Science Center, we supported a cohort of high schoolers as they explored career pathways and prepared for their futures.
- STEM Summit: Joining forces with the Pittsburgh Technology Council, we participated in the STEM Summit at Carnegie Science Center. Students and educators from across Pittsburgh heard from keynote speaker John Dick (Founder and CEO of Civic Science) before touring local companies like Duolingo, Google, Moonshot Museum, Astrobotic, and more.
Continuing the Journey with College Students
This year, we expanded our initiatives to help Penn State and other college students succeed in their academic and professional pathways:
- Pittsburgh Robotics Network Discovery Day: We coordinated with Penn State student groups, faculty, and campuses to attend the day and showcase the best of Penn State’s robotics programs and cutting-edge research.
- Pittsburgh Connect: Penn State Student Networking Summit: More than 90 students from nine campuses and 13 colleges joined us for a day of networking with 22 local employers and community organizations. Workshops covered essential skills like building a professional brand and sustainability-focused career paths, and the industry panel featured leaders sharing insights on Pittsburgh’s workforce and how students can stand out.
- Alumni Engagement: We kept the connections strong with Summer Discovery alumni, hosting a summer barbecue reunion at Highland Park to foster continued mentorship and camaraderie.
Community and Educator Engagement
Our work extends beyond students to educators and communities. Highlights included:
- We partnered with the Hammel Family Human Rights Initiative at Penn State to host a workshop for educators on “Framing Difficult Issues to Support K-12 Classroom Discussion.” The event brought together representatives from the Readiness Institute, Schools That Can, The Consortium for Public Education, and local school districts.
- We welcomed four representatives from the Academy of Civil Service under the President of Turkmenistan to our space as a United States host site and shared best practices in education and leadership.
Thank You to Our Partners
We’re deeply grateful to the partners, speakers, workshop hosts, field trip leaders, and instructors who made our 2024 programs possible.
Special recognition goes to our 2024 Readiness Institute Awards recipients:
- Stanley Thompson Future Ready Leader of the Year Award: Dr. Tom Butler (Executive Director, AIU8)
- Tracey DeBlase Huston Community Leader of the Year Award: Nayli Russo (Founder and CEO, Russo Leadership)
In the News
Our work garnered attention from local media this year, including:
- An interview with Natalie Bencivenga on KDKA Radio
- A feature on the “life-changing” Summer Discovery program from WTAJ-TV
- A spotlight on Penn State’s presence in Pittsburgh with Comcast Newsmakers
Looking Ahead
As we look forward to 2025, we remain committed to supporting and uplifting students, educators, and communities to discover their potential and shape a brighter future. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this incredible journey. Here’s to another year of readiness and impact!
