WKU News

Western Kentucky University celebrates the successful completion of its inaugural cohort of the Career Launch program, a transformative four-week immersive experience designed to equip students with essential skills for navigating the hidden job market.

Participants engaged in weekly sessions for four weeks focused on identifying, connecting with and conducting career conversations with professionals in industries of interest. By building strategic social capital, students enhanced their career exploration, confidence and readiness to pursue job and internship opportunities in the hidden job market. 

“Career Launch has helped me become more confident in my abilities to approach professionals in my career path more comfortably,” said Chloe Kidd, a Monticello junior who was one of 16 participants in the inaugural cohort.

According to feedback provided by participants, 100% report greater confidence in knowing how to effectively follow up and sustain relationships with professionals and 100% now report greater confidence that upon college completion they will earn a job that they will find fulfilling.

“We are thrilled to see the incredible growth and development of our students as they completed the Career Launch program,” said Wayne E. Simpson, Associate Director of Career Development at WKU. “This initiative has provided them with invaluable insights and practical tools to succeed in their future careers.”

The Career Launch program at WKU emphasized the importance of networking and relationship-building in today’s competitive job landscape. Through hands-on exercises and connection to the WKU Alumni Association’s Career Consultants program, students gained the confidence and skills necessary to navigate professional interactions successfully and develop relationships with professionals they previously were not connected with. 

“The career readiness course helped me to understand my strengths and weaknesses, how to interview people, and even how to email and reach out to people, and I just love it!,” said Pia Bartlett, a Louisville freshman.

“We are immensely proud of our students for their dedication and commitment to personal and professional growth,” said Destiny O’Rourke, Director, TRIO Student Support Services. “It is gratifying to see how much the program has already helped students make progress toward their goals.”

The Career Launch program at WKU is a collaboration between multiple programs including the Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning, which provides administration for F1rstGen programming; TRIO Student Support Services; ACDC Career Development; the Intercultural Student Engagement Center; and the WKU Alumni Association.

Members of the inaugural Career Launch cohort are:

• Htee Paw, junior from Bowling Green, CITL First Gen Student Ambassador

• Hen Mu, junior from Bowling Green, TRIO Student Support Services

• Peter Aung, sophomore from Bowling Green, CITL First Gen Student Ambassador

• Odila Sibomana, junior from Bowling Green, TRIO Student Support Services

• Martha Onda, freshman from Bowling Green, TRIO Student Support Services

• Chloe Kidd, junior from Monticello, TRIO Student Support Services

• Corey Anthony, senior from Louisville, Intercultural Student Engagement Center

• Lexie Birdwell, sophomore from Greenbrier, Tennessee, TRIO Student Support Services

• Makiyah Morrow, sophomore from Russellville, CITL First Gen Student Ambassador

• Marquavis Baker, sophomore from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, CITL First Gen Student Ambassador

• Pia Bartlett, freshman from Louisville, Intercultural Student Engagement Center

• Sandy Cruz, sophomore from Gallatin, Tennessee, CITL First Gen Student Ambassador

• Shauntia Townes, senior from Louisville, Intercultural Student Engagement Center

• Tha Thang, senior from Bowling Green, TRIO Student Support Services

• Vibha Patel, senior from Bowling Green, TRIO Student Support Services

• Ziah Anderson, sophomore from Madison, Tennessee, TRIO Student Support Services

As WKU celebrates the successful completion of its first Career Launch cohort, the university looks forward to continuing to support students in their career journey and preparing them for strategic career success. Students interested in joining the fall 2024 Career Launch cohort should contact one of the partner programs for more information.

• For information about WKU F1rstGen, visit https://www.wku.edu/firstgen/get-involved/  
• For information about TRIO-SSS, visit https://www.wku.edu/sss/  
• For information about WKU Career Development, visit https://www.wku.edu/career/  
• For information about ISEC, visit https://www.wku.edu/isec/  
• For information about the Career Launch program, visit www.careerlaunch.academy  
• For information about the WKU Alumni Association Career Consultants program, visit https://alumni.wku.edu/s/808/index.aspx?sid=808&gid=1&pgid=5738

Contact: April McCauley, (270) 745-3920

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Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.