Co-op Awards

Every year, Co-operative Education recognizes our employers and students with Co-op Student and Employer of the Year Awards. Students can nominate their employer for the co-op awards. Employers can nominate any Carleton co-op student who worked for them over the past year. Scroll down to see this year’s winners!

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Nomination Guidelines

Nomination Guidelines for Co-op Student of the Year

Nomination Guidelines for Co-op Employer of the Year

2025 Co-op Award Winners

The Co-operative Education office is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Carleton University Co-op Student and Employer of the Year Awards! The Co-op Awards are presented each year to recognize the outstanding achievements, contributions, and performances of our co-op students and their employers. The Co-op office would like to congratulate and thank all Co-op Awards winners and nominees for their contributions to Carleton University’s Co-op program.

Undergraduate Co-op Student of the Year

Amit Kunkulol is a third-year student in the Bachelor of Engineering, Computer Systems program and the Undergraduate Co-op Student of the Year. Kunkulol was recognized for his exceptional impact during his 12-month work term as a Process and Product Engineering Co-op at Ciena. In his nomination, Senior Manager Aniket Patil described Kunkulol as “an outstanding co-op student… [whose] technical expertise, creativity, and dedication have set him apart.”

Kunkulol’s primary project involved automating key aspects of the hot bar reflow soldering process used in Ciena’s WaveLogic 6e products. His work improved production efficiency, increasing throughput by 100%.

Kunkulol also independently identified the need for a visual inspection system and developed a camera‑based application that reduced defect rates by 10% and improved the inspection efficiency by 50%. The system now inspects more than 10,000 units per month and has been deployed globally across Ciena’s manufacturing sites. 

While Kunkulol’s major projects have had a transformative impact on operations, his contributions extend across multiple areas of manufacturing and engineering. He took the initiative to understand the broader production flow, identifying bottlenecks and creating solutions to improve efficiency across various stages of manufacturing. His troubleshooting skills and ability to collaborate with teams across disciplines made him an invaluable resource in resolving complex challenges.

Patil praised Kunkulol’s initiative, as well as his outstanding interpersonal skills: “He is an eager learner who consistently seeks to improve, whether it’s diving into unfamiliar topics or taking on challenging tasks. His curiosity and collaborative spirit make him a pleasure to work with, and he has a positive impact on team morale.”

Said Patil, “Working with Amit has reinforced our belief of hiring co-op students,” adding that in recognition of Kunkulol’s achievements and contributions, Ciena had extended an employment offer to him.

Graduate Co-op Student of the Year

Sophia Miele is a Master of Public Policy, Policy Administration student and the Graduate Co-op Student of the Year, recognized for her significant contributions during her two co-op work terms as a Junior Officer with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), Real Property Services Branch, within the Innovative Delivery Strategies team (IDS). Miele was nominated by Senior Advisor Bob Perkins, who said that Miele demonstrated “a level of analytical rigor, professionalism, and initiative well beyond what is typically expected of a co-op student.”

During her first term, Miele played a key role in a national market sounding questionnaire initiative—work that would “traditionally have been contracted to an external consulting firm at a high cost.” She conducted extensive research and stakeholder mapping, coordinating outreach to over 200 individuals representing 74 organizations across Canada. She managed the dissemination of the national questionnaire, multiple rounds of communication, and supported the development of procurement deliverables based on the responses received.

In her second term, Miele authored two detailed jurisdictional research reports examining how comparator governments deliver and manage similar assets, analyzing governance structures,
legislative frameworks, procurement strategies, and institutional enablers and constraints.
These reports directly inform ongoing analysis and recommendations and will support future decision-making regarding engineered infrastructure delivery models.

Miele coordinated interviews with project managers and teams responsible for the
management of major infrastructure assets across the country. She assisted in preparing
tailored interview materials designed to elicit detailed information on procurement
approaches, delivery models, and project performance. Perkins praised her “strong ability in knowledge translation and executive communication” and noted that she documented project management frameworks to support internal capacity building.

“Beyond her technical skills, Sophia was a highly collaborative and positive presence within
the IDS team. Over the course of her second term, she took on increasing responsibility
and worked with an increased degree of independence, reflecting the trust she earned
from other managers and colleagues.”

Perkins concluded that Miele “consistently met and exceeded expectations” and made a “lasting contribution” to the team and its clients.

Co-op Employer of the Year Award

Nadine Lacelle, a manager on the Digital Talent Strategies (DTS) team at Shared Services Canada, is the Co-op Employer of the Year. She was nominated by Matea Vijackic, a fourth-year student in the Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management program and project coordinator and analyst on the DTS team. Vijackic highlighted Lacelle’s “exceptional leadership and commitment to ensuring that employees, team members, and co-op students feel supported, valued, and empowered.” 

Among other duties, Lacelle oversees the management and administration of the Architect Professional Certification Program (APCP). Vijackic explained how she began her work term with introductory tasks and was then entrusted with greater accountability in program delivery. She attributed a significant factor in her growing confidence to Lacelle’s constant encouragement and belief, noting that Lacelle “acknowledges work done well while providing thoughtful, constructive feedback to support continuous improvement.”

Vijackic explained that she was initially hesitant to seek help, out of concern for inconveniencing others. Lacelle “quickly alleviated these concerns through her patience, understanding, and genuine willingness to support her team despite her demanding managerial workload. Her approachability made me feel comfortable asking questions and seeking guidance, fostering a strong sense of safety within the workplace.”

Lacelle also champions professional growth by assigning tasks aligned with individual interests and strengths. Early in Vijackic’s work term, Lacelle entrusted her with reviewing and developing new policies. Said Vijackic, “This allowed me to create meaningful contributions to the program while applying my academic background in policy development and research, thereby enhancing both my professional and academic growth.”

Vijackic emphasized that Lacelle’s approach to planning, developing, and distributing initiatives is clear, organized, and efficient. “Nadine enhances team morale, collaboration, and overall performance. The positive space she creates allows our team to work efficiently, overcome challenges quickly, and function cohesively…I hope that future co-op students have the opportunity to experience Nadine’s type of leadership during their work terms, as it has a truly transformative effect on both professional growth and overall workplace experience.”