Concordia’s Institute for Co-operative Education honours standout students and employers

Concordia’s Institute for Co-operative Education paid tribute to exemplary students and employers at its 2024 Co-op Awards for Recognition of Excellence (CARE) event on May 23. The CARE Awards commemorate the vitality and impact of the institute’s internship opportunities.

This year’s festive CARE gathering, once again held at Concordia’s 4TH SPACE, included the awards ceremony, a panel discussion focused on how to transform interns into committed employees and a reception. The institute handed out more than 20 awards to students and employers who exemplify the spirit of cooperative education.

Many awards include a cash scholarship to support students in their studies, created thanks to the generosity of Co-op alumni and colleagues who have made donations in honour of a loved one.

Through the institute, students benefit from work-integrated experiential learning experiences to get a head start on their careers, and employers fill their labour needs and mentor future talent, all while benefiting from financial support through tax credits.

The awards reflect the reciprocal nature of the institute’s offerings and the close relationships built between students and employers. Employers nominate their outstanding interns for awards, while interns nominate exceptional supervisors.

‘Every year, I am inspired’

Melody Ajaman, the global e-commerce project leader at Nestlé Health Science in Montreal, received the 2024 Top Supervisor Award. She was nominated by two of her interns, Daniel Bocsi and Anne-Marie Nguyen, both international business students.

“I especially love watching the interns in action,” she shares. “I am often taken aback by their level of insight and their creative approaches to tackling business problems.”

In turn, Nguyen was one of the recipients of the Chenfeng Huang Memorial Scholarship, an award created by the institute team in honour of their much-loved colleague who passed away soon after she retired. The award recognizes undergraduate students who exemplify the character traits that Huang possessed: personal accountability, collaboration, intellectual inquisitiveness and the ability to inspire others to contribute at work and within the institute community.

“For me, the highlight of my co-op experience has been the people who I have met. I had the opportunity to work alongside talented and generous supervisors and interns, and they have played an important role in shaping the person and the employee I am today." Nguyen continues: "I am very grateful for all of the support I got from the Institute.”

Cherine Zananiri, director of experiential learning and the Institute of Co-operative Education, highlights the event’s significance, urging all Concordians to draw inspiration from the dedication of the students, mentors and employers involved. “Every year, I am inspired by the students’ hard work and commitment, the mentors who give back and the employers who create real-world educational opportunities for our students,” she says.

The Institute for Co-operative Education plays a crucial role in Concordia’s mission to offer every incoming undergraduate at least one experiential learning opportunity. By providing access to valuable training and paid internships, the institute ensures a smooth transition from academic life to professional careers.

See the complete list of 2024 Co-op Awards for Recognition of Excellence recipients and learn more about Concordia’s Institute for Co-operative Education.