NSCC names 2023 Co-op and WIL Students of the Year
NSCC Co-op Student of the Year – Brianna Barton
Brianna Barton is a dedicated second year Energy Sustainability Engineering Technology student at Annapolis Valley Campus and is this year’s NSCC Co-op Student of the Year.
Reflecting on her experience as a Technical Business Development Coordinator on the Business Development (BDM) team at Efficiency Nova Scotia, Brianna calls it a pivotal chapter, shaping her personal, academic and career trajectory.
Choosing the co-op route
“Embarking on the co-op journey was a conscious decision,” she says. “Driven by my desire to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world application. Efficiency Nova Scotia, with its mission to enhance energy efficiency in Nova Scotia, provided the perfect platform.”
The value of hands-on learning
“This real-world exposure has enriched my academic understanding, making me better equipped for future challenges.” Brianna felt both empowered and humbled by the responsibilities given to her during her term. She navigated highs and lows by learning resilience and how to transform challenges into learning experiences.
The impact of co-operative education
At Efficiency Nova Scotia, she designed, built and populated both external and internal business development management sites which are now used everyday by the BDM team.
What her co-op faculty think
“Brianna brings refreshing, informative and well communicated thoughts to any discussion we have. Her insight influenced students who are completing co-op experiences as well,” says Co-op Faculty, Tony Slade. “She demonstrates a commitment to lifelong learning as she’s engaged in higher responsibilities and additional experiences with her employer. Throughout her co-op, she’s displayed her commitment to representing her program, NSCC and her employer in a professional manner.”
Gaining experience and leaving her mark
“Brianna was enthusiastic about her role,” says George Solomon, Business Development Manager at Efficiency Nova Scotia. “She is personable, hard working, goes above and beyond, and used her exceptional writing and people skills to maximize the outcomes for the many initiatives she worked on. She quickly became a valuable asset to our team.”
“Because she performed above expectation, Brianna was able to complete an important ‘hand-over’ manual which guided her successor and optimized onboarding,” says George. “She will be an asset to any organization she works with.”
What it all means to Brianna
“Through all the successes, challenges and lessons, my co-op journey has been instrumental in building important skills that I’ll carry with me for life – resilience, adaptability, and forward-thinking. Being named Co-op Student of the Year inspires me to continue striving for excellence, making a positive impact and championing the cause of work-integrated learning.”
Congratulations to Brianna for this well-deserved NSCC Co-op Student of the Year honour.
NSCC Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Student of the Year – Chaweewan (Kate) Saengkhunnatham
As a second year Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) student at IT Campus, Chaweewan (Kate) Saengkhunnatham completed her most recent work-integrated learning experience at Dalhousie University as an environmental health and safety (EHS) intern, specializing in chemical safety.
Chaweewan’s work term
“My work focused on laboratory safety, specifically chemical safety,” says Chaweewan. “I focused on developing prevention resources, researching best practices and standards, consulting stakeholders and developing program documentation including guides and forms. I worked independently and was able to visit all of Dalhousie’s campuses, including the Agriculture Campus in Truro. My team is very involved in many activities and collaborates with other departments, so I learned the value in fostering strong relationships.”
Applying her NSCC learning to her role
“I applied the skills I learned at NSCC, like seeking reliable OHS resources and regulations, to develop safety programs and materials. I had an opportunity to see how they monitor air quality and maintain health and safety when working in limited space and confined spaces,” says Chaweewan.
A leader in class
Chaweewan is known for being a leader in her classes since joining NSCC. “When she saw her fellow students struggling with a lesson in class like using Microsoft Office, Chaweewan helped her peers develop and format their presentations without giving it a second thought,” says David Campbell, Occupational Health and Safety diploma program faculty. “I remember listening to her speak at a safety services conference about her home country of Thailand and the environmental challenges the country faces. After her speech, Dalhousie offered her the work term with their team.”
Creating learning opportunities for future students
”As a result of her successful work term, OHS faculty created an agreement where Dalhousie EHS employees will come to future NSCC OHS classes to talk about respiratory fit testing and show students how to fit test others. It’s agreements like this that make our work-integrated learning program grow and build a name for themselves. Chaweewan is a true safety champion and ambassador for NSCC,” says David.
Earning WIL student of the year recognition
“During Chaweewan’s work-term, Chaweewan’s eagerness to explore and engage in various OHS disciplines set her apart and made her stand out. This really enriched her experience while bringing a fresh perspective to our workplace,” says Stephen Beaton, acting Director, Environmental Health and Safety at Dalhousie University. “She stands out as a very well deserving candidate for the Work-Integrated Learning Student of the Year award due to her unwavering dedication to OHS, exception contributions to safety and outstanding leadership abilities. This shows her passion and drive to make a meaningful impact in her field.”
Leaders learning from leaders
“This work experience gave me a clearer picture of what a future in this field will look like. Good team players and supportive leadership are keys to the success of health and safety and that’s what I would like to find in a future employer,” says Chaweewan.
Congratulations to Chaweewan for this well-deserved NSCC Work-Integrated Learning Student of the Year honour.