High School Career Express Brings Career Exploration to Sumter County Students

High School Career Express Brings Career Exploration to Sumter County Students

Program connects students with real-world career experiences and prepares the next generation of talent

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 23, 2026) – CareerSource Central Florida (CSCF), the region’s leader in workforce solutions and innovation, is expanding its High School Career Express (HSCE) program into Sumter County. Through the program, students at South Sumter High School, Wildwood Middle High School and Sumter Prep Academy are gaining access to hands-on career exploration in high-growth industries, preparing them to make more informed decisions about their future.

High School Career Express is a career exploration program for high school juniors and seniors that bridges the gap between education and employment. Over the course of seven to 10 weeks, students will be integrated directly with local employers through site visits, mentoring, and interactive experiences to build practical skills, expand their professional networks, and gain a clearer understanding of the career pathways available after graduation.

The program’s expansion into Sumter County is made possible in part through a grant from Suncoast Credit Union whose commitment to improving students’ lives includes supporting the program and providing financial literacy resources to participants.

“Suncoast Credit Union is proud to support this important and innovative program,” said Jeff Kunberger, Executive Director of Suncoast Credit Union Foundations. “We’re honored to contribute in a way that helps strengthen opportunities for local youth, and we know this support will help make a meaningful impact in Sumter County.”

Since its launch in Orange County in 2024, HSCE has demonstrated measurable impact on student engagement and confidence:

• 9 out of 10 students value career exploration more after participating in HSCE
• 96% satisfaction rate, with 97% recommending the program to peers
• Interest in community college and vocational training more than doubled following participation
• Three out of four students report increased confidence in choosing a career path

In addition to Sumter County, HSCE is also expanding into Lake County, allowing students at Umatilla High School to experience the benefits of early career exploration.

“High School Career Express is about connecting students to real employers, real careers, and real opportunities,” said Pam Nabors, president and CEO of CareerSource Central Florida. “When young adults gain exposure to careers, they build confidence, discover new pathways, and make better decisions about their future. With the support of partners dedicated to youth success such as Suncoast Credit Union and United Way of Lake & Sumter County, we’re expanding into new communities, and building the future talent pipeline our region needs.”

Students participating in Sumter County will visit CEMEX, Sumter County Government, Sumter Electric (SECO), The Villages Health, Sumter Sheriff Department & Clerk of Courts and T&D Concrete. Participants in Lake County will visit local employers including the Clermont Police Department, Niagara Water Bottling, Lake County Transit, UF Health, Mission Inn Resort, Leesburg Airport, Advent Health, Lake County Government, and Wolverine Advanced Materials.

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About CareerSource Central Florida

CareerSource Central Florida (CSCF) is the region’s leader in workforce solutions and innovations, state and federally funded with an annual operating budget of about $30 million. CSCF delivers personalized career support and skill development to bridge success between people and business across the Central Florida region. In the fiscal year 2024-2025, CSCF served more than 36,000 career seekers and nearly 5,000 businesses. CSCF placed more than 3,600 individuals in jobs and helped advance skills for more than 3,300 career seekers across Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Sumter Counties. For more information, visit www.CareerSourceCentralFlorida.com

About Suncoast Credit Union

Suncoast Credit Union is the largest credit union in the state of Florida, the 8th largest in the United States based on membership, and the 10th largest in the United States based on its $20.7 billion in assets. Chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union currently operates 79 full-service branches and serves more than 1.3 million members across Florida. As a community credit union, anyone who lives, works, attends school, or worships in Suncoast Credit Union’s service area is eligible for membership. In 2021, Suncoast Credit Union’s field of membership was expanded to include public K-12 teachers, college educators, and educational support staff from all of Florida’s 67 counties. Suncoast is passionate about community support. Since its founding in 1990, the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation has raised and donated more than $61 million to organizations and initiatives that support the health, education, and emotional well-being of children in the communities that the credit union serves. For more information, visit suncoast.com or follow us on social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.