On May 13, three students finished a four-year journey at the University of Oklahoma that many thought would never be possible. James “Bo” Cochrane, Peyton Dumas and Madison Mason became the first graduating class of the Sooner Works program.
The University of Oklahoma’s Sooner Works is a comprehensive integrated program for students with an intellectual or developmental disability who desire a postsecondary experience on a college campus. Sooner Works was launched in the fall of 2019. The program is a four-year certificate program offering a college experience to prepare participants for competitive employment and independent living through a combination of coursework and career exploration. Students in Sooner Works live on campus and take traditional university courses in conjunction with courses specific to Sooner Works. In addition, students participate in internships and social organizations on the beautiful University of Oklahoma campus.
It was four years of coffee runs, football games, late nights in the dorms, classes and making lifelong friends. Madison loved her job as a receptionist in the Sooner Works office, finding a perfect fit for her outgoing personality. Bo landed his dream internship working with The Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band. And Peyton used his love of fitness in his job at OU’s Sarkeys Fitness Center. All three have jobs lined up post-graduation and have led the way for a program that now boasts more than 30 students.
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