Co-op celebrates 20th anniversary

The cooperative education program at WSU, one of the largest in the Midwest, will kick off its 20th anniversary year and thank employers and faculty who participate during a luncheon at noon April 28 in the Rhatigan Student Center.

Nearly 500 employees and more than 100 faculty and staff have been invited. KSNW anchor/reporter and WSU alumna Anita Cochran will be the keynote speaker. Cochran participated in the program during the 1983-84 academic year.

The program has grown considerably since 1979, when it started with an $800,000 federal grant. There were 141 placements with 44 employers. Of those employers, seven — Raytheon, Intrust Bank, KAKE TV, LSI Logic, New Horizons, USD 259 and Wichita Children’s Home — are still involved.

During the 1997-98 academic year, the program posted a record 1,288 placements. The 876 students filling those slots worked with 425 employers.

The program offers students opportunities to combine academic and career experience through paid jobs.