800 Students Discover Local Career Opportunities at Career Jam™ Explore at HVCC North
On Friday, October 23, 800 eighth- and ninth-grade students from eight Capital Region schools gathered at Hudson Valley Community College North in Malta for Career Jam™ Explore. The interactive event connected students from Saratoga County and surrounding communities with local employers, industry professionals, and educational pathways, introducing them to career opportunities across the region.
The Career Jam™ experience began in the classroom with the Student Discovery survey, developed in partnership with the Siena Research Institute. On campus, students kicked off their day with a high-energy Prep Rally featuring a DJ, trivia, challenges, and prizes. The interactive session introduced students to career clusters, encouraged them to consider new possibilities, and prepared them for the Exploration Floor, where local businesses and organizations brought career pathways to life through hands-on activities and conversations.
“At Hudson Valley Community College, we believe that meaningful career exploration should start long before high school graduation,” said Dr. Michael Brophy, president of Hudson Valley Community College. “Here on our North campus, the TEC-SMART facility provides specialized education and training in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and STEM fields. Bringing Career Jam™ Explore to this campus allows us to connect local students directly with the industries shaping our region’s future. Together with our regional business partners, we’re helping spark curiosity, inspire learning, and introduce young people to exciting career possibilities.”
“A strong community is built when we empower our youth to discover their unique potential,” said Steve Bulger, Saratoga County administrator. “Saratoga County is home to a growing and diverse economy, and Career Jam™ Explore demonstrates that students don’t have to look far to find exceptional careers. By bringing schools, businesses, and civic leaders together, we’re inspiring students early and helping them envision a vibrant future right in their own community.”
“To truly inspire students, we have to let them experience technology firsthand,” said Christine McLear, senior lead, workforce development at GlobalFoundries. “Career Jam™ Explore brings the fun and innovation of advanced manufacturing to life. With the semiconductor industry expanding in Saratoga County, we want students to realize they can build incredible careers and help shape the future of technology right here in their own community.”
“New York’s growing clean energy economy is creating new opportunities and career pathways for young people to explore,” said Holli Monroe, director, workforce development and training, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). “Through partnerships with organizations like Career Jam™ Explore, NYSERDA can engage with students early and spark curiosity about how their talents and interests can align with future careers within New York’s clean energy industry.”