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A Program for All Students

The Challenge Program, Inc.’s mission is to build sustainable Business/Education partnerships while motivating students to develop the good habits required to succeed in school and in their future careers.

in grades 10, 11, and 12

We partner with businesses to introduce students
to careers in high growth industries.

Connecting Business & Education

Motivation and
Incentive

Attendance

STEM

Community Service

Academic Improvement

Academic Excellence

Success Starts Here

Achieve success in school and in your future career by challenging yourself in our five award categories.

Attendance
STEM
Community Service
Academic Improvement
Academic Excellence

Major Corporate Partners

 
 
 
 
 

News and Events

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  • The Star Report – February Newsletter

    12 Feb 2019
    The February edition of THE STAR REPORT includes five workforce development events with our Business and Education Partners. COE Distributing, 1st Summit Bank, Quality Life Services, PJ Dick, and Mascaro Construction Read More

  • That Crystal Owl Magic

    11 Feb 2019
    Last year was my first attempt at being a part of the Student of the Year Competition and Crystal Owl Gala. (It was actually my first attempt at almost everything last year. Being 23 is hard). I was amazed by the fact that these students were all entering this competition because they felt TCP made some kind of difference in their lives. After the top 3 entries were chosen, another new aspect added last year...
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  • New Program Development Manager in Pittsburgh

    08 Feb 2019
    Faith Collins is positioned in The Challenge Program, Inc.’s newly opened office in downtown Pittsburgh. Collins, along with the Director of Business Development, is responsible for expanding The Challenge Program into the more than 60 high schools in Allegheny County. Collins’ brings experience in program management and development at nonprofit organizations. This coupled with experience in Pittsburgh education, made her a great candidate to implement The Challenge Program’s mission to build business and education relationships...
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  • New Pittsburgh Location

    08 Feb 2019
    The Challenge Program, Inc. (TCP) opened its first satellite office at 429 Fourth Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh. The short-range strategic plan is to partner with all of Allegheny County’s 60-plus secondary schools and attract more local companies to partner with them to educate students about the opportunities the region offers. “We’ve been serving Allegheny County for over 10 years and we felt it was important for us to open an office in Pittsburgh and have...
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  • Major Corporate Partner Clark Contractors, Inc.

    11 Jan 2019
    The Challenge Program, Inc. Announces Clark Contractors, Inc. as a  Major Corporate Partner  Bedford, PA – Clark Contractors, Inc., located in Bedford County, PA. Since 1951, Clark Contractors, Inc. has performed commercial and industrial work for a wide range of clients throughout the central/western PA and northern Maryland area. Clark Contractors has been a family-owned business for three generations, committed to completing projects with the excellence that clients have come to expect. Clark Contractors, Inc. began their...
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  • Harmar Village Care Center

    07 Nov 2018
    For students who reside in the Southwestern Pennsylvania Region, junior and senior year of high school can be a time of mixed emotions and uncertainty. Not only do students have to confront questions about the never-ending trade school, college, and university choices, but also how to pay for a their post-secondary education without accruing a mountain of student debt. For Alexis Peck, however, her choice was made easy. Alexis began her post-secondary journey through volunteer...
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  • Alex Pindro-Forbes Road CTC

    01 Nov 2018
    Meet Alex: Alex Pindro is a senior at Forbes Road Career and Technology Center where she recently earned a $200 award from The Challenge Program, Inc.(TCP) for Community Service. Alex studies Landscaping at the CTC and thoroughly enjoys having the opportunity to do so, in the future, however, she sees herself going into nursing. Her love for helping others is pushing her toward that goal. She tells us, “I’d like to help more people. Landscaping...
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  • Behind The Scenes

    26 Oct 2018
    When you work with an organization from the outside, you see a lot of results but never know how those results happen. You walk into a grocery store and there are all kinds of product on the shelf, fresh produce and deli meat, but how did it get there? You go to your local community event and there are prizes, food, and decorations, but how long did that take to plan? If you work for...
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  • McAneny Brothers, Inc. Hires Three Students

    16 Jul 2018
    McAneny Brothers, Inc. joined The Challenge Program, Inc. (TCP) in 2017 to sponsor Northern Cambria High School.  This spring McAneny went into the school to present to seniors about the opportunities for summer internships/full-time positions. Students sent in applications and interviewed for positions. Three of them stood out and will now be working full-time at McAneny Brothers right out of high school. Jim Brady, Seth Charney, and Andrew Weymer each submitted an application and were...
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  • Linda Falcone: UGI Continues to Support Career Education in the Region

    03 May 2018
    UGI Utilities, Inc. demonstrates their commitment to strengthen our community creating a great place to live and work by partnering with West Side Career and Technology Center students through The Challenge Program, Inc. (TCP) In addition to sponsoring TCP at the school, UGI has also invested in the school’s new Agility Course project—helping to reinforce the need for training and education, and the need to help our first responders prepare for any situation. Although the...
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  • Christina Kramer – Feeling Good about Community Service

