The 2022 CO-OP Student of the Year Awards

By Community Engagement

Career development and experiential learning, University of Ottawa

CO-OP
CO-OP Student of the Year Award Winners
Every year, the University of Ottawa CO-OP office selects one CO-OP student per faculty to win a Student of the Year Award. These students must excel in three criteria: on the job achievement, academic achievement and extra-curricular activities at school, at work or in the community. In 2022, six students received the CO-OP Student of the Year Award.

Yuxiao Song (Faculty of Engineering)

Yuxiao Song completed two successful work terms with Macadamian, a consulting firm, where she gained valuable experience as an interaction designer. She excelled in her work and became a trustworthy active player and an excellent designer. She has an above-average CGPA (above A), six out of seven certifications for a UX design course from Google and volunteer experience as a designer for a non-profit organization.

Song Yuxiao

“Yuxiao has stepped up and knocked it out of the park repeatedly. She’s frequently taken initiative to complete work. An amazing mind and a wonderful person to work with.”

Ed Sarfeld, Yuxiao Song's supervisor

Stephanie Sibbald (Faculty of Engineering)

During her work term at Cheme Engineering, Stephanie Sibbald increased her ability to read and understand scientific papers, design and execute experimental studies, summarize research findings and use theory to design facility upgrades. She also participated in extracurricular initiatives that matched her skillset and allowed her to give back to her cohort and university.

Stephanie Sibbald

“I found Stephanie very dedicated to solve problems. She was innovative and always came with suggestions to troubleshoot the tasks and delivered high-quality results during her term.”

Hamid Radfarnia, Stephanie Sibbald's supervisor

Lauren Liu (Telfer School of Management)

Lauren worked as a cyber-strategy analyst at Deloitte, where she improved a client deliverable using her knowledge in Excel. In addition to her CO-OP placements, she engaged in extracurricular activities. In 2021–2022, she co-founded the University of Ottawa Consulting Association (UOCA), which has provided numerous opportunities for students to explore the consulting industry. Moreover, she also has an excellent academic record, and was recognized by her ADM 4345 professor for receiving the highest grade he had ever given a student on a midterm exam in his 11-year career at Telfer.

Lauren Liu

“She is one of the best student interns I ever come across in my 20 plus years in the technology and financial industry.”

Jonathan Chung, Lauren Liu's supervisor

Rebecca Murphy (Faculty of Science)

Rebecca Murphy was a sixth year studentin the Honours BSc Biochemistry and BASc Chemical Engineering (Biotechnology) program. She excelled throughout her university career, completing two challenging degrees concurrently while working part-time. During her eight-month CO-OP placement as a junior project manager for Public Services and Procurement Canada, she helped manage the Lester B. Pearson Major Rehabilitation Project, which has a budget of over $700 million. Due to her dedication throughout her work term, she received praise from different team members.

Rebecca Murphy

“Since the beginning, Rebecca has accomplished all her tasks with an exceptional quality comparable to her colleagues who have five to ten years of experience in the field of project management.”

Katherine Hassan-Legault, Rebecca Murphy's supervisor

Cassidy Mac Neil  (Faculty of Social Sciences)

Cassidy Mac Neil demonstrated a strong work ethic and the ability to excel in various roles during her CO-OP term at the Privy Council Office, where she was tasked with analyzing sensitive materials and applying the necessary redactions through a legal lens.  She has been actively involved in extracurricular and community activities, including volunteering for Amnesty International and leading various leadership activities for disadvantaged youth with Christie Lake Kids.

Cassidy Macneil

“Cassidy quickly impressed colleagues and management, who found in (her) a professional, dedicated and resourceful employee.”

Caroline Mainville, Cassidy Mac Neil's supervisor

Rick Aiyer (Faculty of Law)

Rick Aiyer is a 3L student in the Faculty of Law, Civil Law Section. During his summer 2022 CO-OP term, he worked as a 2L summer law student at the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General — Treasury Board Secretariat (MAG-TBS) and specialized in labour, employment and human rights law. Rick was initially nervous about working at MAG-TBS because of his educational background, but he received positive evaluations from his employer. In addition to his work pursuits, he is a community leader and is involved in several organizations, including Kids Help Phone Canada’s National Youth Council and the Jewish Canadian Youth Model United Nations.

Rick Aiyer

“Rick is the best and most exceptional summer student I have worked with in my 15-plus years of experience.”

Braden MacLean, Rick Aiyer's supervisor

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