800 Students Discover Local Career Opportunities at Career Jam™ Explore at HVCC North
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Media Contact:
Aarika Van Amburgh
Owner & Chief Community Engagement Officer, Career Jam™
518-669-4706 | [email protected]
career-jam.com
800 Students Discover Local Career Opportunities at Career Jam™ Explore at HVCC North
Students from eight Capital Region schools connect with local employers and industry professionals through hands-on career exploration in Saratoga County.
MALTA, N.Y. (October 26, 2026) — 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.”
Holli Monroe, Director, Workforce Development and Training, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), said, “New York’s growing clean energy economy is creating new opportunities and career pathways for young people to explore. 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.”
“Just one week before Career Jam™ Explore, the TEC-SMART auditorium was filled with leaders from business, education, and our community learning about HVCC's Strategic Workforce Development Roadmap. On Friday, that same space was filled with students exploring the possibilities for their own futures,” said Aarika Van Amburgh, Owner and Chief Community Engagement Officer of Career Jam™. “It's an honor for Career Jam to be part of the ecosystem HVCC continues to strengthen, helping students discover opportunities and bridge the gap between education and careers.”
About Career Jam™
Career Jam™ is workforce development in action. Through unique and immersive experiences, Career Jam™ inspires students, equips educators, supports employers, and impacts communities. Rooted in a “Students First!” approach, Career Jam™ empowers young people of all backgrounds and abilities to imagine their futures and explore meaningful career pathways. By connecting student interests and aptitudes with real-world workforce opportunities, Career Jam™ bridges the gap between the classroom and the local economy. Guided by the core values of Humility, Service, Innovation, and Fun, Career Jam™ has empowered more than 28,000 students to imagine their futures. For more information, visit www.career-jam.com.
About Hudson Valley Community College
Founded in 1953, Hudson Valley Community College is the largest community college in upstate New York and offers 100 degree and certificate programs in three schools: Business and Liberal Arts; Health Sciences; and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM); and also administers the Educational Opportunity Center for academic and career training at no cost to those who qualify. One of 30 community colleges in the SUNY system, HVCC enrolls more than 20,000 students in credit and non-credit courses and is a recognized leader in distance learning and workforce development. The college has more than 90,000 alumni. To learn more, please visit www.hvcc.edu.