Sheridan Celebrates Co-op Week by Recognizing Student Excellence

In honour of National Co-op Week, Sheridan is celebrating its 30-year history of providing co-operative education opportunities and highlighting students who have excelled in their co-op and internship work terms.

Rising to the top, from a field of 2,100 eligible students in 2016, are five students who have been selected as Sheridan’s Co-op Students of the Year. These students include:

• Stephanie Loy Son – Honours Bachelor of Applied Health Sciences – Athletic Therapy in the Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies
• Kaye (Kawen) Mao – Honours Bachelor of Interaction Design in the Faculty of Animation, Arts and Design
• Alexandra Morrison – Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Accounting) in the Pilon School of Business
• Catharine Poehlman – Computer Systems Technology – Systems Analyst Co-op in the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology
• Harmandeep Singh Sidhu – Mechanical Engineering Technology in the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology – Engineering

“We’re incredibly proud of our award winners, nominees and all of Sheridan co-op and internships students who put their learning to work every term,” said Cory Latimer, Manager of Co-operative Education at Sheridan. Kaye Mao and Catherine Poehlman were also honoured with the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education Co-op Student of the Year and Education at Work Ontario Co-op Student of the Year respectively.

Mao is the first Sheridan student to be selected for a co-op work term at Google’s New York City office. Her strength as a leader is not only evidenced in her role as a user experience design intern but as a founding member of the Sheridan Interaction Design Association (IxDa). During Poehlman’s co-op placement at PointClickCare she developed an impressive tool to improve efficiency within the company and was subsequently hired as one of its full-time employees.  

“The employers who hire our students tell us that they enter their work terms ready to hit the ground running,” said Latimer. “We’re told they make an observable, positive impact from the get-go.”

Each of the five Sheridan Co-op Student of the Year Award winners have shown a commitment to enhancing the profile of co-operative education, maintained top academic marks and made a difference in their communities. They will be honoured during a Co-op Student of the Year Award ceremony on March 28. 

Pictured top right: Sheridan's Co-op Award winners