The Readiness Institute at Penn State officially launched the 2025 Summer Discovery program earlier this week—welcoming 64 rising high school seniors from across Pittsburgh and Central Pennsylvania. This diverse group of students is made up of future leaders and changemakers from different schools and backgrounds, united by one goal: to explore who they are, who they want to be, and how they can make an impact in the world.
This year, students are participating in one of three cohort locations: Pittsburgh (40 students from high schools across Allegheny County), Altoona (12 students from Bedford and Blair counties), or Johnstown (12 students from Cambria and Somerset counties). Many are the only representatives from their schools in the program, yet they are already forming bonds that transcend zip codes and school mascots.
As our Executive Director, Dr. Justin Aglio, shared during opening day, we have just one rule for the summer: “All we ask is that you show up.” And show up they did—with curiosity, enthusiasm, and a readiness to grow.
Opening Day: New Beginnings and Shared Purpose
Opening day set the tone for what promises to be a summer filled with opportunity and personal transformation. All students gathered at the Energy Innovation Center in Pittsburgh to meet each other, hear from guest speakers, and begin reflecting on the skills, goals, and growth they’ll focus on this summer.
Emma Hance, Senior Program Manager at the Readiness Institute and the driving force behind Summer Discovery, introduced the staff and summer instructors and shared how each member of the team would help guide students throughout the summer.
Guest speaker, Josiah Gilliam, Executive Director of PUMP, delivered an inspiring message, encouraging students to explore Pittsburgh’s potential and their own.
“I hope you consider Pittsburgh for your future,” he said. “I hope you live your absolute best life this summer.”
A highlight of the day was a student alum panel featuring Alina (2024 cohort), Christian (2021), and Chiara (2021)—a few of whom have returned in new roles this year. Christian is now serving as a marketing intern, and Chiara is a junior instructor in the Pittsburgh cohort. They spoke about the friendships they built, the value of networking, and how Summer Discovery opened unexpected doors for them.
“At the end of this program, you’ll realize how much this program and these people will help you,” said Alina.
Students also engaged in their first big reflection of the summer, responding to the question: What readiness skills do you need to be successful as you transition from high school to life after graduation?
Their answers were thoughtful and personal:
- Responsibility
- Empathy
- Time management
- Ability to fail
- Trust yourself – confidence
- Discipline
- Networking
This activity planted the seeds for personal growth and skill development that will continue to blossom over the next several weeks.
Pittsburgh Cohort: Passion, Wellness, and Real-World Exploration
Students in the Pittsburgh cohort launched into their first full week with workshops centered around education and counseling as future career pathways, and social-emotional learning as a key community readiness skill.
The week began with a session led by Nayli Russo, who introduced students to the Working Genius model and invited them to reflect on how they approach work, learning, and relationships.
“I thought that Nayli Russo was very interesting. I think something that really stuck with me was her quote when she said, ‘no doesn’t mean no, it means to find another way.’ That was a really good outlook on things—to really achieve what you want to achieve, you just have to make it happen instead of waiting for it to come to you.”
– Sofia
Linsey Covert joined students for a workshop on wellness and brought energy and honesty to a conversation about mental health. Students participated in a “Founder of Your Life” activity, reflecting on what drives them and how they can shape their own stories.
“Her story was very inspiring. Everything she went through really spoke to a lot of people, including myself. It was fun to do our own Founder Story, so we could learn more about other people.”
– Granison
The Pittsburgh cohort also participated in a hands-on communication workshop led by Schools That Can Pittsburgh, where they practiced delivering elevator pitches and explored different modes of communication—listening, verbal, nonverbal, and written.
Outside the classroom, students had impactful off-site experiences at WQED and UpStreet, a youth mental health center.
“At WQED, I thought it was really cool seeing how many jobs went into video production and just the radio station in general. It was cool to see how they all depended on each other—you couldn’t have one without the other.”
– Lauren
“I’ve always been interested in film and music, so being able to see an actual studio and talk to the people behind it—it was very cool. It’s an industry I’d like to learn more about.”
– Ryder
“I really liked UpStreet and its big thing about peer mentoring. That’s something I want to do at my high school because I feel like it’s a lot easier for kids to talk to other kids rather than adults.”
– Sabrina
“At UpStreet, we role-played between being a mentor and mentee. It helped us understand what to say in certain situations and how to react in a supportive way.”
– Medha
Students also began their Community Design Challenge, where they will design real-world solutions for a client: Sustainable Pittsburgh. They learned about the client’s mission and practiced interview techniques to gather insights, setting the foundation for a summer-long collaborative project.
Central PA Cohorts: Exploring AI, Industry, and the Outdoors
In Altoona and Johnstown, students explored technology and AI as their future career pathways and inclusive technologies as their community readiness skill. Throughout the week, they met with leading professionals, visited cutting-edge companies, and even tested creek water for environmental health.
On-site speakers included:
- Jeff Remington from Penn State’s Center for Science and the Schools, who talked about the future of AI in education
- Jessica Kane, a professor at St. Francis University, who spoke about financial literacy and AI in higher education
- Mike Hruska and Brian Burkett, who each provided insights on emerging tech and digital transformation in the workplace
- Blair Conservation District, which introduced students to sustainability initiatives in their own communities
Off-site experiences immersed students in hands-on learning across industries and in the natural world. At New Pig, students saw engineering and product development in action. Lockheed Martin and St. Francis Aviation Center offered a look at careers in aerospace and aviation.
One of the most memorable excursions was to Nature Works Park, where students tested local water samples and learned about aquatic ecosystems.
“I’m not someone who really enjoys being outdoors and in nature, but I really enjoyed getting to learn about the different critters and the importance of creek health.”
– Theo
“If you’re not proud of what you do, run.”
– Maddalena, reflecting on what she learned from the team at Stuckey Automotive
From testing the health of Stoney Creek to learning how passion, precision, and purpose drive innovation, Central PA students saw first-hand how their skills and interests can connect to meaningful careers.
Looking Ahead
With one week complete, students across all three locations have already begun to build new skills, new relationships, and a deeper understanding of who they are and what they care about.
As Summer Discovery continues, we’ll be diving further into hands-on learning, community impact, and career exploration. The journey has just begun, and we can’t wait to see how each student continues to grow and show up.
Stay connected by following us on Instagram and LinkedIn for weekly highlights.
Photo Albums
Opening Day
Week One in Pittsburgh
Week One in Central PA