    01 Feb 2018
    Community Service is my favorite TCP category. I may be biased because I work in Community Affairs at Range Resources – so I know a little something about how giving back to your community makes you feel. There is an episode of “Friends” (a show that was on way before your time but you can still catch re-runs) called “The One Where Phoebe Hates PBS”.  In it, the characters talk about how good deeds are...
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  • Craig Staresinich

    05 Jan 2018
     Donate Here for Giving Tuesday!  Craig Staresinich is a Pittsburgh University alumnus with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering. Before retiring and becoming involved with The Challenge Program, Inc. (TCP) in 2013, he had a long and successful career as an aeronautical engineer. When asked about his first position after graduation, he can hardly contain his response. “I graduated and got my first job with NASA!” His face and voice still project what I imagine...
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  • Madame President

    27 Oct 2017
    With every successful organization comes a brave leader. Here at TCP it is so inspiring that the brawns behind the operations is a strong female. Barb Grandinetti is someone who oversees an entire program that spans across PA and into parts of two other states and still manages to have a calm demeanor. Working directly with the president of an organization on a weekly basis is a rare thing in the business world today. In...
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  • New Major Corporate Partner – COE Distributing

    18 Sep 2017
    TCP Business Partner and newest board member, J.D. Ewing, announced on September 1st, that his company, COE Distributing, will become a Major Corporate Partner for The Challenge Program, Inc. COE Distributing has partnered with Geibel Catholic High School and Brownsville High School in Fayette County since 2013. A Major Corporate Partnership will allow COE to reach additional high schools and career &         technology centers in his region and offer workforce opportunities to students for potential...
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  • TCP Founder Inducted into Military Hall of Fame

    22 Aug 2017
    Daniel T. Perkins, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, founder of The Challenge Program, Inc. and Chairman of the Board, was inducted into the Military Hall of Fame at the Cambria County War Memorial, on Saturday, August 19, 2017. The honor was presented to Mr. Perkins by Pennsylvania Representative Bryan Barbin. Dan humbly accepted the award, accompanied by his daughter, Katelyn. Mr. Perkins was inducted for his service to his country and for bringing recognition to Cambria County for the founding of a multi-state program...
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  • Business Partner, COE Distributing is Creating New Jobs

    11 Aug 2017
    Congratulations to COE Distributing on their plans to add 138,000 square feet to their warehouse space in Franklin Commercial Park, bringing into their Uniontown business, outsourced operations. This plan will create new jobs at the current location. COE is a business partner to Geibel Catholic and Brownsville High Schools. For the Full story, you can go to: http://www.post-gazette.com/business/career-workplace/2017/08/10/new-jobs-fayette-county-coe-distributing-expansion-gov-tom-wolf-COE-Distributing-Uniontown-Smock/stories/201708100117     

  • Schools that Teach/Jobs that Pay…

    31 Jul 2017
    On July 25, 2017, representatives from the Pennsylvania Departments of Education (PDE) and Labor and Industry (L&I) visited Corle Building Systems and met with participants of The Challenge Program, Inc., on a joint Schools That Teach/Jobs That Pay tour stop. The Challenge Program, Inc. develops relationships with businesses and educators, connecting students to their communities, and provides students with a hands-on learning experience that will foster career readiness and creates multiple pathways for success. “The...
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  • Sheetz Inc. Named 2017 Chain of the Year

    20 Jul 2017
    The Challenge Program, Inc. congratulates Business Partner, Sheetz Inc. for being named Convenience Store Decision’s (CSD) 2017 Chain of the Year. Sheetz Inc. sponsors Claysburg-Kimmel High School in Blair County. Sheetz Inc. is unsurpassed in its commitment to foodservice and technology, with a world-class distribution model and a total commitment to its vast employee base. The company initiated dozens of fundraisers aimed at helping kids, such as its partnerships with Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation....
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  • TCP Partner Wins Prestigious Award

    29 Jun 2017
    TCP business partner, Concurrent Technologies Corporation (Westmont Hilltop High School) won the prestigious 2017 Defense Security Service Outstanding Industrial Security Achievement Award. This award, also known as the James S. Cogswell Award is only presented to 36 of more than 13,000 cleared facilities. Facilities are eligible only if they achieve a minimum of two consecutive “Superior” industrial security review ratings and show a sustained degree of excellence and innovation in their overall security program management,...
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  • Corle Building Systems’ Summer Learning Experience in Bedford County

    10 Jan 2017
    Great Summer Opportunity for Bedford County Students Corle Building Systems is taking their Major Corporate Partnership to another level. They have developed an 8-week summer learning experience for Bedford County students. These will be available throughout various departments of their business. Bedford County school students, including students from Claysburg-Kimmel High School, participating in The Challenge Program, Inc. will be eligible for this great summer opportunity. Eligibility requirements are that students be 18 years of age and have been a...
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