What Counts as Work-Based Learning? A Practical Guide for Schools
By Nisa Gül • Co-Author: Kimba Rund Work-based learning (WBL) has become an essential part of preparing students for life after high school. As schools expand career pathways and strengthen connections with local employers, more students are gaining opportunities to explore careers before graduation. Many people associate work-based learning with internships or apprenticeships. While those […]
Celebrating Student Success Through the Career+ Pathways™ Career Scholarship Account (CSA) Program
By Kimba Rund As the school year comes to a close, we are excited to celebrate the accomplishments of students participating in the Career+ Pathways™ Career Scholarship Account (CSA) program. This year, students across Indiana engaged in meaningful career exploration, earned industry-recognized credentials, completed work-based learning experiences, and took major steps toward their postsecondary goals. […]
Celebrating 224 Career+™ Locally Created Pathway Graduates in the Class of 2026
By Katarina Webb The Career+™ team is proud to celebrate a major milestone this year: 224 students across Indiana completed the Career+™ Locally Created Pathway (LCP) as part of the graduating Class of 2026. With this year’s graduates, the Career+™ Locally Created Pathway has now supported a total of 434 graduates across the first three […]
Hero Spotlight: Alex Johnston, Titan Construction Services
Building Futures Through Real-World Experience By Nisa Gül For students exploring career pathways, seeing an industry up close can make all the difference. Through virtual tours, HireME! participation, internships, and work-based learning opportunities, Titan Construction Services has been helping students better understand what careers in construction can actually look like. As part of Skyepack’s Career+ […]
HireME! 2026: More Than a Job Fair, A Launchpad for Student Futures
By Katarina Webb On April 29, 2026, students from across the region gathered at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds for HireME!, hosted by Greater Lafayette Commerce. What they experienced was not just a hiring event. It was a hands-on introduction to the world of work. With approximately 475 students in attendance from 19 local high schools […]
Community Partnerships in Action: Region 4 Students Explore Public Safety and Human Services Careers
By Kimba Rund Career exploration is most powerful when students can experience industries firsthand. Recently, more than 30 students from the Greater Lafayette region’s Locally Created Pathway (LCP) programs participated in Public Safety and Human Services Skills Bootcamps, where they engaged directly with professionals working in these fields. These students are part of a program […]
Why Indiana Schools Are Choosing Career+ Pathways™ for Next-Gen Career Readiness
Why Indiana Schools Are Choosing Career+ Pathways™ for Next-Gen Career Readiness By Brennan Martin • Co-author: Katarina Webb Indiana schools are under increasing pressure to deliver measurable career outcomes — not just exposure. According to national workforce research, students who participate in structured career pathways and work-based learning are significantly more likely to graduate, persist […]
Designing Pathways That Pay Off: A New Incentive Model for Graduation Seals
By Kimba Rund, M.S. with additional thoughts from J. Eric Davis Indiana’s new high school diploma was designed with a clear goal: ensure every student graduates with a meaningful plan for what comes next, whether that is enrollment, employment, or enlistment. To support early adoption of this diploma, the Indiana Department of Education is now […]
Confidence as an Outcome — How Hands-On Practice Shifts Student Self-Perception
By Nisa Gül · Co-author: Katarina Webb A student arrives at a half-day Skills Bootcamp unsure if a certain career is the right “fit” for them. They try a short, guided task, get immediate feedback from an employer, and leave saying the work felt do-able—and that they want to try something related next. Career+ Pathways™ […]
Hero Spotlight: Jason Padgett — Helping Students Use AI as a Human-Centered Tool
By Nisanur Gül When students in Greater Lafayette step into Career+ Pathways™ experiences that involve artificial intelligence, healthcare, and marketing, there’s a good chance they’ll meet Jason Padgett. Jason bridges two worlds that don’t always overlap: Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and community health on one side, and emerging AI tools on the other. As a […]
