Penn Hills Student Earns Five Industry Certifications Through PHorge Robotics

Penn Hills High School student Jakob Lightcap is making district history through his accomplishments in the PHorge Robotics program.

Jakob recently became the first student enrolled in PHorge Robotics to earn five industry certifications while still in high school. In addition, he earned a Pre-Apprentice certification as a Robotics Technician through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor, highlighting both his technical abilities and dedication to career readiness.

“I’ll say it’s nice to be the first at something,” Jakob said. “I never thought that I would, but you can’t expect to be the first sometimes. I didn’t think it’d be this big of an achievement too.”

Through the program Jakob has gained experience in electrical systems, fabrication, and design while also developing important teamwork and problem solving skills.

Jakob said one of his favorite aspects of the program has been the hands-on learning opportunities that allow students to directly apply what they are learning in the classroom.

“The hands-on training and experimenting are what I enjoyed most about the class,” he said. “I always thought it made learning a lot better and easier to do if you could interact with what you’re learning or have examples to help better visualize it.”

After graduation, Jakob plans to continue his education in college and hopes to attend the University of Pittsburgh.

By earning his Pre-Apprentice Robotics Technician certification through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor, Jakob has already taken an important step toward entering the workforce with valuable industry experience and recognized credentials.

Jakob’s accomplishments reflect the impact of Penn Hills’ career and technical education programs, which continue to provide students with meaningful opportunities to build real-world skills and prepare for future success.