Education to Employment Programs Encourage Students Who Start Here to Stay Here!

Western Kansas Rural Economic Development Alliance (WKREDA) is proud of the way our community supports the next generation of leaders and, even more importantly, the way these students are inspired to stay and thrive in Western Kansas.

It’s one of the reasons we’re putting the spotlight on International Youth Day, which takes place on August 12th. Established by the United Nations, this special day is designed to celebrate the potential that young people have to make our world a better place… Most especially, here in Kansas!

Start Here. Stay Here! 

The Western Kansas Careers Showcases (WKCS) were designed to create a system of interactions that connect students, parents, school districts, businesses, and industry in Western Kansas. Why? To encourage our young people who started here to stay here! By putting down roots, they can strengthen our communities, reinvigorate rural areas, and bring fresh insights and talents to businesses and industry in the region.

Eight career showcases are planned for the remainder of 2025, with three more already in the works for 2026! During each event, local students are encouraged to visit each booth to find out more about career and higher education opportunities, ask questions, and network with presenters.

On a deeper level, each event hosted by the WKCS also aims to: 

• Grow the rural workforce retention
• Build a responsive workforce
• Create job shadowing, internship, and apprenticeship opportunities
• Teach uncommon leadership
• Build student leadership

Some of the 2024-2025 highlights include participation by over 1,350 students thus far, with more than 25 school districts, 15 businesses, and 6 colleges participating.

Join Us! 

Business owners are highly encouraged to participate by becoming a member of the WKCS. In doing so, you’ll not only support the future of the Southwestern Kansas workforce but also receive help developing job shadowing and internship opportunities to encourage a long-lasting connection between your business and our talented students.  

Each membership level includes a complimentary booth at up to eight Career Showcases, depending on the package. The subscription period is good for one year, with no automatically recurring payments to worry about.

For the full schedule of WKCS’ upcoming showcases for the remainder of 2025 and the first half of 2026, click here! You can also contact WKCS director Joe Coles directly via email.

Collaborate. Innovate. Educate

Also paving the way from education to employment is the CAPS Network’s Rural Initiative Program. CAPS Network’s mission is to develop robust relationships between K-12 education and business and community partners to generate meaningful, profession-based experiences for students.

CAPS Five Core Pillars:

1. Profession-Based Learning
2. Professional Skills Development
3. Self-Discovery and Exploration
4. Entrepreneurial Mindset
5. Responsiveness

The Cohort from CAPS Network’s Rural Initiative Program has students participate in a design challenge. Students are tasked with solving professional challenges representing a need in the community and/or state. Some of the highlights have included participation in the Kansas Department of Commerce’s “Love, Kansas,” campaign as well as identifying creative ways to increase foot traffic for local businesses.  

“Being let loose with our own resources felt exhilarating,” said one student in a 2024 Cohort update posted on the CAPS Network site.

Does your rural Kansas school district see the benefit in joining? You may be eligible for grant support to cover the licensing fees and first and second-year affiliation fees. Click here to begin the application process for the 2025 CAPS Rural Initiative Cohort!