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Judges were nearly unanimous in their choice of a Grand Prize Winner for a statewide essay contest sponsored by Teens On Q, the Emmy-award winning half-hour TV program for teens produced by WQED Multimedia and seen locally and around the state on select PBS stations.
Rachel Horne, from Latrobe, PA, was awarded first place for her essay describing her dream job of one day becoming a veterinarian.
 Rachel Horne is surprised with the good news from Teens On Q hosts Regina DiCarlo and Brant Mack
Five Pennsylvania teens were recognized for honorable mention; Samantha Mabe, (Architect) Ryan Beatty (Welder), Mark Yorgey (Electrical Engineer), Janel Koloski (Therapeutic Staff Support Worker), Deaven Freed, (Museum Curator).
Students aged 14 - 18 were invited to write 1,000-word essays describing their "dream job," with the winner slated to receive a day of job-shadowing in that dream career - all of which will be videotaped and featured in a special episode of Teens On Q. Rachel learned that she was the winner of the essay contest when Teens On Q hosts Regina DiCarlo and Brant Mack surprised her at her school. Essay entrants found information about careers on the website of the PA Dept of Labor & Industry Bureau of Workforce Investment.
As the grand prize winner, Rachel will receive a day of job-shadowing in her "dream job." Videotaping of the special edition of Teens On Q featuring Rachel's day of job-shadowing is planned for early spring, and will air later this year.
 Rachel with Teens On Q hosts Regina and Brant
"It's a fantastic schedule that will provide Rachel with real insight into her chosen career," said Karen Farmer White, Executive producer of Teens On Q. "But we want Pennsylvania teens to realize they don't have to win a contest to experience a day of job-shadowing! Teens On Q encourages all young people to explore interesting careers through job-shadowing!"
Essays submitted for the contest represented a wide variety of careers, from forensic anthropologist to television host on the QVC shopping network! Health care, a vital industry across the state, was well-represented in the essays submitted; and other entries mentioned several of the important skilled trades, including manufacturing, welding, and carpentry.
The skilled workforce is an often-overlooked segment of the work population when it comes to teens considering career possibilities - in part because vocational education still fights undeserved negative stereotypes, and also because Pennsylvanians don't recognize the significance of skilled workers. Currently, the fastest growing segment of the workforce is skilled workers, which includes, to name just a few, the building trades, many health care jobs, and positions in advanced technology fields. Many of those positions can be secured with specialty training, or a two-year Associate's degree.
Teens On Q is produced by the Education Department at WQED Multimedia. Each episode of Teens On Q features a segment taking teens behind-the-scenes of a particular career or industry to meet professionals already at work there, to provide teens with some basis for career exploration, and the chance to think about academic, volunteer, and job-shadowing opportunities they can pursue now to prepare for that career.
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