Photo Courtesy of Canva

A new after-school pilot program at Abilene Middle School is helping students explore career paths, build life skills, and set goals for the future. Launched on January 7th, the program is run through the Lighthouse Leadership Institute, a nonprofit founded by Abilene High School graduate Dalton Millican, and meets twice a month with district support.

The program connects students with local business leaders and mentors who share real-world skills, workplace expectations, and career experiences. Lessons also focus on practical life skills such as basic cooking, fitness, cleaning, money management, and self-improvement.

Millican said the goal is to fill gaps that don’t always fit into the regular school day and help students see how today’s choices connect to future opportunities.

Principal Jenna DeLay said the partnership supports conversations already happening at the school by providing a more formal structure for future thinking and goal setting. The program is designed to help middle school students imagine life beyond graduation and understand how education prepares them for success.