UPEI celebrates National Co-op Week with awards ceremony
UPEI's Co-operative Education office is excited to announce it will be celebrating and recognizing the accomplishments of its students during its annual awards ceremony on March 22. The ceremony takes place during the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education's (CAFCE) National Co-operative Education Week, March 19-23. The national week is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Canadian co-op students.
UPEI will host its co-op awards ceremony on Thursday, March 22 from 4:30-6:30 pm, in McDougall Hall, Schurman Market Square. The ceremony will recognize UPEI co-op students for their accomplishments during co-op work terms. Specific awards include three Student of the Year honours in business, physics, and computer science, as well as a prestigious Co-op Student of the Year award. Award winners will have demonstrated high academic achievement, a valued contribution to their employer and community, and displayed personal and professional development.
Lisa Hoskins, UPEI's National Co-op Week Coordinator, expressed her pride in the program. 'The UPEI co-op program motivates students, and encourages them to take a positive step beyond their comfort level,' she said. 'It allows students to take initiative to develop a prosperous career path. It also progresses learning, maturity, and ambition, while easing the transition from University to the true-life workplace.'
Norah McRae, President of the CAFCE affirms the importance of co-op students. 'With over 80,000 co-op students in Canada, organizations are able to tap into a remarkable resource of newly developed skill sets, while at the same time enhancing their workforce by meeting a variety of staffing requirements.'
UPEI is among 130 colleges and universities across Canada that are actively involved in developing their students into workplace professionals through co-operative education. UPEI's Co-operative Education Program fosters next generation's leaders, and gives students the opportunity to push themselves, while at the same time, giving back to the local community. Through real-life experience and guidance from employers and co-op coordinators, students gain valuable knowledge and skills that will be used throughout their career upon graduation.
To kick off National Co-op Week, the Honourable Allen Roach, Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning signed a proclamation announcing the week with members of UPEI's Co-op office on March 15. Alan Duncan, Dean of UPEI's School of Business, also signed the proclamation.
For more information on UPEI's Co-op Program, visit upei.ca/co-op or email co-op@upei.ca.
