Friends of Engineering Awards the 2020-2021 Co-operative Education/Industrial Internship Program Student of the Year Award
Friends of Engineering (Manitoba) Inc. has awarded Biosystems Engineering student Eva Kwok with the 2020-2021 Co-operative Education/Industrial Internship Program (Co-op/IIP) Student of the Year Award. This award is given to a student who advances the promotion of Co-op/IIP to fellow students and professionals. They also make an outstanding contribution to the workplace while on a work term, increase community involvement and leadership, and have improved academic performance as a result of applying knowledge learned at a workplace during a Co-op/IIP term. Eva was presented with a $1000 cash prize during the Friends of Engineering Annual General Meeting & Fireside Chat event on March 4, 2021.
Eva, who will graduate with an environmental specialization, was led to engineering through her love for mathematics and science in high school. During her time in the Price Faculty of Engineering, she has taken on several different roles including Vice-President External with the Canadian Society for Bioengineers (UM Chapter), and she led a team of five people in an eight-month final year design project to help the Rural Municipality of East St. Paul to improve their existing land drainage system.
In her third year with Faculty, Eva decided to join Co-op/IIP to complete work terms and further develop her skills. This led her to become a Technical Assistant with the City of Winnipeg where she developed a condition assessment form to inspect retention ponds more consistently and thoroughly. While at the City of Winnipeg, she also developed and implemented a protocol for emergencies that would regularly occur over the summer.
“Even though engineering can be difficult and demanding, the Co-op Program helped me find my place and commit to a career in engineering,” said Kwok. “I took pride in my work and made significant contributions to my workplaces, I assumed an executive position with more responsibilities, and finally, I was able to take what I learned in my workplaces and apply them to my academic work. Through my incredible experience with the Co-operative Education/Industrial Internship Program, I have grown into a successful engineer beyond completing my degree.”