BELLA RHOADES is a senior in the Marketing program who chose to participate in co-op to gain valuable realworld experience in a professional business office environment.

She hoped the experience would help her explore different areas of business and guide her focus as she prepares for college. For her co-op placement, Bella has been working in the Human Resources department at American Refining Group (ARG), where she plays an active role in day-to-day operations. Her responsibilities include scheduling interviews, updating audit forms, confirming the completion of safety trainings, preparing gifts for career fairs and service awards, updating job descriptions and supporting a variety of administrative tasks. Bella has thoroughly enjoyed her time at ARG and is grateful for the knowledge, skills and mentorship the experience has provided. She plans to continue working there over the summer before heading to Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she will major in business. Bella has been accepted into the Robert Cook Honors Program and will also be a member of the IUP swim team.

KYLER HOGUE is a junior in the Carpentry program and has always wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps to become a skilled carpenter. He has a strong interest in both framing and finish work and enjoys expanding his knowledge and skills in these areas. Within the program, Kyler serves as the class repre-senta-tive, demonstrating leadership and com-mit-ment to his trade. This year, Kyler chose to participate in the co-op program, allowing him to gain valuable hands-on experience while earning an income and maintaining the flexibility needed to continue playing travel sports — something that would be more difficult with a traditional part-time job. He currently works at Gleason Construction, where he likes the supportive work environment, the opportunity to collaborate with a team, and the chance to learn tips from experienced carpenters. On the job, Kyler assists with cutting and cleaning materials, forming and pouring concrete pads and curbs and performing a variety of general carpentry tasks. He plans to continue working at Gleason Construction throughout the summer and return for co-op during his senior year.

ZAYLI THOMPSON is a senior in the Marketing program who found her marketing classes both engaging and easy to understand. For her co-op placement, Zayli chose to work at the YMCA, where she welcomed members, processed membership paperwork, assisted with customer concerns and performed various administrative tasks. She especially enjoyed her time at the YMCA because it allowed her to build meaningful relationships with community members — plus, getting paid during the school day was a nice bonus. After graduation, Zayli plans to continue working at the YMCA over the summer before attending the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in the fall. While she is still exploring her options for a major, she envisions a future career that offers a flexible schedule and opportunities to travel.