Sydney Thompson (left), program co-ordinator with the Office of Innovation, Partnerships and Entrepreneurship, stands with Kalkidan Wubshet, the first student to take part in the University of Windsor’s Entrepreneurship Co-op program. (MAHNOZ AKTARI/University of Windsor)
By Victor Romao
Instead of stepping into a traditional co-op role, University of Windsor computer science student Kalkidan Wubshet spent the work term building a startup — an experience that began with a simple realization.
“When it comes to communicating on campus, most students rely on word of mouth, Instagram, Discord, bulletin boards, etc.,” said Wubshet. “Everything is scattered.”
— Published on May 13th, 2026
Co-op Rising Star Award recipient Tyler Ballard, a fourth-year electrical and computer engineering student at the University of Windsor, completed a co-op placement at Tregaskiss, where his work on a robotic welding temperature monitoring system led to a job offer. (SUBMITTED BY TYLER BALLARD/University of Windsor)
By Victor Romao
A University of Windsor engineering student’s ability to bridge classroom theory with real-world problem-solving helped clear a major hurdle for an industrial product and led directly to a job offer.
Tyler Ballard, a fourth-year electrical and computer engineering student at the University of Windsor, was recognized for his contributions during a co-op work term at Tregaskiss, a local developer and manufacturer of robotic MIG guns and welding consumables.
— Published on Apr 30th, 2026
Political Science student Bianca Toma receives a Rising Star Award for her work during her co-op placement as a legal assistant during the fall 2025 semester. (VICTOR ROMAO/University of Windsor)
By Victor Romao
University of Windsor student Bianca Toma entered a high-pressure legal workplace and quickly proved she could handle real legal responsibility as a second-year student.
In her second year of the Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (Co-operative Education) program, Toma completed her placement at the Law Office of Amy Osman Professional Corporation, working as a legal assistant supporting immigration and criminal law files while gaining direct experience inside Ontario courtrooms.
— Published on Apr 30th, 2026
Michael Joyce (left), a software designer at DuroByte and University of Windsor alumnus, accepts the Outstanding Co-op Supervisor Award from Kristen Morris, director of the Office of Experiential Learning, during the university’s Co-op and Experiential Learning Awards ceremony on April 1st. (PETER MARVAL/University of Windsor)
By Victor Romao
Michael Joyce (BComp ’25) still remembers arriving at work as a co-op student, unsure of what questions he was allowed to ask — or whether he belonged in the room.
Now, he is the one making sure students never feel that way.
— Published on Apr 30th, 2026
Odette School of Business student Amanda Muzzatti has been recognized as a Rising Star Award recipient for her ongoing co-op work in short- and long-term disability case management, where she supports employees through medical leaves and return-to-work processes. (VICTOR ROMAO/University of Windsor)
By Victor Romao
Amanda Muzzatti did not expect her co‑op placement to reshape her career goals — but it is doing so in a surprising way.
The UWindsor Odette business administration student, specializing in human resources, has been named a Rising Star Award recipient for her ongoing work in short‑ and long‑term disability case management with Ground Effects (GFX), a locally based automotive accessories manufacturer. Her integrated learning experience places her at the centre of employee support during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.
— Published on Apr 30th, 2026
University of Windsor Rising Star Award recipient Vansh Jignesh Patel demonstrates the power of experiential learning through hands-on work in enterprise AI. (VICTOR ROMAO/University of Windsor)
By Victor Romao
Vansh Jignesh Patel is completing his final semester in the Master of Applied Computing program at the University of Windsor, and his work is already making a measurable impact in the enterprise software and artificial intelligence industry.
Through his co-op placement with the University's Co-operative Education and Workplace Partnerships program, Patel is contributing to production-level AI systems used in real-world voice and data workflows.
— Published on Apr 30th, 2026
Mohammed Parvez, a third-year computer science student at the University of Windsor, is a Rising Star Award recipient recognized for his co-op work with the Town of Kingsville as part of a series celebrating excellence in experiential learning. (VICTOR ROMAO/University of Windsor)
By Victor Romao
A co-op placement with the Town of Kingsville gave University of Windsor student Mohammed Parvez the opportunity to apply his technical skills in a real-world municipal setting while gaining confidence through collaboration across municipal departments.
Parvez worked in a GIS-focused co-op role, where the placement helped shape his professional development and future career interests.
— Published on Apr 30th, 2026
Through the University of Windsor’s Co operative Education program, Soteara Kong completed a high impact co-op at Rocket Innovation Studio, where she strengthened collaboration between the Windsor and Detroit offices. (SUBMITTED BY SOTEARA KONG/University of Windsor)
By Victor Romao
Not long after Soteara Kong began her undergraduate studies at the University of Windsor, she became part of a new chapter for the communications, media and film program.
She is among the program’s first students to move through the full co‑op education sequence — an opportunity she eagerly embraced as someone who enjoys stepping into new challenges and making the most of what her program offers.
“I’ve really enjoyed being able to apply my skills in real‑world settings,” said Kong.
— Published on Apr 30th, 2026
Hands-on learning at Kautex Textron allowed Rising Star Award recipient Shanmugamanikkam Subramaniyam to transform theory into practice, streamlining quality systems and collaborating on automation projects with global teams. (VICTOR ROMAO/University of Windsor)
By Victor Romao
Turning academic knowledge into practical solutions is the goal of every graduate student, and for Shanmugamanikkam Subramaniyam, that ambition came to life during his co-op term at Kautex Textron.
A major global auto parts supplier, Kautex Textron manufactures plastic fuel and battery systems, castings and industrial packaging for the automotive industry.
— Published on Apr 30th, 2026
UWindsor computer science student Matthew Muscedere, Rising Star Award recipient, is set to return to Amazon as a Software Development Engineer after graduation. (SUBMITTED BY MATTHEW MUSCEDERE/University of Windsor)
By Victor Romao
Innovation and ambition have propelled University of Windsor computer science student Matthew Muscedere to new heights.
From optimizing cloud systems at Amazon’s Toronto tech hub to engineering identity governance solutions at GreenShield, his journey reflects the power of experiential learning and determination.
Muscedere, a Rising Star Award winner, shares how his experiences prepared him for a full-time role at Amazon and shaped his career ambitions.
— Published on Apr 30th, 2026
Sydney Thompson (left), program co-ordinator with the Office of Innovation, Partnerships and Entrepreneurship, stands with Kalkidan Wubshet, the first student to take part in the University of Windsor’s Entrepreneurship Co-op program. (MAHNOZ AKTARI/University of Windsor)
