On March 10, Conestoga’s outstanding employer partners, mentors, clients, alumni and co-op students were honoured during the 2022 Employer Recognition Awards.
Co-hosted by Corporate Training; Alumni Engagement; the Conestoga Career Centre; and Co-operative Education, Career and Work-Integrated Learning, the virtual event provided an opportunity during National Co-op and Work-Integrated Learning month to acknowledge the invaluable experiences our employers create for Conestoga students, graduates and clients.
“This is a time when we take the opportunity to formally recognize some of Conestoga’s outstanding students and partners. Our partnerships with employers play an important role in the strength of our academic programs, the development of our local workforce and the prosperity and well-being of our communities,” said Gary Hallam, vice-president, International, and executive dean, School of Business. “Our employers are instrumental in our success and the success of our students. With your help, students learn to apply the skills that they’ve learned in class and adapt to challenges to make a difference for their employers and communities.”
During the presentation, Madison Horst, a student in the Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant program was presented with the 2021 Work-Integrated Learning Student of the Year Award from Experiential and Work-Integrated Learning Ontario. The award recognizes one college student and one university student in the province who have showcased exceptional job accomplishment, extra-curricular involvement, academic achievement and a strong contribution to work-integrated learning.
Horst completed her work-integrated learning field placement at Care Partners where she piloted a new home care placement experience for her program, providing therapy for clients during the pandemic.
This is the second year in a row a Conestoga student has been recognized with the award.
All 2022 award recipients:
President’s Employer Award of Distinction
- Schlegel Villages
Employer of Distinction - Corporate Training
- DYNA-MIG - a division of F&P Mfg., Inc.
Employer of Distinction - Co-operative Education
- ACRP Limited
- AgCareers - a division of Farms.com
- Charcoal Group of Restaurants
Employer of Distinction - Conestoga Career Centre
- Bingemans
- Erb Transport
- TNT Security
Employer of Distinction - Alumni Engagement
- Accessibrand
Mentor of Year - Co-operative Education
- Blake Scott,
- Matt Schumacker, Sunbelt Rentals
Mentor of the Year - Work-Integrated Learning
- Nohelia Millon, Hope Spring Cancer Support Centre
Host Organization of Distinction - Work-Integrated Learning
- ProResp Inc.
- Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services
Host Organization of Distinction - CICE
- Artshine
Students of the Year - Co-operative Education
- Lirjeta Gashi, Computer Programmer/Analyst
- Owen McGivern, Business Administration, Marketing
- Rebecca Huddle, Bachelor of Design
- Mackenzie Kroeker, Bachelor of Engineering, Building Systems Engineering
- Brenda Rocha Vieira, Culinary Skills
- Dongjin Kim, Motive Power Technician, Heavy Duty Equipment
Students of the Year - Work-Integrated Learning
- Maddy Horst, Occupational Therapy Assistant & Physiotherapy Assistant
- Brennan Leroux, Respiratory Therapy
Experiential and Work-Integrated Learning Ontario WIL Student of the Year
- Maddy Horst
The awards presentation was sponsored by Johnson Insurance.