VicTory 4 Kidz and Valparaiso University collaborate to host 2025 Youth Healthcare Career Expo

On September 30 through October 2, VicTory 4 Kidz Founder Dr. Regina Beard was proud to collaborate with Valparaiso University for the latest Youth Healthcare Career Expo. Since the first Youth Healthcare Career Expo in February of 2023, VicTory 4 Kidz has brought healthcare professionals and students together to enable children to explore healthcare careers.

“We have been connected with VicTory for kids for a number of years through our faculty, who knew Dr. Beard,” said Joseph Zaweski, assistant dean and program director for the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program. “We have been going to her events for several years, participating in different ways. As we learned more about each other, Dr. Beard came to us and pitched the idea of collaborating for the Youth Healthcare Career Expo. We have the space, so we decided to host and co-sponsor. I think it’s worked out really well with the breakout rooms and all of that.”

With elementary school students attending on September 30, middle school students attending on October 1, and high school students attending on October 3, VicTory 4 Kidz is committed to introducing kids of all ages to healthcare careers. Each day featured age-appropriate activities, goodies, and more at each of the booths, which were hosted by various health organizations and community partners.

“Healthcare has really bloomed and expanded in a lot of different areas, and kids may have no idea about all the options,” Zaweski said. “Being able to introduce the kids in elementary school to all of these professions is a wonderful opportunity. They realize, ‘Oh, that’s a job. I can make a living doing that.’ I think it’s important to expose them to that at a younger age.”

Beyond exploring each table at the expo and rotating through breakout sessions, students also assembled to answer health trivia questions and recognize scholarship recipients. Rensselaer Central High School Junior Brodie Radtke was among a handful of students who received a scholarship from VicTory 4 Kidz today. With her teacher’s encouragement, Radtke applied for the scholarship prior to the event, and she was thrilled to learn that she had been awarded a scholarship during day three of the Youth Healthcare Career Expo this year.

“It felt good knowing that I got a scholarship to help me in my future with healthcare,” Radtke said. “I want to become a physical therapy assistant, and there are some schools around Indiana where I can do that. I’ve grown up with sports, and I’ve had firsthand experience with physical therapy assistance. My sisters have gone through it before, and I really like everything that they do to help people get back to where they want to be.”

Beyond educating students about healthcare career opportunities, providing financial support as they head into college to pursue healthcare careers is a priority for VicTory 4 Kidz.

Even before students set foot in the Harre Union building at Valparaiso University for the Youth Healthcare Career Expo, the event’s atmosphere of excitement and collaboration was palpable.

Nathan Fletcher, a freshman business major on the football team at Valparaiso University, and a few of his teammates noticed that Beard and others were setting up for an event and jumped in to help.

“We were walking by the other day and noticed that there were a couple of people unloading a U-Haul, so we decided to step in and help. Today, at 1:30 p.m., we’re going to have more guys here to help load everything,” Fletcher said. “I’m glad we were able to help. That is something our coach always preaches: we have to look out for our community. They support us, and we need to support them.”

For more information about the Youth Healthcare Career Expo and VicTory for Kidz, visit victory4kidz.net. To learn more about Valparaiso University and its areas of study in healthcare, visit valpo.edu.