Juniors at McCaskey High School are not waiting until senior year to think about life after graduation. Through McCaskey’s Future Ready Center, students participated in the Discovering Paths Mentoring Program in partnership with the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, engaging in a year-long journey of career exploration, mentorship, and real-world learning.
The Discovering Paths program connects high school juniors with local professionals across a wide range of industries. Each student is paired with a mentor who provides guidance, career insight, and exposure to professional environments throughout Lancaster County. Students participate in workshops, hear from guest speakers, attend networking events, and take part in job shadowing experiences that bring career pathways to life.
At McCaskey, this work is anchored in the Future Ready Center, which helps students explore college and career options, develop professional skills, and build clear post-graduation plans. Through this partnership, students strengthened essential soft skills such as communication, professionalism, and networking. They practiced interviewing, asked thoughtful questions, and gained a deeper understanding of industries ranging from healthcare and engineering to hospitality and the skilled trades.
Offered at no cost to students, the program reflects the School District of Lancaster’s commitment to expanding educational experiences that provide mentorship and experiential learning opportunities. It also aligns directly with our Portrait of a Graduate, which emphasizes communication, collaboration, resilience, and civic-minded leadership.
Discovering Paths is a bridge between school and community. It strengthens our local workforce pipeline while empowering students with confidence and clarity about their futures.
We are grateful to the Lancaster Chamber, the dedicated mentors who invested their time and expertise, and the team at McCaskey’s Future Ready Center for ensuring our students have access to meaningful, hands-on opportunities.
When schools and community partners work together, our students do not just prepare for the future. They begin building it.