WAYNESBORO – Waynesboro Area Senior High School welcomed more than 30 professionals and industry leaders to campus for its annual First Choice Career Conference. The event, now a school tradition, is designed to provide students with meaningful exposure to real-world career paths through dynamic conversations, personal stories and actionable advice. The goal is to inspire students to think intentionally about their futures – and to see themselves as capable, empowered decision-makers.
The day began with a keynote address by Lee Adams, vice president of promotion at Broken Bow Records and a veteran in the country music industry, sharing her journey from radio to record labels, and her experiences working with artists like Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson, Dustin Lynch and Craig Morgan, among many others. Adams emphasized the value of persistence, passion and pivoting when necessary.
Students then participated in one of six career field panel discussions aligned with their “First Choice” – one of 16 nationally recognized career clusters ranging from healthcare and engineering to arts, education and agriculture. Each panel featured professionals from a range of roles within that field, allowing students to hear multiple perspectives and discover both familiar and surprising career options. The panel discussion allowed for speakers to do a deeper dive into their pathway and other related jobs in their field. Panelists shared their stories and provided a wide range of experiences and advice, helping students better understand the many paths toward professional success.
Quinn Martin, from Penn State Extension, remarked, “It was inspiring to see students take ownership of their future. The panel format allowed for real conversations and highlighted that there’s no single path to success.”
Christina Pan, a junior at WASHS, shared, “Career day was a really fun and interesting day! There were many fantastic speakers and I felt that I learned a lot about what the workforce is like.”
For educators and school leaders, the event represents much more than just a career day—it’s an extension of Waynesboro’s mission: Empowering Individuals for Future Opportunities – First Choice, school officials said. By connecting students with real people doing real work in the world, the conference helps bridge the gap between high school and what comes next. It reflects the district’s ongoing commitment to preparing students not just for graduation, but for life, school officials noted.
