100 Years of Co-op
A century ago, Antioch College was the first to integrate cooperative education with an undergraduate liberal arts curriculum
The Antioch science Co-ops are what set me on course for my entire career.
Antioch’s idea was: get your feet wet and maybe you’ll learn how to swim.
years of Co-op
Generations of Co-op Stories
As we mark a century of cooperative education, we welcome memories and reflections from alumni, parents, faculty, and staff throughout the year ahead.
Current Students on Co-op
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Living, Learning, and Giving Back: Axel Slowe ’27 at Mitaniketan in Kerala, Indiaby Axel Slowe on March 4, 2025
I am currently co-oping at Mitraniketan, a school in the small but busy village of Vellanad in Trivandrum. Mitraniketan is an organization working to “break the cycle of poverty, exploitation, and lack of opportunities”(Mitraniketan). At the heart of Mitraniketan is the school serving children from
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From City Streets to Mountain Peaks: Heather Cain ’26 as Conservation Crew Lead with Rocky Mountain Youth Corpsby Heather Cain on February 25, 2025
My summer as a Conservation Corps Crew Lead with the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC) was a transformative experience. It was a stark departure from my urban upbringing and a challenging yet incredibly meaningful adventure that pushed me beyond my comfort zone and solidified my
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Flying High: Alexa Greer ’22 at the Glen Helen Raptor Center in Yellow Springs, Ohioby Sara Marsh on November 29, 2024
Glen Helen operates the area’s only raptor rehabilitation center. The goal of wildlife rehabilitation is to release healthy animals back into the wild. Injured birds are brought in by caring people from all over the community and are given a new chance at life. The
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Education in Prevention: Katie Hayes ’28 at Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley in Dayton, OHby Katie Hayes on June 6, 2024
Most people will think of Goodwill as a non-profit store with affordable and gently used clothes, but Goodwill is actually part of a company that goes beyond that. Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley highlights the empowerment of people with disabilities and disadvantages to
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“In the Bay, at Martins”: Bridget Padilla’24 at Martin de Porres in San Franciscoby 1 Co-op-Admin on February 22, 2024
What is Martins?Martin de Porres House of Hospitality, affectionately known as Martins, is a Free Restaurant, serving soup for anyone and everyone Monday – Saturday from 1-2pm. Martins was inspired by the catholic workers movement which lead to their mission to “serve in the spirit
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How they Changed Me as a Human: Trinity Harris-Brewer ’25 at Buen Dia Family School in San Francisco, CAby Trinity Harris-Brewer on February 21, 2024
Working at Buen Dia has taught me the complexities of working as a teacher, childhood development, and the culture that San Francisco has to offer. When I first started working at Buen Dia I had some history of babysitting in my family, and while it
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Modeling Mosaics of Benthic Community Composition: Emma Jones ’22 – NSF REU at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciencesby Emma Sue Jones on October 7, 2023
Currently stationed at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS Station) in St. George’s, Bermuda, I am on co-op fulfilling a position as a research assistant intern completing a “research experience for undergraduates”—also known as an REU—through the National Science Foundation. I am working under
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Learning to return to the land: Yuri Whitley ‘26 at the Antioch Farmby Yuri Whitley on June 15, 2023
The Antioch farm is a small-scale farm that works to provide farm-to-table produce for our community. Our primary goal is to be able to have enough produce to feed all of the students and staff on campus continuously. Growing up in a small town surrounded
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3,000 Miles of Gardening: McGilvery ’23 at Tandana in Ecuadorby Alexis McGilvery on October 7, 2022
I cannot believe it has been 3 years. Three years since I first walked onto campus as a bushy-eyed freshman ready to take over. I was determined to travel and now I am here… This co-op to Ecuador is the combination of goals that I
Co-op work experience has lasting impact
As we celebrate 100 years of Cooperative Education, we look forward to providing this life changing experience to future generations. This March, donations to the College’s Annual Fund are matched 1:1 thanks to generous matching gifts which double the impact of every dollar given.
Antioch had a truly profound and lasting impact on my life. And I believe that the Antioch College Works program [which builds on the strength of Co-op] gives students today exactly the kind of experience that will prepare them to be a force for productive and positive work in the world.
