To celebrate National Co-op and Work-Integrated Learning Week, Conestoga’s Career Centre and Co-operative Education and Corporate Training departments hosted an awards breakfast on March 22 to recognize the college’s outstanding employer partners and co-op students.
During the celebration at the Doon campus, local employers and workplace supervisors were presented with awards for their support of Conestoga’s programs, students and clients. Conestoga’s Co-op Students of the Year were also announced.
Following the awards presentation, Paul Osborne, associate vice-president Marketing and Community Relations, thanked the college’s co-op employers for their tremendous support and commented on the unique benefits that co-op programs deliver to both students and the local community: employer partners mentor students and provide real-world experience while students bring value to businesses that help them thrive.
“It’s a beautiful win-win partnership that we value greatly here at Conestoga,” said Osborne.
Employer of Distinction Awards
- Arvato Digital Services Canada
- Automation Tooling Systems
- Canada Revenue Agency
- Erwin Hymer Group North America
- Fresh Start Renos & Paint
- Greenwood Court (Tri-County Mennonite Homes)
- Guelph General Hospital
- Nasira Nasim CPA & Associates
- One Care, Home & Community Services
- Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada
- Vuteq Canada
- Ward & Uptigrove Chartered Professional Accountants
- Waterloo Regional Police Service
- YMCA of Stratford Perth
Mentor of the Year Awards
- Greg Brooks - Nuance Communications
- Andrea Huxtable and Brian Collins - Peel Regional Police
- Karen Hohenadel - Schlegel Villages
Co-op Student of the Year Awards
- Elaine Tustin-Smith - Bachelor of Public Relations
- Erin Wetzel - Bachelor of Interior Design
- Keaton Foster - Bachelor of Community and Criminal Justice
- Ashfaq Ahmad - Public Service
- Emily Tarrant - Bachelor of Design
- Tyler Akerfeldt - Mechanical Engineering Technician - Tool and Die/Tool Maker
Through their programs, nearly 70 per cent of Conestoga students have access to work-integrated learning experiences which provide relevant hands-on learning in support of students’ education and future careers. More than 50 Conestoga programs offer a co-op component, resulting in more than 2,000 co-op work terms annually, and Conestoga is just one of two colleges in the province to offer accredited co-op programs.
Visit the college website for more information about Co-operative Education, Conestoga's Career Centre and Corporate Training.