PENNSYLVANIA COOPERATIVE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
Don Gamble Award: CO-Op Coordinator of the year
Bonita Stein, 2025-2026 Co-Op Coordinator of the Year
I am writing to formally nominate Bonita Stein for the Outstanding Cooperative Education Coordinator of the Year. I have had the pleasure of working with Bonnie since 2014, and during this time, I have consistently been impressed by her professionalism, leadership, and commitment to student success.
As an educator and advocate for experiential learning, Bonnie has demonstrated an outstanding ability to build strong partnerships with industry leaders, the county, and schools. Her organizational skills, strategic planning, and student-centered approach have made a lasting impact on our cooperative education program.
Some of Bonnie's accomplishments include:
- Coordinating with the county for two grants that promote students staying and working in our community.
- Successfully starting a Signing Day for students working full-time after high school.
- Building lasting relationships with employers to secure meaningful, skills-based learning opportunities for students.
- Successfully coordinating student placements with local and regional employers. •
- Promoting the program with business and high school students.
- Communicating effectively with parents, students, counselors, and employers.
- She is an active voice, regionally for Cooperative Education.
- Starting Pre-apprenticeships within the programs at Crawford Tech
What truly sets Bonnie apart is her passion for the Cooperative Education program and leading the way. She should be the Outstanding Cooperative Education Coordinator of the Year.
Sincerely,
Tina Cutshall-Craft
PCEA Member
Bonita Stein, Co-op Coordinator of the Year
Don Gamble
Don Gamble - Indiana University of Pennsylvania
About Don Gamble
Don started his career in education from 1960 to 1964. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Arts at California University of Pennsylvania. He then taught at South Vocational-Technical High School in Pittsburgh, where he taught Machine Shop and Power Mechanics for 15 years, from 1966 to 1998. In 1998, he was hired by IUP to teach Cooperative Education courses. He completed his Master’s Degree in Technical Education in 1970. In 2003, Don was appointed Center Director upon the retirement of the original Center Director, Tom O’Brien. After 14 years of service, he retired at the end of the spring semester in 2012. Upon retirement, he turned the “Co-op program” reins over to Debbie Helwig, but still maintained contact with her and provided program support. He was very passionate about cooperative education and its value.
Gamble was named as one of the "Outstanding Secondary Educators of America" for the state of Pennsylvania in 1975. Another one of his achievements was the publication of the Labor Law Reference Guide, Cooperative Education, which was issued to the PCEA members at the conference in 1999. The compliment he received from the US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, and Pittsburgh Representative Richard Clougherty stated that he would distribute the booklet to everyone in the field in Pennsylvania. He noted this as one of the highlights of his Cooperative Education career.
Don’s other claims to fame include starting his company, Speedway Productions, and printing the first issue of "The Official Speedway Program" for a local speedway in 1969. Rappin' on Racin' has been on the air for 41 years and is the leader in motorsports coverage as new listeners tune in for all the latest motorsports news for the entire East Coast.
In addition, he was the producer and host of Rappin' On Racin' and Trackside radio programs on AM Stations WEDO, WIXZ, WTAE, and KDKA. Rappin on Racin reaches potential customers in more places than any other medium. The analysis and follow-up reporting keep the listeners coming back for more information on their favorite sport.
