Through the months of June and July, Technical College High School (TCHS) Brandywine Campus in Downingtown, TCHS Pickering Campus in Phoenixville, and TCHS Pennock's Bridge Campus in West Grove held their annual Summer Career Academies program, providing rising sixth through ninth graders with enriching career exploration opportunities.

 

With camps available at all three TCHS campuses, students could choose two academies from over 13 career fields based on their interests and future aspirations. Some of the programs offered included health career pathways, electronics and robotics, animal science, and graphic design, each taught by seasoned field professionals.

 

Claire Conlow, a rising eighth grade student at Twin Valley Middle School, appreciated the variety and relevance of material she learned during the week. As a participant in both the Criminal Investigation and Cosmetology academies, she is eager to return next year and explore both fields further.

 

“Criminal investigation has a lot of hands-on activities,” said Conlow. “We’re now first-aid and CPR certified, which we can use in the future.”

 

Jayna Desai, a student at Marsh Creek Sixth Grade Center, also expressed that earning useful certificates was her favorite part of the week. After experimenting with multiple career paths during the Tomorrow’s Millionaires and Criminal Investigation programs, she shared her future goals of becoming a math sports analyst and owning a baking business on the side.

 

“Many middle school aged students have no idea what they want to do when they get older,” said Becky Greene, program coordinator of Summer Career Academies. “It is so powerful to see the kids’ expressions when they realize that they can attend a school where they can learn about a trade or earn a certificate.” 

 

Greene also explained that in each of her nine years assisting in the program, she has witnessed many students watch their older siblings attend and eagerly await the year they can participate themselves. Additionally, she shared that repeat registrations are common, with some students attending up to three summers in a row to try new programs or reconnect with instructors they loved.

 

“All of our teachers are really nice and give us our own one-on-one time,” said Emilia Rossi, a sixth grader at Octorara Intermediate School. “I’m already picking out which academies I’m going to do next year!”

 

For more information on Summer Career Academies and 2025 enrollment, visit http://www.cciu.org/SummerCareerAcademies