Greater Peoria CareerSpark will take place October 28 & 29, 2026
Event Completed!
When: Wednesday, October 28, 2026 - Thursday, October 29, 2026
Where: Peoria Civic Center
Time: 12:00 AM CT
Help celebrate 10 years of CareerSpark!
Join the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council and Junior Achievement of Central Illinois for GP CareerSpark, interactive work and career readiness experiences for 8th grade students in our region. Spark your students’ interest in the exciting careers available in Greater Peoria through the JA Inspire curriculum and hands-on learning activities.
On October 28 & 29, 2026, 8th-grade students will gather at the Peoria Civic Center to interact with local professionals. Students act out careers through hands-on activities to visualize their future and lay the foundation for high school studies, preparing them for a career path.
Explore Careers
We want to spark students’ curiosity at an early age about career opportunities they may want to pursue in order to set them on the right track for future success. With this experience, students can begin to have a better understanding of the high school and post-secondary courses they need to take to get into the career field of their choice. Through the JA Inspire curriculum, students are prepared to make the most of the CareerSpark expo by closely examining specific skills and career clusters, learning key factors to investigate career planning, and exploring job outlook to identify high growth, high demand careers.
Spark Inspiration
The ultimate goal of this experience is to empower and inspire students to pursue critically needed careers and own their future success. Research has shown students eliminate certain careers from their future during middle school, and self-efficacy can now be considered one of the major variables influencing the nature and effectiveness of career choice behaviors.
After CareerSpark, students will be able to use the JA Inspire curriculum and tools to identify next steps to define their academic choices and career paths further. Beginning to make decisions about their future career opportunities now will help place them on the right track as they look toward future education, careers, and beyond. So, don’t wait; get your students started on their path!
Who Will Be There?
Industries Represented at the Expo
Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering and Logistics; Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources; Architecture, Engineering and Construction; Arts, Technology, and Communication; Business and Finance; Education & Training; Government, Law and Public Service; Health and Life Sciences
Our Industry Co-Chairs
Jennifer Blank (OSF HealthCare), Marty Butler (OSF HealthCare), Kim Stewart (Carle Health), Anne Schutt (Midwestern Securities), Tiffany Good (RLI), Delaney Warmus (Dewberry), Layne Gilmore (Dewberry), Alicia Turner (Farnsworth Group), Melodi Green (City of Peoria), Josh Wray (City of Pekin), Staci Escamilla (Caterpillar), Drew Bushnell (Caterpillar), Amy Paul (Caterpillar), Avery Bushnell (Caterpillar), John Heiser (Illinois Ag Education FCAE), Corinne Brown (Illinois Central College), Dawn Koeltzow (Illinois Central College), Sandy Arreguin (Illinois Central College), David Tankersley (Morton Industries), Steve Stewart (Morton Industries), and Joel Steger (Pekin Community High School)
Join the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council and Junior Achievement of Central Illinois for GP CareerSpark, interactive work and career readiness experiences for 8th grade students in our region. Spark your students’ interest in the exciting careers available in Greater Peoria through the JA Inspire curriculum and hands-on learning activities.
On October 28 & 29, 2026, 8th-grade students will gather at the Peoria Civic Center to interact with local professionals. Students act out careers through hands-on activities to visualize their future and lay the foundation for high school studies, preparing them for a career path.
Explore Careers
We want to spark students’ curiosity at an early age about career opportunities they may want to pursue in order to set them on the right track for future success. With this experience, students can begin to have a better understanding of the high school and post-secondary courses they need to take to get into the career field of their choice. Through the JA Inspire curriculum, students are prepared to make the most of the CareerSpark expo by closely examining specific skills and career clusters, learning key factors to investigate career planning, and exploring job outlook to identify high growth, high demand careers.
Spark Inspiration
The ultimate goal of this experience is to empower and inspire students to pursue critically needed careers and own their future success. Research has shown students eliminate certain careers from their future during middle school, and self-efficacy can now be considered one of the major variables influencing the nature and effectiveness of career choice behaviors.
After CareerSpark, students will be able to use the JA Inspire curriculum and tools to identify next steps to define their academic choices and career paths further. Beginning to make decisions about their future career opportunities now will help place them on the right track as they look toward future education, careers, and beyond. So, don’t wait; get your students started on their path!
Who Will Be There?
Industries Represented at the Expo
Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering and Logistics; Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources; Architecture, Engineering and Construction; Arts, Technology, and Communication; Business and Finance; Education & Training; Government, Law and Public Service; Health and Life Sciences
Our Industry Co-Chairs
Jennifer Blank (OSF HealthCare), Marty Butler (OSF HealthCare), Kim Stewart (Carle Health), Anne Schutt (Midwestern Securities), Tiffany Good (RLI), Delaney Warmus (Dewberry), Layne Gilmore (Dewberry), Alicia Turner (Farnsworth Group), Melodi Green (City of Peoria), Josh Wray (City of Pekin), Staci Escamilla (Caterpillar), Drew Bushnell (Caterpillar), Amy Paul (Caterpillar), Avery Bushnell (Caterpillar), John Heiser (Illinois Ag Education FCAE), Corinne Brown (Illinois Central College), Dawn Koeltzow (Illinois Central College), Sandy Arreguin (Illinois Central College), David Tankersley (Morton Industries), Steve Stewart (Morton Industries), and Joel Steger (Pekin Community High School)
2026 GP CareerSpark Recap Video
Become a Sponsor!
Sponsorships for these events are critical for Junior Achievement to continue providing life-changing programs to students in our community. These programs are delivered at no cost to students. You can make a difference in the lives of these students by participating in this world-class event!
Contact us to get more information on how to sponsor a JA Event!
