The offices of Co-op & Workplace Partnerships and Career Development & Experiential Learning are recognizing the 2019 recipients of their Co-op & Internship Awards, after having to cancel a March event marking the occasion.

“We had a ceremony planned, but once COVID hit, we had to cancel,” says Judy Bornais, Executive Director of the Office of Experiential Learning.

“We felt it was important to recognize the deserving students and partners for their excellence in experiential learning, and since a face-to-face event isn’t possible at this time, we decided to go ahead and announce the winners now.”

Career Development & Experiential Learning Award winners are:

Hafsah Alum (former Business/Accounting Assistant at House of Sophrosyne), who is receiving the Rising Star Student Award – VIP-CSL , recognizing one VIP Community Service Learning student each year who has experienced personal growth while making a positive impact in the local community, and who has done an exemplary job of representing the VIP-CSL program within the broader community;

Unemployed Help Centre of Windsor Inc., which is receiving the Community Partner Award, as an organization which has had a long-standing partnership with the University of Windsor; has consistently supported VIP-CSL student placements; and/or has created exceptional experiential opportunities through the year.

Co-operative Education & Workplace Partnerships Award winners are:

Michelle Montminy (Human Kinetics co-op student and former Partnerships Intern at Ottawa Senators Hockey Club), who is receiving the Rising Star Student Award – Co-operative Education, for making a unique contribution in the workplace, and doing an exemplary job of representing the Cooperative Education and Workplace Partnerships department within the broader community; Active Care Management (ACM), which is receiving the New Employer/Internship Employer Award for meeting criteria which include having hired more than 10 students throughout 2019 in one discipline or more; being actively engaged with on-campus activities to the benefit of student learning; and/or having created exceptional work term experiences throughout the year;

BlackBerry, Vistaprint, FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automotive) Group, RBC Royal Bank of Canada, and WDBA (Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority), which are all being recognized with the Co-op/Internship Employers of the Year Award, for meeting criteria which include a long-standing partnership with the University; having hired more than 10 students throughout 2019; actively engaging with on-campus activities to the benefit of student learning; and/or having created exceptional work term experiences throughout the year.

Bornais expressed congratulations to the Student Award recipients for their continued excellence and ambassadorship on behalf of the University, as well as gratitude to employer recipients for their commitment to student learning.

“Through collaboration and partnerships with the private and not-for-profit sector we are uniquely positioned to make significant contributions to the economic, cultural, environmental and social development of the region”, she said.

“We learn so much from each other and that exchange is a true source of innovation and community strength. Together our partnerships can enrich our communities and provide students with opportunities to grow and develop into the leaders of tomorrow.”