{
    "title": "Signing Day 2026: Academy Graduates Step Into Careers Close to Home",
    "modified_at": "2026-09-16 17:53:08",
    "published_at": "2026-09-16 17:52:00",
    "url": "https://www.positiveenergyhub.com/signing-day-2026-academy-graduates-step-into-careers-close-to-home",
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    "slug": "signing-day-2026-academy-graduates-step-into-careers-close-to-home",
    "body": "<p><em>By Positive Energy Hub Staff</em></p>\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-center\"\n        data-component=\"image-zoom-popup\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-selector=\".release-content-image__image\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-i18n=\"data:application/json;base64,eyJEb3dubG9hZCI6IkRvd25sb2FkIn0=\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-views-event=\"Story Image View\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-download-event=\"Story Image Download\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-placement=\"content\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover\" style=\"width: 100%\">\n            <img\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/b7e7fb58-fd8d-45b8-8dd1-bfb3be2eb387/-/format/auto/\"\n                                class=\"release-content-image__image image-thumbnail-rollover__image\"\n                data-description=\"\"\n                id=\"image-b7e7fb58-fd8d-45b8-8dd1-bfb3be2eb387\"\n                data-id=\"b7e7fb58-fd8d-45b8-8dd1-bfb3be2eb387\"\n                data-original=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/b7e7fb58-fd8d-45b8-8dd1-bfb3be2eb387/-/inline/no/2026+signing+day.png\"\n                data-mfp-src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/b7e7fb58-fd8d-45b8-8dd1-bfb3be2eb387/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"Story image\"\n            />\n            <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover__caption\">\n                <svg class=\"icon icon-expand image-thumbnail-rollover__caption-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-expand\"></use>\n            </svg>            </div>\n        </div>\n\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\"></figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This year, 52 graduates of the CNX Foundation&#039;s Mentorship Academy committed to a next step: a job, an apprenticeship, or military service. On August 14, graduates gathered at PNC Park for Signing Day &mdash; the culmination of a program year spent touring job sites, meeting industry leaders, and building the professional network that turns an interest into an offer. </p><div id=\"video-a4f8fcbc-e9d5-4878-932d-416c8029453f\" class=\"release-content-video release-content-video--embed release-content-video--contained\">\n    <div><div style=\"left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;\"><iframe data-iframely-url=\"https://iframely.net/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dw9A0UaB8q88%23_cb1789575317&key=8fe6cdec03482ac31f27a6ae8ea2fb3f\" data-img style=\"top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;\" allowfullscreen scrolling=\"no\" allow=\"accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;\"></iframe></div></div><script async src=\"https://iframely.net/embed.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n</div><p style=\"text-align: left\">These graduates are heading into roles with CNX, UPMC, Deep Well Services, BestPLUS, Sevita Health, apprenticeships with the building trades, and &mdash; for three graduates &mdash; into military service. Many of these paths require no four-year degree, a focus of the Academy, which is built around access to opportunity rather than a single prescribed path.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">The relationship doesn&#039;t end at the signing table. The mentors, employers, and peers a student meets through the Academy stay part of their world after graduation, reflecting the CNX Foundation&#039;s micro-TIL philosophy &mdash; tangible, impactful, local support defined by follow-through rather than a one-time gesture.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">That is Appalachia First in practice: regional employers investing in regional talent, and young people finding that the opportunity they were looking for was already here.</p><hr /><h4 id=\"you-may-also-like\" >You may also like...</h4><div id=\"bookmark-5fd5cd33-05be-4264-a563-2de5e2268a00\"\n     class=\"release-content-bookmark release-content-bookmark--horizontal\">\n\n            <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__thumbnail\"\n           href=\"https://www.positiveenergyhub.com/branching-out-site-visits-put-career-opportunities-in-full-bloom-for-cnxs-2025-2026-mentorship-academy-class\"\n           rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n           target=\"_blank\"           style=\"background-image: url(https://prezly.