Algonquin College graduate wins Co-op Student of the Year Award
Posted on Friday, March 15th, 2024
Recent Interactive Media and Design graduate Jayde Medland won the Co-op Student of the Year Award at the provincial level presented by
Experiential & Work-Integrated Learning Ontario (EWO) and at the national level presented by Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada.
Medland’s award follows her demonstration of exceptional commitment to work-integrated learning. In her co-op term, she exceeded expectations by demonstrating a proactive attitude, willingness to learn and adaptability to a dynamic work environment.
The Student of The Year Awards include a total cash award of $2,250 ($1,500 from CEWIL Canada and $750 from EWO), as well as a certificate (CEWIL Canada) and a plaque (EWO) to commemorate the recipient’s achievements.
Both organizations recognize co-op/work-integrated learning student achievement at the college and university level. The announcements of Medland’s success coincide with National Co-Op and WIL Month in March.
“Algonquin College is so proud of Jayde’s personal and professional accomplishments and achievements and the bravery she exhibited throughout her work term. Her welcoming and supportive employer, Natural Resources Canada, was an excellent host organization providing challenging opportunities for Jayde to excel. Work-integrated learning experiences like this one are so valuable for our students as they provide the opportunity to hone skills, gain new experiences and develop networks within their fields,” offered Kristine Dawson, Associate Vice President, Experiential Learning and Innovation.
Medland is the first student from Algonquin College to receive this award. Her application was in the cooperative education category and the awards committee overwhelmingly selected her as the winner. Medland’s success will be recognized at Algonquin College’s Co-op Awards of Excellence on March 27.
Before attending Algonquin College, Medland graduated from Western University with a Bachelor of Arts in Media, Information and Technoculture. Medland recently began her role as a communications officer at Natural Resources Canada. Medland is also a director of communications for Camp Misquah, a camp for adults and youth with developmental disabilities in the Ottawa region.
Medland’s work ethic and passion for communications came from her mom, an elementary school teacher, who encouraged her uniqueness and creativity. Her creative style is inspired by LGBTQIA+ icons like Kesha, Andy Warhol and Wendy Carlos. Her writing style often favours context over conciseness, so she is a strong believer in taking the time to edit. Her next upcoming goal is to master her French levels to be certified bilingual by the Government of Canada. Her dream is to produce digital content for music industry figures or produce interviews for Billboard or Rolling Stone magazine.
To learn more about Experiential Learning & Innovation at Algonquin College, visit their website.