This page is no longer being updated and remains online for informational and historical purposes only. The information is accurate as of the last page update.
For questions about page contents, contact the Communications Division.
In January, Gateway Career Center’s Career Tracks program provided students with an immersive career-exploration experience. Students gained exposure to potential careers across a variety of industries. They built their professional networks, developed practical skills, and had the opportunity to experience an urban environment that may help shape their future career path. Here are details about the Lehigh Valley Career Track experience.
The offerings
Students chose from Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Law and Justice, and Real Estate Career Tracks. They spent time at City Center Investment Corporation, Crayola, Victaulic, Lutron Electronics, Northampton and Lehigh County Courts, and the Pidock Company.
Why bring students here?
Paula A. Roscioli ’87 P’18, judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County, who spearheaded the Lehigh Valley Career Track, says the area is a great place in which to work and live and hopes that after completing the program, students will consider a postgraduate career in the valley. “We wanted to bring the program to the Lehigh Valley to give the athletes who have to be on campus in January an opportunity to participate in this great program. We also wanted to make it affordable for anyone to participate in, and utilizing campus housing achieved that goal.” Roscioli’s son participated in the Boston Career Track last year. “I saw how great the program was and wanted to expand it to the Lehigh Valley and create a Law and Justice Career Track. That’s what it’s all about—giving back to a school that we love.”
On the agenda
Students in all tracks spent the first morning meeting with elected officials, including State Senator Lisa Boscola, Easton Mayor Sal Panto, and Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure, all of whom shared stories about their own career journeys as well as exciting developments going on in the Lehigh Valley. They next heard from Margie Cherry, associate director for alumni career services at Gateway Career Center, who worked with students on personal branding and marketing. Real Estate Track students spent time with JB Reilly ’83 to learn about development of City Center Allentown (pictured); Innovation and Entrepreneurship Track students got insider insight and behind-the-scenes tours at Victaulic, Lutron, Crayola, Pidcock Company, and Able Pay. Lafayette alumni from the Lehigh Valley shared their expertise and advice with the students. Law and Justice Career Track students observed court proceedings, enjoyed dinner with members of the Northampton and Lehigh County Courts, gained valuable information from a panel of Lafayette alumni in law school, and topped off their exciting experience with a presentation from Kristen Gibbons-Feden ’04 on prosecuting Bill Cosby.
The takeaway
At the beginning of the week, Ian Anderson ’20, an international affairs and Spanish double major, wasn’t sure he wanted to go into the law field. But he now credits Career Tracks with cementing his plan to apply to law school, with an ultimate goal of studying transactional law. He especially enjoyed the group’s dinner with local judges. “We talked about everything, about how they got into the field, our own interests,” he said.