The Coleman Co. Inc. has donated $15,000 to the Wichita State University Heskett Center’s Aquatics Program as part of a partnership that will allow Coleman to use the aquatics facilities to test new designs for the company’s life jacket (personal flotation devices or PFDs) lines.

Rick Looslie, director of design services for Coleman, said Coleman’s research and development requirements for its Stearns PFD business includes the need for a pool where the water would remain calm during testing.

Also required is a pool with the proper depth that would allow people testing the devices to jump safely into the water from various heights.

Coleman evaluated those and other requirements and looked into several other local pool sites and possibly installing a pool on the Coleman property. But none of those options fit as well as the Aquatics Center, Looslie said.

“After several attempts at finding a solution, I contacted WSU’s Heskett Center and discovered the facilities were exactly what we were looking for,” he said, “so we finalized the details with the Aquatics Center team, and the initial testing activities and WSU relationship have proven very successful.”

Dean of Students Cheryl Adams said: “Wichita State University is extremely pleased with this valuable partnership. We look forward to continuing to build our relationship with Coleman.”

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About The Coleman Co. Inc.
As an international leader in the innovation and marketing of outdoor products, The Coleman Co. Inc. helps people have fun and make memories by providing the gear integral to their favorite outdoor experiences. The company’s products include its legendary lanterns and stoves, as well as coolers, tents, sleeping bags, airbeds, backpacks, furniture and grills under its Coleman® and Exponent® brands. Additionally, the company provides flotation devices, towables, rainwear, waders, hunting and fishing gear, and safety and survival equipment under its Stearns®, Sevylor®, Sospenders®, Hodgman®, Mad Dog Gear®, Nevin® and Helium® brands. Founded in 1900 and based in Wichita, Kan., Coleman is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jarden Corporation and can be found online at www.coleman.com. Consumers can call (800) 835-3278 or e-mail consumerservice@coleman.com for general information or for Coleman and Exponent products. For all other brands, call (800) 328-3208 or e-mail stearnsrec@stearnsnet.com.

About Jarden Corp.
Jarden Corp. is a leading provider of niche consumer products. Jarden operates in three primary business segments through a number of well recognized brands, including: Outdoor Solutions: Abu Garcia®, Berkley®, Campingaz® and Coleman®, Fenwick®, Gulp!®, JT®, K2®, Marker®, Marmot®, Mitchell®, Penn®, Rawlings®, Shakespeare®, Stearns®, Stren®, Trilene® and Volkl®; Consumer Solutions: Bionaire®, Crock-Pot®, FoodSaver®, Health o meter®, Holmes®, Mr. Coffee®, Oster®, Patton®, Rival®, Seal-a-Meal®, Sunbeam®, VillaWare® and White Mountain®; and Branded Consumables: Ball®, Bee®, Bicycle®, Crawford®, Diamond®, Dicon®, First Alert®, Forster®, Hoyle®, Kerr®, Lehigh®, Leslie-Locke®, Loew Cornell® and Pine Mountain®. Headquartered in Rye, N.Y., Jarden has over 20,000 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit www.jarden.com.