Oklahoma State University continues to break down barriers to education with its inclusive, non-degree-seeking program, Opportunity Orange Scholars (OOS).

For its dedication to inclusivity in both academia and the workforce, the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce honored OOS with the Earl and Bernice Mitchell Inclusive Excellence Award at the chamber’s annual award gala on Feb. 21.

The award is named after the late husband-and-wife duo Earl and Bernice Mitchell. The pair were strong supporters of inclusivity and left a lasting legacy on minority groups in the Stillwater area. Earl Mitchell was the first African American faculty member to gain tenure at OSU.

OOS was established in 2022 as a two-year academic certificate program for students with disabilities at OSU. A requirement for graduating from the program is that students complete 100 hours of internship work over two semesters.

Upon the program's creation, OOS representatives reached out to chamber officials for support in connecting students to internship opportunities. Since then, the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce has been instrumental in securing placements with businesses in the area.

“The chamber has really helped our students with finding internships and connecting us with places that would be a good fit [OOS students],” said Kacey Ward, OOS program manager. “Grace (Impson) has been an incredible partner to work with, and we are grateful for her and her team.”

Impson, the chamber’s director of marketing and events, nominated OOS after observing the program's dedication to inclusivity over the past four years. When nominations opened for the chamber’s award ceremony, Impson said she couldn’t think of a better recipient.

“I felt so strongly that what they’re doing is exactly the mission of Earl and Bernice’s inclusivity award,” Impson said. “OOS is making Stillwater’s workforce more diverse by adding different kinds of people from a wide range of backgrounds.”

When first approached by the program’s leadership, Impson admitted that her perspective on working with individuals with disabilities was narrow. However, throughout her time working with the students and staff, Impson said she has become a strong advocate for inclusivity.

“Growing up — at least at my school — I feel like students with disabilities were very separate from the general student population,” Impson said. “I started working [OOS students] and I was so inspired

“To see [students with disabilities] can have jobs and contribute to the workforce expands my worldview.”

Impson said she hopes Stillwater businesses continue welcoming OOS students and workers from various backgrounds.

“For our partnership to continue to improve and grow, we need more businesses to engage with the program,” Impson said.

Dr. Emily Tucker, the director of Opportunity Orange Scholars, expressed appreciation for the chamber’s support and the employment and learning opportunities local businesses provide OOS students.

“The businesses we have worked with have been so on board since day one,” Tucker said. “They all said, ‘Yes, sign us up. We don’t know what it looks like to have one of your students in our office every day, we don’t know what to expect, but we want to do this, and we want them to be here.'”

Tucker acknowledged the growth and learning that happens for OOS students, and Ward noted the program's success. Ward said nearly 100% of students either secure a job or enroll in a degree-seeking program after graduating from OOS.

Supporting the program, OOS representatives pointed out the strong relationship between the academic program and local businesses, such as C-Star Management and Turning Point Therapeutic Horsemanship. Representatives believe it’s important not only to have a strong partnership with the chamber but also with the businesses that employ OOS students to ensure both the students' and the businesses’ needs are met.

Tucker provided an example of how OOS students may not be aware of appropriate workplace relationship boundaries. This could look like a student calling their employer multiple times in a row if the calls go unanswered. Because the student is unaware that the behavior is inappropriate, they may see it as a way to connect with their employer or to ask a question. It’s recognition skills such as these that the OOS program helps students develop.

Tucker said communication is important in situations like this for both students and businesses.

“The businesses have all done an incredible job of receiving our feedback and being open to training,” Tucker said. “Kacey will step in and say, ‘Great, I would love to support you,’ and talk through how to establish this boundary with the student employee, or what good or reasonable expectations are for our students, and further how the businesses should have high expectations [of them] and communicate those effectively.

"That’s what our Opportunity Orange Scholars need, is just to have a community willing to welcome them into the fold.”

Story By: Annie Ross | annie.ross@okstate.edu