More Than 1,200 Students Attend Destination Career Event at Ashland University: A Hands-On Exploration of Ashland County’s Workforce
ASHLAND, OH — May 8, 2025 — Over 1,200 middle and high school students from across Ashland County converged on Ashland University’s Niss Athletic Center Thursday for Destination Career Ashland County Featuring JA Inspire, an immersive, hands-on career exploration event hosted by Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio in partnership with the North Central Workforce Alliance.
The event brought together more than 50 local businesses and organizations to showcase a wide range of career pathways available in the region. Through interactive exhibits and simulations — from flight simulators to surgical practice on dummies, obstacle courses, and even virtual reality demonstrations of electrical line work and solar panel installation — students were given a unique opportunity to explore and “try on” potential careers.
“This event is about opening eyes,” said Joshua Lehman, President of Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, who guided attendees through the venue. “Many students don’t know what opportunities exist here locally. JA Inspire gives them a chance to physically interact with careers and understand what a day in that role might look like. That hands-on connection is often what sparks real interest and inspiration.”
One of the event’s many engaging stations was a “Dress for Success” challenge, where students selected a random career card and had to dress appropriately for that role’s interview. Other booths focused on resume writing, proper handshakes, mock interviews, and team-building exercises. A virtual reality station allowed students to “experience” various skilled trades — changing oil, performing surgeries, or installing solar panels — before speaking with representatives from real-world companies offering those jobs.
Lehman explained that JA Inspire is not just a one-day event. It’s the culmination of a broader classroom curriculum where students prepare by learning about local industries, career planning, networking, and soft skills through JA’s “Here to Career” platform. “The classroom work builds a foundation. Today’s event makes it real,” Lehman said.
Representative Melanie Miller was among the community leaders in attendance. She praised the event’s impact: “I love the number of students you’re able to reach and the hands-on format. You’re helping kids dream about their futures, and likely introducing them to career paths they never even considered before today.”
Miller, a former Junior Achievement volunteer, emphasized the importance of choosing a career one is passionate about. “You’re going to be doing it for many years,” she told Lehman. “This type of exposure is invaluable in helping students make those decisions.”
Ashland City Schools Superintendent Steve Paramore echoed that sentiment. “This is more than a career fair — it’s an experience,” he said. “Ashland City Schools is proud to partner with Junior Achievement and Ashland University to provide this opportunity. Our goal is to graduate productive young adults ready to enter the workforce, and events like this bring that goal closer to reality.”
Paramore highlighted the role of the Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center, which currently serves about 155 Ashland students, and commended the flexibility of teachers and transportation staff for making Thursday’s event possible.
While final survey data from this year’s event is still being gathered, Lehman noted that previous JA Inspire events have shown powerful results: “Roughly 85% of students say these events help them discover or reinforce interest in specific careers, and many indicate they’re more likely to stay in Ohio after graduation to pursue those careers.”
The event was made possible in part thanks to an Industry Sector Partnership Grant received by the North Central Workforce Alliance, which removed barriers to participation for many local companies and helped expand the program’s reach this year.
Lehman emphasized that Junior Achievement is actively seeking new business partners for future events and encouraged local employers to reach out. “We want to showcase as many career pathways as possible to support the future of Ashland County’s workforce.”
For more information or to get involved in next year’s Destination Career event, contact Patrick Clinage at [email protected] or visit the Junior Achievement website at https://jaofnco.ja.org.
