Join host Deanna Fontanez at Carbon Career and Technical Institute, where students are discovering that success does not follow just one path. In a region where tourism and hospitality drive the local economy, the school plays a vital role in preparing the next generation of skilled professionals who will support area restaurants, resorts, attractions, and small businesses. By combining classroom instruction with meaningful hands on experience, CCTI gives students the opportunity to explore their interests while building real world career skills.

In the culinary arts program, learning goes far beyond textbooks. Students develop foundational techniques, from knife skills to specialty dishes and baking fundamentals, while preparing daily lunches for the entire school. Each month, they open their on site restaurant to the public, gaining valuable front of house and back of house experience that mirrors the fast paced environment of the region’s hospitality industry.

One student, Kairi Stashefski, shared her lifelong passion, saying, “I've always loved cooking and baking ever since I was a small child. Baking has always been my preference. It speaks to me somehow. Touring the school and seeing what they offer. It just seemed really inviting, like something that would help me continue my career into the future.” Through the school’s co-op program, she balances her studies with hands on employment at local establishments in Jim Thorpe, explaining, “I have learned a bunch of skills here which are incredibly useful in any kitchen industry.”

Opportunities at CCTI extend beyond the kitchen. In the graphic design program, students learn how creativity fuels the tourism economy by helping businesses attract visitors. The Poconos is huge for tourism and hospitality and graphic design plays an important role in that industry. As recent graduate Marissa Blasko explained, "through client based design briefs and real world projects", students gain experience working directly with community partners. One such opportunity for Marissa included a logo contest for the historic Asa Packer Mansion, where she drew inspiration from “the iconic top of the building” in a design that was ultimately selected.

With a minimum of three years of specialized training, industry recognized certifications, and “a thriving co-op program that often transitions into full time employment,” as shared by student coordinator Tara Benyo, Carbon Career and Technical Institute ensures students graduate with both confidence and credentials. In a destination as dynamic as the Poconos, where hospitality, history, and small businesses shape the visitor experience, the institute stands as a powerful example of how education aligned with community needs helps strengthen the region’s workforce, proving that when passion meets opportunity, the future of tourism looks bright.