When asked about their favorite part of the Makerspace, they both answered in different ways. Carson attributed his favorite part of the Makerspace to “getting to build and manufacture new things.” Brady answered, “The 3D printing lab. Several computers let you work on drafting items that you can then 3D print.”

Our School Year 2025 report celebrates the collective impact of our village, the educators who teach, the employers who mentor, the families who encourage, and the students who are boldly exploring who they can become. Together, we are strengthening pathways, uplifting possibilities, and shaping a future in which every student is equipped not just to navigate their career journey, but to design it.

Over the course of the year, Blake Brown, a senior at Williamstown Middle/High School, will cover all the career paths available at the airport, from maintenance and safety to business and operations. BB2C is always excited to bring on new high school intern host sites and watch how they customize their needs to the interests and skills of high school students.

Business representatives had positive experiences, sharing that “getting to educate students about the future of a potential career,” “demonstrating the possible career paths that you can do with an accounting degree,” and “seeing a student gain clarity about her pathway” were highlights for them. 

Lara Coghlan, BB2C’s Internship Coordinator and AmeriCorps member, emphasized that, “Long-term internship opportunities like this would not be possible without the involvement of the school, which understands and promotes the benefits its students are receiving from these experiences.” She has the opportunity to oversee this unique program this year.

The evening included small group discussions where participants rolled up their sleeves to brainstorm actionable solutions. Conversations centered on supporting the upcoming workforce reduction, countering misconceptions about “brain drain,” and identifying community factors that influence recruitment and retention.

On Friday, September 26, 2025, Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio, will become the gathering place for educators, business leaders, students, and community members from across Appalachian Ohio and beyond. The Community & Career Connected Learning (CCCL) Summit is more than just a conference—it’s a movement to transform how we prepare young people for the future while strengthening our communities today.

Your story will help illuminate the tools, relationships, and processes that support this work and to help us uncover where there may be untapped potential to go even further.

This storytelling experience will take about 20 minutes and includes a few short reflections and paragraph responses. Everything you share will remain anonymous, but your insights will play a critical role in helping BB2C.

The camp wrapped up on a high note, with each group proudly presenting their final geocache creations at Appalachian Ohio Manufacturers Coalition (AOMC). It was a chance to showcase their hard work and creativity to peers, family members, and AOMC employees—ending the week with well-earned recognition of their innovations and a sense of accomplishment

The nonprofit sector always needs bright, capable, and curious professionals who understand the challenges and rewards of mission-driven work. Nonprofits LEAD at Marietta College was fortunate to be able to nurture this intern's experience to learn, explore, and contribute to the work we do. Hosting an intern was not only a learning experience for the student, but it was an opportunity for growth for us. Josie’s questions encouraged us to slow down and reflect on the ever-changing environment nonprofits are in.

I am looking forward to beginning my senior year at Fort Frye. Following my career interests, I hope to double major in Agricultural Communications and Agribusiness and Applied Economics at the Ohio State University. From past experiences, I have developed a fine love for journalism. However, I am always open to learning new information within the majors. 

This summer, Building Bridges to Careers is excited to welcome two talented interns who are bringing fresh perspectives, big goals, and plenty of enthusiasm to the BB2C team.

At BB2C, we break down barriers between traditional classroom learning and hands-on exploration. Our camps provide students with a platform to see firsthand how STEAM subjects converge in exciting ways, paving the way for future careers in these ever-evolving fields. We can’t wait to build more bridges, inspire more innovation, and empower the next generation of creators and problem solvers!

Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C) partnered with Washington State College of Ohio’s Educational Talent Search (ETS) Camp for an exciting day of hands-on learning, creativity, and career exploration. Interested in connecting with BB2C to have our staff bring engaging activities, career exploration, and STEM-2-Go activities to your school, organization, or group? Reach out to us at info@bb2careers.org.

As a junior at Fort Frye High School, Dayne Miller took a big step toward his future with two powerful internship experiences through the Appalachian Children Coalition (ACC) this past school year. With a growing passion for mental health and helping others, Dayne completed both a 40-hour exploratory internship through BB2C as well as a 120-hour deep-dive internship directly through ACC working closely with Hopewell Health Centers staff at his school.

Claire is heading to Ohio University this fall to study Mechanical Engineering. She earned a $500 Masonic Lodge scholarship and will be working with the Appalachian Ohio Manufacturer’s Coalition this summer through another paid internship, completing 120 hours and earning $15 an hour. Her goal through her second internship is to become certified in SolidWorks and continue developing skills that will help her with engineering.

Read about what students did at the annual Career Mentor Field Trip at Marietta College. See photos from the event. Stories and photos were created by BB2C/Marietta College Communication Project Interns who connected with BB2C staff and had the opportunity to attend the event.