You don’t have to be from a big suburb to have access to the same career opportunities. Coyote Career Kickstart is a program funded by the US Department of Education for freshman students from rural communities. It’s designed to provide career design tools, professional practice opportunities and an employment network for students who want to work while they study.
Here are a few of the opportunities the Coyote Kickstart Program offers:
Peer Mentoring
Students can choose to be paired with an upperclassman peer mentor, who will support you during your first semester — helping you navigate life and coursework at USD.
Alumni Mentorship
Students can also connect with USD alumni mentors for guidance. Alumni mentors come from all stages of life, industries and occupations and locations across the country — giving you your first network connection.
Career Readiness
The program includes a Kickstart Career Seminar, workshops on job searching and mock interviews to help you prepare for the real world.
Financial Literacy
Participating students can sign up for exclusive courses and workshops designed to help students learn how to become financially responsible.
Resources
The program also provides access to the Coyote Career Closet, which offers professional attire for interviews and business-professional job settings.
Community Connection
The Coyote Kickstart program connects students with other student organizations, undergraduate research opportunities and study abroad programs — helping students broaden horizons and gain valuable experience.
If you’re interested in participating, you can request more information and find out if you qualify.

