As the final week of the Readiness Institute Summer Discovery drew to a close, learners took full advantage of the unique opportunities that the program has offered for the last six weeks. They traveled on their final field trips, gathered on-site for the last time for workshops, and made connections and discoveries that will last a lifetime.
On the final day of the program, Pittsburgh and Central PA cohorts joined together in Pittsburgh for Discovery Day, a celebration and culmination of all the things they accomplished over the summer. Read on to see how they spent their final week in the classroom and out in the community, exploring communications and soft skills and career pathways in the arts.
Pittsburgh Workshops and Trips
Week six in Pittsburgh kicked off with some inspiring lessons and activities from guest speakers and workshops at the Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center at Penn State. Several of the learners met with Kevin Schuyler, student trustee of the Penn State Board of Trustees, who talked to them about his professional pathway and experience at Penn State as a student and leader.
“I wish I had this opportunity when I was younger,” Schuyler said. “I’m impressed by the physical space itself and the engaging student programs! The Readiness Institute injects energy and meaning into the Center.”
Learners also welcomed guest speaker Jordan Atchison, chief marketing officer at Corkboard Concepts, to chat about his background and the world of digital marketing. That afternoon, Daniel Dzodin and Corinne Shetter from Schools that Can joined cohorts for a workshop on communication.
During the workshop, they created an open and comfortable space to talk about communication ideas and actions. They also got to do some fun activities like “hit or flop” (Travis Scott or Post Malone was quite the debate!), elevator pitches, and asking leaders questions in the “hot seat.”
For off-site field trips this week, Pittsburgh learners visited Gecko Robotics, a leader in robot-enabled ultrasonics, located on the Northside. They toured the facility and even test drove some of the robots that are used to inspect and monitor infrastructure.
“It was awesome to see all the robotics in the building, and being able to see how people have to work together to create one robot is crazy. I also liked how they might have career opportunities for me if I wanted to go here.” — Daniel, Pittsburgh learner
Cohorts also visited Duquesne City School District in the afternoon and met with Superintendent Dr. Sue A. Mariani. She discussed the district’s history of closing the high school and losing students in the past and the priorities to increase student enrollment and support. Learners also participated in a human-centered design activity to help revise the district’s proposal to better reflect the needs and desires of high school students.
“I love how they are trying to integrate the real world into what students are learning.” — Mason, Pittsburgh learner
Central PA Speakers and Tours
Learners in Altoona got their bodies and creativity moving with their on-site speakers and workshops this week. First up was Lisa Miller, a brown belt and coach at PA Grappling. She introduced learners to the art of jiu jitsu and showed them several self-defense techniques. Learners were also joined by Pamela Etters, executive director for Central PA Festival of the Arts. Etters shared her professional pathway and background on the festival — a tradition of art and entertainment for more than 125,000 visitors. She also brought some art supplies to bring out the learners’ creative sides. (Scroll through the Central PA photo gallery to check out Mr. K’s “Super K!”)
The Johnstown cohort also got to learn some jiu jitsu moves with John Miller at Flood City Jiu-Jitsu, and then in the afternoon, they welcomed Joseph Hensel from Ironwood Artifacts.
For their off-site trips this week, all Central PA learners visited the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, an American art museum in Altoona. Heidi Manfred led them through a therapeutic workshop to better understand the connection between expressing emotions and abstract art. The first activity was to quickly paint what the words calm and anxious mean to them. They also made a totem pole by painting what their past, present, and futures look like.
In the afternoon, Altoona learners headed to Altoona Community Theatre, where Tara Enedy (executive director) and Alice Oswald (administrative assistant) provided an engaging tour of the building. They got to check out (and try on!) some costumes, interact with a children’s theatre camp, and even dive into some short scenes and action acting.
In Johnstown, learners spent their afternoon at Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center, a creative and cultural exploration hub. They learned about the center’s activities and then worked on needle-felting projects.
Discovery Day
The final day of Summer Discovery was a celebration and reflection of new skills, pathways, and friendships. All learners in the Pittsburgh, Altoona, and Johnstown cohorts joined together once again as they did on the first day at the Energy Innovation Center in Pittsburgh. The day included guest speakers Rich Fitzgerald (executive director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission) and India Krug (organizer at The Civics Center), a visit from the Penn State admissions team, and activities to wrap up the summer’s discoveries.
Rich Fitzgerald talked to learners about his background and the countless opportunities for them in Pittsburgh. He urged them to go out and learn new things, but to then come back to Pittsburgh and use their talents here.
“When we work together, we can make Pittsburgh a better place for everyone,” he said. “You have opportunities here in Pittsburgh. We want to make sure you know that.”
India Krug chatted with learners about one major opportunity coming up for them: voting. She provided background about the history of voting, local activists, and key information about why voting is so important. She also asked learners, “If you woke up as president, what would you change?” Some of the responses: make college free, change health care, update driver’s license laws, and give teens free cars. As one learner put it: “I would change everything.”
Isaac Leonard, director for the Penn State admissions team in Pittsburgh, also gave learners some great information about applying to college, tips about scholarships and financial aid, and insight into the Penn State experience.
Another big moment for learners during the final day was presenting their Keystone Collective Impact projects that they’ve been working on all summer. At the beginning of the program, groups of 3–4 students each identified one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that they believed was the most significant to address in their community. They did research, brainstormed solutions, explored ways to take action, and showcased their ideas to their peers. Each of the five cohorts in Pittsburgh and Central PA voted for their favorite to be presented during Discovery Day.
The final presentations included:
- Quality Education by Jackson, Florence, Teegan
- Health and Well-being by Jayden, Claire, Ethan
- Decent Work and Economic Growth by Will, Snigdha, Ji, Alina
- Quality Education by Dov, LaQuan, Ojas
- Climate Action by CJ, Ella, Morgan, Anush
“I didn’t realize the depth of the program and how much I was going to get out it. All the connections I made with my cohort, other cohorts, and even the Central PA group are so incredible. I’ve gained so much experience, and going into my senior year I feel more prepared for the real world because of everything I’ve done this summer. Everything had meaning and impact.” — Snigdha, Pittsburgh learner
An Unforgettable Summer
On the final days of Summer Discovery, we look back on some of the memorable experiences over the past six weeks.
This summer, learners have toured health care facilities, robotics centers, art museums, media companies, and major corporations. They explored topics like mental health, communications styles, innovative tech, entrepreneurship, community service, and sustainability, and they heard from leaders across industries. They worked together on group projects and problem-solving activities, and they reflected on their personal pathways and future selves. And most importantly, they made friendships, connections, and memories to last a lifetime.
Thank you to our partners and guest speakers for dedicating your time, knowledge, and workplaces to help guide our students through this transformative experience. We are sure you will be seeing many of these learners making an impact on the future workforce and community.
To our 2024 Summer Discovery learners: thank you for spending your summer with us. Your story is just beginning, and we are so excited to see what the future brings for each of you. Go out as agents of change in your communities and inspire others. Shine bright and make a difference. You are READY!
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