Work-intergrated learning has become a key part of post-secondary education as employers increasingly seek to hire individuals who have some professional experience.
Last year, Dalhousie students completed 2,787 co-ops, field placements, and internships in 31 programs across five Faculties and one college. These paid, professional experiences are designed to help the build relevant skills for their future careers.
To celebrate the exceptional work-integrated learning experiences students gain each year, the Dalhousie Top Co-op Awards have been jointly presented by Management Career Services and Work-Integrated Learning & Co-operative Education for the past 10 years.
This year's awards ceremony was held on Thursday, March 26 during National Co-op & WIL Month, with five students selected as the 2025 Top Co-op Students of the Year.
Keep reading to learn more about the students who represent the best of the best when it comes to work-integrated learning.
Sarah Doyle, Architecture & Planning (Master of Planning)
Sarah Doyle’s co-op experience is a testament to how students can leverage work-integrated learning to discover what they want to pursue as a career. Her undergraduate degree in community development and environmental studies at Acadia University sparked a greater interest in community wellness, social justice, and sustainability. This experience emboldened her to pursue a Master of Planning at Dalhousie, where she completed her co-op with UPLAND Planning + Design Studio.
Through her work-integrated learning experience, Sarah learned that the more you invest into a work term, the more fulfilling and rewarding it will be. “I encourage all students to enroll in the co-op program to learn more about their field and themselves. Understanding the type of careers and projects you like and dislike is incredibly impactful and will help set you up for success in the future.”
A defining project during her work term was her involvement in a public engagement session on the City of Moncton’s St. George Street Improvement Plan. She worked with the Community Engagement team to create educational videos helping the public understand the planning process and the projects they were working on. Her work has since become best practice for the City of Moncton in their future projects.
Throughout the experience, Sarah endeavoured to make the most of her co-op, “Saying yes to every opportunity I had provided me with experiences to learn from extremely knowledgeable professionals in my field, strengthen my skills, and apply the knowledge I learned in the classroom.”
Dhruvi Shah, Computer Science
Dhruvi Shah’s journey into the computer science field began before she arrived at Dalhousie. It started with Scratch, a simple computer program where building small projects with code felt like solving creative puzzles.
Her first corporate work experience was with Nautel. “Being new to the corporate world can feel intimidating, but the co-op program provides a supportive environment to learn and grow. It helped me connect what I learned in the classroom with real industry projects.”
At Nautel, Dhruvi was introduced to an earlier version of the organization’s website, which she would later be responsible for migrating to a quicker, more responsive, and future-ready system. Although she didn’t have a defined roadmap for the project, she demonstrated her confidence and skillset, ultimately leading it to tremendous success. Dhruvi is proud of the lasting impact she made with the organization. “Today, the beta version [of the website] is live, and the team is continuing to develop it for the next release. Watching a concept evolve into a real product has been one of the most rewarding parts of my co-op journey.”
Dhruvi reflected on how co-op played a defining role in her academic and professional journey. “It helped me build confidence, grow into leadership through ownership, and develop a strong foundation for transitioning into full-time work where I am excited to continue delivering meaningful impact through hands-on learning and real-world problem solving.”
Manuthi Hannedige, Engineering (Industrial)
“I’ve always been interested in understanding how processes work and how they affect the people involved in them.” Engineering’s combination of technical problem-solving and human-centered systems made it a logical path for Manuthi Hannedige.
Manuthi completed work terms with Michelin North America and Nova Scotia Health, both in industrial engineering roles, where she worked in a manufacturing environment, gaining hands-on exposure to the operations & processes that occur.
Manuthi notes her work with Nova Scotia Health in particular, where she “contributed to a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis ... working alongside healthcare professionals, managers, and emergency planning staff.”
For her final work term, she worked as an analyst at Davis Pier. By working on projects with government agencies, including those related to Nova Scotia’s Disability Support Program, she further solidified her interest in Engineering for her future career, as she completed meaningful and impactful work.
“I found myself more engaged in the coursework, better able to contribute to the discussions, and more confident in applying theory to problems," says Manuthi, on her retrun to coursework.
Manuthi feels her biggest strength throughout her work terms was her mindset. She was open to trying different experiences rather than following a set path. Each work term helped her build confidence, as well as a better understanding of her future direction.
“Co-op helped bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world practice. It showed me that engineering is not only about technical analysis, but also about collaboration and communication. That perspective has shaped how I approach both my studies and future career goals.”
Jessica Fullerton, Science & Sustainability (Marine Biology)
Jessica Fullerton grew up by a lake where she spent much of her time swimming, kayaking, and canoeing, which ultimately sparked a deep love and appreciation for nature. This appreciation grew into a love for underwater animals and a desire to learn more about them. She decided to pursue the Bachelor of Science program with a major in Marine Biology.
Jessica completed her first work term with the Clean Foundation, a non-profit where she worked as a program assistant. Later, she completed her second work term with Dalhousie University as a research assistant in the Department of Oceanography. For her final work term, she had the opportunity to design, implement, and carry out a research program of her own, studying amphibians and reptiles in the Nova Scotian Backlands near Halifax, which was ultimately her favourite co-op experience. Jessica was given full autonomy over the program, leading her to describe this experience as "the complete package."
“I encountered problems that I had to solve on my own increasing the trust I have in myself. I will undertake all future endeavours with confidence because of the growth I have undergone in all these positions.”
Jessica made the most of her co-op experience by seizing opportunities to try new things. "It is better to try something and dislike it than to regret not trying and always wonder what could have been. Finding out what you do not want is essential in determining what you do want.”
Aya Appleby, Faculty of Management (Commerce Co-op)
For Bachelor of Commerce co-op student Aya Appleby, both of her work terms have represented opportunities for her to stand out and contribute in ways she didn’t expect as a student. In her roles at the Halifax Jazz Festival and Life Sciences Nova Scotia, she was trusted to take ownership of projects and support initiatives that mattered.
“I’m proud knowing that the effort I put in — whether it was improving processes, supporting key projects, or bringing new ideas to the table — made a real difference,” she says. “Being able to contribute to organizations while continuing to learn and grow made those experiences especially meaningful.”
Aya approached her work terms with curiosity and initiative and was not afraid to ask questions or get involved in projects that interested her. One such project she worked on was the “Make it Monthly March” donation campaign, where she developed and took the lead on a multi-channel fundraising initiative encouraging supporters to donate monthly rather than through one-time donations.
Aya found meaning in her contributions and the impact her team had on the community. “It can be easy to feel like you are ‘just a student,’ but your ideas and perspective can truly add value.”
Looking ahead to the remainder of her time at Dalhousie, Aya is excited to dive deeper into entrepreneurship and build on what she has learned so far. “Seeing how fresh ideas, creativity, and effort can make a real difference has been truly inspiring. I want to keep learning, explore new ideas, continue to challenge myself, and seek opportunities to make a meaningful difference through the work I do!”