The Aspire Program: Career & Professional Development
Career Preparation starting Day One
The Aspire Program at Carthage is a multifaceted four-year career development sequence designed exclusively for Carthage students. Identify your interests and purpose and connect the dots to potential careers. The program prepares you for a meaningful life, no matter what the future holds.
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/12/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/313,422,1748,1856/40945_21544_171052831004161.rev.1733503099.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/12/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/313,422,1748,1856/40945_21544_171052831004161.rev.1733503099.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/12/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/313,422,1748,1856/40945_21544_171052831004161.rev.1733503099.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/12/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/313,422,1748,1856/40945_21544_171052831004161.rev.1733503099.JPG 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/12/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/313,422,1748,1856/40945_21544_171052831004161.rev.1733503099.JPG" alt="Emma Thistle '25" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/12/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/313,422,1748,1856/40945_21544_171052831004161.rev.1733503099.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/12/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/313,422,1748,1856/40945_21544_171052831004161.rev.1733503099.JPG 3x" data-max-w="1435" data-max-h="1434" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “The Aspire Program helped me build a resume when applying for internships. I made an appointment, and we reviewed my resume, editing and adding things to make it great.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2885-emma-thistle">Emma Thistle</a> ’25</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,192,667,860/39932_bradley_szubryt_sv.rev.1717175455.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,192,667,860/39932_bradley_szubryt_sv.rev.1717175455.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,192,667,860/39932_bradley_szubryt_sv.rev.1717175455.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,192,667,860/39932_bradley_szubryt_sv.rev.1717175455.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,192,667,860/39932_bradley_szubryt_sv.rev.1717175455.jpg" alt="Bradley Szubryt '26" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,192,667,860/39932_bradley_szubryt_sv.rev.1717175455.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,192,667,860/39932_bradley_szubryt_sv.rev.1717175455.jpg 3x" data-max-w="667" data-max-h="668" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “The Aspire Program has helped me create and refine my resume and CV. I then used that resume to get a good part-time job off campus.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2753-bradley-szubryt">Bradley Szubryt</a> ’26</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/136/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,900,3999,4896/42764_26937_171052831004161.rev.1761071256.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/136/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,900,3999,4896/42764_26937_171052831004161.rev.1761071256.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/png" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/136/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,900,3999,4896/42764_26937_171052831004161.rev.1761071256.png 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/136/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,900,3999,4896/42764_26937_171052831004161.rev.1761071256.png 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/136/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,900,3999,4896/42764_26937_171052831004161.rev.1761071256.png" alt="Samuel Riaño '27" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/136/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,900,3999,4896/42764_26937_171052831004161.rev.1761071256.png 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/136/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,900,3999,4896/42764_26937_171052831004161.rev.1761071256.png 3x" data-max-w="3999" data-max-h="3996" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “The Aspire Program has provided great support for my professional growth — from improving my résumé and helping me search for internships to giving me real-world experience as a student representative,”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/3326-samuel-riano">Samuel Riaño</a> ’26</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/142/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,659,658/41050_will_jost.rev.1734981056.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/142/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,659,658/41050_will_jost.rev.1734981056.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/142/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,659,658/41050_will_jost.rev.1734981056.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/142/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,659,658/41050_will_jost.rev.1734981056.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/142/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,659,658/41050_will_jost.rev.1734981056.jpg" alt="Will Jost '25" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/142/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,659,658/41050_will_jost.rev.1734981056.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/142/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,659,658/41050_will_jost.rev.1734981056.jpg 3x" data-max-w="659" data-max-h="658" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “The career fairs set up by The Aspire Program have been very helpful. Almost every internship I’ve had was from attending one of the career fairs.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2931-will-jost">Will Jost</a> ’25</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,70,570,639/41436_Kelvin-Madjinor-27.rev.1742413672.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,70,570,639/41436_Kelvin-Madjinor-27.rev.1742413672.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,70,570,639/41436_Kelvin-Madjinor-27.rev.1742413672.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,70,570,639/41436_Kelvin-Madjinor-27.rev.1742413672.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,70,570,639/41436_Kelvin-Madjinor-27.rev.1742413672.jpg" alt="Kelvin Madjinor '27" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,70,570,639/41436_Kelvin-Madjinor-27.rev.1742413672.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,70,570,639/41436_Kelvin-Madjinor-27.rev.1742413672.jpg 3x" data-max-w="570" data-max-h="569" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “With the help of The Aspire Program staff, I’ve created a resume and gained connections with alumni.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/3008-kelvin-madjinor">Kelvin Madjinor</a> ’27</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
About The Aspire Program
At Carthage, all first-year students begin career development planning from their first days on campus. Through The Aspire Program, they develop a dynamic approach to goal-setting and life skill-building. Students will own their ability to be lifelong learners and impactful contributors in the world, and to recover when plans don’t go as expected. Launched in 2019, The Aspire Program builds on Carthage’s strong history of providing students with the skills they need to succeed.
Driving Student Success
The Aspire Program at Carthage College is nationally recognized for its innovative approach to career development. With numerous awards, competitive grant support, and featured case studies, the program continues to lead in student success.
See the Aspire Program’s AwardsHear from our employer partners
“Partnering with Carthage College and The Aspire Program has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Their commitment to preparing students for life beyond the classroom is truly inspiring. The Aspire Program’s team is collaborative, responsive, and clearly passionate about creating meaningful connections between students and the professional world. I’ve been continually impressed by their innovative approach and the value they bring to both students and external partners." — Dulce Morales, Senior Lead, Community Relations and Business Development at BCU
“Abbott Finance, Carthage College, and The Aspire Program have built a great relationship over the past few years. Abbott has been allowed to engage with students each year and present on career opportunities. In doing so, we’ve been able to recruit bright and driven talent from Carthage into our co-op/internship program and as full-time employees. We hope to continue to build upon this relationship in the future.” — Asif Choudhury, Sr. Finance Manager at Abbott
“Carthage College is a distinguished institution for education, personal development, and career preparation. The collaboration between The Aspire Program and the Kenosha Police Department has thrived. We appreciate the dedication of Carthage interns at our department and their commitment to our city and organization. We are grateful for this partnership and eagerly anticipate offering more programs to strengthen our community together.” — Jason Tetrick, Lieutenant and Training Officer at Kenosha Police Department