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2F1f4a93e4-9c69-431f-9b7e-e20fdbe3ba9f%2F-%2Fpreview%2F600x600%2F?ar=1%3A1&amp;fit=crop&amp;s=3d73c15d5f98631603127ac25558e5ff)\"\n        ></a>\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__details\">\n\n                    <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__title\"\n               href=\"https://www.positiveenergyhub.com/branching-out-site-visits-put-career-opportunities-in-full-bloom-for-cnxs-2025-2026-mentorship-academy-class\"\n               rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\"               data-type=\"bookmark\"\n               data-track=\"Story WebBookmark Click\"\n               data-placement=\"content\"\n               data-id=\"5fd5cd33-05be-4264-a563-2de5e2268a00\"\n           >\n                Branching Out: Site Visits Put Career Opportunities in Full Bloom for CNX&#039;s 2025-2026 Mentorship Academy Class            </a>\n        \n                    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__description\">\n                Spring Is a Season of Possibility for Academy Students as Their Career Visions Take Root            </div>\n        \n        <a href=\"https://www.positiveenergyhub.com/\"\n           target=\"_blank\"\n           rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"\n           class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider\"\n        >\n            <img class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider-icon\" src=\"https://avatars.prezly.com/favicon?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.positiveenergyhub.com%2Fbranching-out-site-visits-put-career-opportunities-in-full-bloom-for-cnxs-2025-2026-mentorship-academy-class&newsroom=335a4011-7fdf-410f-8e36-cb891220e74b\" aria-hidden=\"true\" />\n            Positive Energy Hub        </a>\n    </div>\n</div>\n<div id=\"bookmark-e77ad09a-1dfe-4f91-b461-c2846cb3d796\"\n     class=\"release-content-bookmark release-content-bookmark--horizontal\">\n\n            <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__thumbnail\"\n           href=\"https://www.positiveenergyhub.com/cnx-mentorship-academy-students-discover-career-opportunities-at-dura-bond-pipe\"\n           rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n           target=\"_blank\"           style=\"background-image: url(https://prezly.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2F495cd74d-f1dd-4e6b-96f1-3edaa5903ea2%2F-%2Fpreview%2F600x600%2F?ar=1%3A1&amp;fit=crop&amp;s=57dc32602d9a50eea387a3b08704bfb4)\"\n        ></a>\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__details\">\n\n                    <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__title\"\n               href=\"https://www.positiveenergyhub.com/cnx-mentorship-academy-students-discover-career-opportunities-at-dura-bond-pipe\"\n               rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\"               data-type=\"bookmark\"\n               data-track=\"Story WebBookmark Click\"\n               data-placement=\"content\"\n               data-id=\"e77ad09a-1dfe-4f91-b461-c2846cb3d796\"\n           >\n                CNX Mentorship Academy Students Discover Career Opportunities at Dura-Bond Pipe            </a>\n        \n                    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__description\">\n                By Positive Energy Hub Staff            </div>\n        \n        <a href=\"https://www.positiveenergyhub.com/\"\n           target=\"_blank\"\n           rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"\n           class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider\"\n        >\n            <img class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider-icon\" src=\"https://avatars.prezly.com/favicon?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.positiveenergyhub.com%2Fcnx-mentorship-academy-students-discover-career-opportunities-at-dura-bond-pipe&newsroom=335a4011-7fdf-410f-8e36-cb891220e74b\" aria-hidden=\"true\" />\n            Positive Energy Hub        </a>\n    </div>\n</div>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>",
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            "caption": "#MentorshipAcademy 25-26 | Signing Day",
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        {
            "description": "Branching Out: Site Visits Put Career Opportunities in Full Bloom for CNX's 2025-2026 Mentorship Academy Class",
            "url": "https://www.positiveenergyhub.com/branching-out-site-visits-put-career-opportunities-in-full-bloom-for-cnxs-2025-2026-mentorship-academy-class"
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        {
            "description": "CNX Mentorship Academy Students Discover Career Opportunities at Dura-Bond Pipe",
            "url": "https://www.positiveenergyhub.com/cnx-mentorship-academy-students-discover-career-opportunities-at-dura-bond-pipe"
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    "author": {
        "first_name": "Scott",
        "last_name": "Staruch"
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