A group of 18 Claysburg students traveled to Barney Wood Golf Course to listen to four local business professionals share their success stories and advice.

Former district business teacher Steve Walter said it’s “really cool to see how much (these professionals) help these kids.”

Sharing knowledge

Richard Allison, founding member of the Claysburg Education Foundation, said he pushed the idea of beginning a program at CKSD because of his own positive experience of having a “great” mentor.

Brent Miller (right) shakes hands with Claysburg-Kimmel students after the Mentoring for Success Program at Barney Wood Golf Course on Thursday. Mirror photo by Colette Costlow

During the sessions, students were encouraged to ask professionals about the highs and lows of managing a business or a career.

By letting students ask questions first, NPC owner and chairman Mark Barnhart said “you get an understanding of being able to talk to them by first understanding their perspective.”

Barnhart told students that a formal education “doesn’t define anything” since he never became a teacher with his English degree from Penn State University.

He did, however, apply his English background to other ways of thinking, thus developing a large information services company in Claysburg.

Ben Stapelfeld, chairman and co-founder of New Pig Enterprises, added that there is nothing more important than getting an education, but an education doesn’t always have to require degrees.

Today, he said he is “still studying for the knowledge.”

Adapting to change

Using AI in the workforce was a popular talking point Wednesday morning.

Allison told students to “embrace technology,” as he was always the first to buy into the newest computer or source of technology.

Barnhart also said that many business owners today are trying to figure out how AI will affect employees.

“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face,” he said, quoting boxer Mike Tyson.

At New Pig, Stapelfeld said AI is learning how to do data analysis “better than our employees,” adding that we “better learn how to be flexible” during these changing times.

Even tariffs are affecting how businesses buy and sell products, but instead of giving up, he said workers should say “‘here are the new rules. How do I play?'”

Some things never change, like the importance of being punctual, former NASA employee Brent Miller said.

“If you earn the reputation of being dependable, it will give you the golden halo,” he said.

At the end of the session, Stapelfeld told the students to “be patient with your youth.”

“You’ll have periods of real frustration,” he said, adding that because of their age, they will constantly have new experiences.

Student feedback

Many career-oriented questions were answered Thursday morning, giving Claysburg-Kimmel students an insight on the life of a businessperson.

Jaeden Piner, 17, said he learned to “be more curious” and to “ask more questions.”

“It helps you learn more,” he said.

CaitLynn Carlisle, 17, said that after the discussion, she plans to continue pursuing her education and higher knowledge. She plans to become a math teacher and she said it’s beneficial to learn how to conduct yourself as a professional.

Piner said he felt better about his career outlook after attending the mentorship session because the speakers gave advice on how to become successful through career choices.

Regarding job opportunities, Levi Kennedy, 17, said they are “more diverse and wide” today, adding that there are many degree options to choose from after graduating high school.

“If you want to be successful, some part of it comes down to luck and taking the opportunities of that luck you have,” he said.

With mentorship programs, Carlisle said students can get the opportunity to see what life is like according to a career.

“They would give me the opportunity to shadow a teacher and I could say ‘that’s not for me,’ or ‘wow, that really helped,'” she said. “That’s very important for younger kids.”

The program helps students “figure out what they want to do,” Piner said.