JA NEPA’s 2026 Inspire Career Explorations Experience is thrilled to welcome more than 2,500+ students from 24 school districts to interact with 80+ exhibitors. 

Student Expectations: 

• Identify yourself! 

  • Wear your school uniform or spirit wear. 

  • The exhibitors want to get to know you and it helps if they know what school you attend.

  • Be prepared to introduce yourself to the exhibitors

  • Be respectful – to the exhibitors, staff, volunteers and other students & teachers

  • The companies coming to this event have put a lot of time and effort into their exhibits. 

  • We want you to have fun and enjoy your time at the event – this is a professional function and a wonderful opportunity for you to represent yourself, your school, and your community.

You will be at the event for 2 hours so we recommend you have a plan. 

• Use the Exhibitor Spreadsheet to review companies, schools, non-profit organizations and branches of the military that will be in attendance. 

• Make a list of the Top 10 booths you want to visit

• Visit at least one exhibitor in every cluster. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet professionals from different industries who you may otherwise never meet. 

• Prepare at least one question to ask each exhibitor (ie What’s a typical day like for you on the job? What do you like most about your job? If you could do it all over again, would you have the same job?)

• Use this map to check out the exhibit space to see where the booths are located. Students will be provided a copy of the map when they get off their bus at Inspire.

• Allow time to check out our Breakout Rooms. These are located off the side hallway of the exhibit floor.

  • Pitch Perfect: Give your elevator pitch and win a gift card. Click here to prepare your pitch and review the scoring rubric to increase your chances of winning..

  • Career Readiness: Sessions on resume writing, interviewing, and soft skills throughout the day

  • Career Assessment: Take a career interest inventory

  • Be Your Own Boss Entrepreneur Lounge: Meet and hear from a variety of local entrepreneurs who will share how and why they started their own business and how you can get started with yours!