Three Students Gain Professional Experience Through Cooperative Education Placements

Kayla Keck, a senior in the Marketing program under instructor Erika Fries, is completing her cooperative education placement at Allegheny Surface Technology. Keck selected the program because it combines creative work with numerical analysis and provides skills transferable across business sectors. In her placement, she helps generate and construct parts, prepares quotes, and completes purchase orders—tasks that connect directly to concepts learned in class. She credits the cooperative experience with building confidence and deepening her understanding of daily business operations. Keck intends to remain with Allegheny Surface Technology after graduation to continue expanding her professional experience.

Jaydon Hogue, also a senior in Fries' Marketing program, is using her cooperative placement at Zippo Manufacturing to strengthen administrative capabilities she plans to employ in a business career. Hogue works in the Logistics department, where she enters data into spreadsheets, tracks shipments, and reviews costs—responsibilities that directly correspond to her coursework. She identifies earning compensation while gaining practical experience as a significant advantage of the cooperative program. Following graduation, Hogue plans to enroll at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford to study Business and Sports & Recreational Management.

Logan Green, a junior in Dave Ware's Computer Maintenance Technology program, is developing technical expertise through a cooperative placement in the IT department at Zippo Manufacturing. Working under mentor Jeremiah Stiable, Green repairs computers, provides online technical support, diagnoses network issues, and manages servers—work closely aligned with his classroom instruction. He views the combination of paid employment and skill development as a primary benefit of cooperative education, particularly the exposure to tasks and technical challenges encountered outside previous jobs. Upon completing his studies, Green plans to pursue a technology degree at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.