Wayne State freshman and Summerland High School graduate, Faith King, is experiencing many firsts at college. Her most impressive is being the first student to be a criminal justice major while a part of the Career Scholars Cooperative Education Program, Rural Law Opportunities Program and Honors Program.

The Career Scholars Cooperative Education Program allows students to have three years of building skills for leadership and the workforce, with a fourth year in the chosen career field. Students will have an opportunity to choose between Norfolk, Grand Island and Columbus, living in housing with other scholars. Selected participants will earn 18 credit hours by working for approximately 30-40 hours per week. A total of $24,000 is included in the package, with the bulk of it being used during senior year. All scholars will receive priority registration while being a part of the program. Students will receive a faculty member advisor to help with their curriculum.

The current director, Dr. Michael Keibler, is helping serve the fourth cohort of students in the program, the class of 2027. Eligible degrees include: business administration, computer information system and information technology, criminal justice, education, industrial technology, and mass communications and speech communications.

To stay in the program, recipients must maintain a 2.5 grade-point average. Freshman will also participate in a living-learning community, by living in Neihardt Hall the first year, and completing a CORE program, with early-move-in and a new freshman year experience course. More details can be found at https://www.wsc.edu/career-scholars.

The Rural Law Opportunity Program recruits and educates students from rural Nebraska who want to dedicate their future to serving their community as a lawyer. Any major is eligible to apply and students must demonstrate a willingness to serve rural Nebraska as well as a strong academic profile. Recipients will receive full tuition at the college, as well as a pre-admission to the University of Nebraska law school, assuming a passed LSAT, and visit to the College of Law. Students can also expect to receive an internship and be eligible for loan forgiveness after the completion of law school, while also receiving priority registration with a faculty member as an advisor. Dr. Ronald Loggins is the director of the program, and states that students must keep a minimum GPA of a 3.5. More details can be found at https://www.wsc.edu/rlop.

The honors program allows students with strong academic potential to receive a foundation to build their career upon. Honors students will be given priority registration, and must retain a 3.3 GPA to stay in the program upon their college graduation. Eligible students can receive the Neihardt Scholars Scholarship, providing a financial package to cover room and board. Different recognitions are designated in the program and students must complete an honors thesis to graduate with recognition. More details can be found at https://www.wsc.edu/info/20377/honors_program/95/honors_program.

King recently discovered that she is starting a new legacy as a participant in all three programs. She has worked hard for many years to accomplish her goals and said she was astonished when she found out that she was leading a new pack of students. With her major being new to the program, she wasn't sure she would receive the scholarship she has.

"I went to the selection day interviews and I was terrified. The amazing Ronald Loggins interviewed me, as well as industry professionals, and he asked me many questions to find out the kind of person I am. When he found out that I was already an RLOP and Honors student, he was shocked and I immediately thought that he was not a fan (of me). I walked out of the interview and told my mom that I bombed that and there was no way I would be getting the program. Little did I know, I made a lasting impression on Dr. Loggins," King stated.

King said that she is "thrilled" to get to work with Dr. Rachel Kunz for her RLOP advising, and knew that no matter what happened with Co-Op, she already had an solid program on her side.

Up until very recently, King was not aware that she had impressed her interview panel and they were so excited about her unique stance.

Despite her only being a freshman, multiple employers have reached out, interested in King working for them as a senior. As a Growing Together Career Scholar, she will be living in housing near the Norfolk Waterfront during her fourth year, while working a paid-internship. Not only will she receive a stipend for housing, but will be provided with opportunities that many individuals have to wait years to receive.

With her unique stance, King is encouraging other students to look into the same programs.

"I am so lucky to be in these amazing scholarship programs and I want to help grow them to the best possible place they can be. My goal for the next four years is to encourage students to join and look into all these opportunities, so they, too, can be leaders in their majors."

Students who are eligible should consider applying to the programs and college officials urge school counselors and administrators to recommend Wayne State College's wide array of programs.

Anyone with questions can contact King at [email protected] or the Co-Op website at https://www.wsc.edu/info/20472/career_scholars_program/1447/applying_for_the_career_scholars_program to get in contact with Keibler.

Employers interested in learning more about how the program works or being a potential sponsor can reach out via the website or the email available for the program director.

Students interested in RLOP can seek information on the WSC website for Dr. Loggins.