Cotton Electric Cooperative has been honored with the 2025 Business Partnership Excellence Award by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE) for its long-standing support of Cameron University. The award recognizes innovative collaborations between businesses and institutions of higher education that further the education of Oklahoma’s workforce.
“Cameron University is proud to partner with Cotton Electric Cooperative, a collaboration that has flourished for nearly 30 years and continues to grow stronger,” says Jari Askins, CU president. “CU is deeply appreciative of this continued partnership, which provides invaluable resources, mentorships and opportunities for Cameron students.”
“I can personally attest to the value of this partnership as I began my career at Cotton Electric Cooperative as an intern while completing my undergraduate degree at Cameron University 26 years ago,” says Jennifer Meason, chief executive office at Cotton Electric. “The partnership between Cameron and the cooperative allowed me to have real world experience that resulted in finding my future career. It has been an honor to continue that tradition.”
Cotton Electric’s long-standing partnership with CU supports numerous programs at the university, demonstrating Cotton Electric’s commitment to higher education and community engagement. Both organizations are dedicated to identifying and creating new opportunities that better prepare CU students for success in the workforce. The company provides internship opportunities for CU students. As a member of President’s Partners, Cotton Electric provides financial support for scholarships and other initiatives. Additionally, Meason sits on the Board of Directors for the Cameron University Foundation.
The OSRHE Business Partnership Excellence Award is designed to highlight successful partnerships between higher education institutions, businesses and the community to further cultivate the higher learning environment through State Regents’ Economic Development Grants. Institutions involved in these partnerships provide $500 for tuition waivers to employees of the partnering businesses; internships that enable current students to work at the partnering businesses; faculty externships with the partnering businesses; and/or enhancement of the partnerships with additional equipment, materials or supplies. The State Regents provide a $500 match to the waivers.
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PR# 25-082
