Co-op Student of the Year
About the Award
This annual award recognizes outstanding achievement in all aspects of the Co-op student’s performance, including academic achievement, work term learning, job achievement/employer evaluation, personal statement, contribution to co-operative education, and contribution to extra-curricular activities and the community. The award will be noted on the recipient's TRU transcript.
In addition, the TRU Co-op Student of the Year award recipient will be nominated for the Co-operative Education and Work-Intergrated Learning Canada (CEWIL) and Association of Cooperative Education, BC & Yukon (ACE) Student of the Year awards.
Purpose
- To promote outstanding student achievement in Co-operative Education
- To highlight TRU Co-op Students and Employers and recognize their contributions
- To provide support and funding (via monetary award) to high-achieving students
Application deadline
One (1) PDF electronic document of all completed application materials must be RECEIVED via email to the Career and Experiential Learning - Attention CSOTY Committee at careereducation@tru.ca by Wednesday, November 15, 2023, 4:00 p.m. PST.
Eligibility
- Any student who has received a COM grade for one or more co-op work terms at TRU
- The work term (for which the student is applying) must be completed within the following semesters: Winter 2023, Summer 2023, Fall 2023
- Past winners of the TRU Co-op Student of the Year Award are not eligible
Awards
We encourage you to apply for the Association for Co-operative Education BC/Yukon (ACE) Award and the Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL) Award. Students wishing to apply for the CEWIL and ACE awards can only use the 2022 co-op work terms to apply. Award recipient will receive assistance from the Selection Committee to prepare applications for these awards.
Selection criteria
The TRU Co-op Student of the Year Awards Committee evaluates candidates on their impact to the three main stakeholders of work-integrated learning. Each criterion carries 1/3 of the overall score, out of 90. Subsequent review within the committee of the merits of top candidates (based on initial scores) helps to determine the winner(s).
1. (30 pts) impact on student (self)
2. (30 pts) impact on institution
3. (30 pts) impact on partner organization
Further information about what the committee is looking for can be found under Forms/Checklist.
How to apply
Application MUST be submitted in one (1) PDF electronic document titled by the Student’s Surname, First Name, and Institution. (Example: Smith, Joanna, Thompson Rivers University.pdf) with the following items presented in the order below.
1. Application form (fillable .pdf, completed and signed)
2. Organization/Employer Support form (fillable .pdf, completed and signed)
3. Student Biography (a maximum 150 words) to be used in TRU communications
4. Student’s 2-page essay on the benefits of Co-operative Education
5. Student's resume (two (2) pages maximum)
6. Student's portfolio (optional, two (2) pages maximum)
7. Student’s current unofficial transcript
All applications must follow the current year's application process. Incomplete or improperly prepared applications will be disqualified. To avoid this happening, we recommend that you submit your application well in advance of the deadline, so that the TRU Co-op Student of the Year Award committee can try to alert you if something is missing.
We wish all applicants the best in their consideration for the Co-op Student of the Year Award. Any questions regarding the application requirements may be directed to the TRU Co-op Student of the Year Award committee at careereducation@tru.ca, with “CSOTY Committee – Question” as the email subject line.
Further information about how to apply can be found under Forms/Checklist.
Forms/Checklist
Blog
Co-op student shares recipe for success
Bachelor of Software Engineering student Ahana Ahluwalia worked four terms at Telus and was awarded the 2023 Co-op Student of the Year.
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Co-op Student of the Year grateful for experiences
2022 Co-op Student of the Year Kulrajbir Singh Sandhu shares how Career and Experiential Learning supported his professional goals.
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Star co-op students discuss campus supports
Narshvin Doorganah and Katelyn Zubak share how Career & Experiential Learning helped them carve out their professional pathway.
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How a co-op student nailed a full-time contract
Being an enthusiastic ambassador for TRU comes easily to Guidos, who says, “The engineering program and university are two things I really believe in. I’m very excited to watch and help them grow."
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The Power of Abstraction: drawing from experience
Co-op Student of the Year recipient Brad Crump encourages other students to take charge of their own career pathway.
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Cultivating purpose through co-operative education
Francesca Ramunno, 2018's Co-op Student of the Year, discusses mentorship, volunteerism, challenges in Computing Science, and the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone.
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Volunteerism at the heart of success
The Co-op Student of the Year remarked: "the common thread that exists between co-op and volunteer commitment is service to others."
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Award-winner shares the key to success
Nic Zdunich, recipient of the 2016 TRU Co-op Student of the Year award, shares his expertise regarding successful work-force skills.
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