WARREN, Ohio - Local graduates, getting ready to go off to college, celebrated the end of their summer experience learning about professions in the Valley.

It was the first year for Inspiring Minds to organize its Summer Career Development Program. 

Monday afternoon, the students who spent the last two months participating were given the opportunity to showcase what they learned at Warren G. Harding High School.

A total of 18 students were paired with local businesses for eight to 12 weeks for a paid experience.

For the last two months, they participated in personal, professional and social activities geared at helping them select a major.

"For a young person that's 17, 18, just graduated from high school, this gives them an opportunity to say, 'Hey, I've said I want to do this. I said I wanted to major in this. Let me get a little bit of experience in this first,'" said Marvin Logan, Transition Coordinator with the Warren chapter of Inspiring Minds.

The program aims to keep young people working in the Valley after college graduation.

"This is going to continue," Logan said. "This is an opportunity for employers and organizations who are looking to diversify and get some youth into their workforce."