Stock photo
Stock photo
Three Cincinnati State students have been recognized as the “Cooperative Education/Internship Students of the Year” for 2022, and each has received a scholarship award.
A total of six students were nominated by their Co-op Coordinators as possible scholarship recipients.
- Nominated students must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher and must write an essay that describes the benefits and challenges of their co-op experiences.
- A recommendation from the co-op employer is required also.
Brandie completed co-op activities while serving as Business Director for the Wellington at North Bend Crossing Senior Living Community.
- Co-op Coordinator Adam Waits said Brandie’s “exemplary” work included daily interaction with staff members and vendors to ensure efficient care and exceptional services for 145 residents at the Senior Living Center.
- “She earned a $10,000 raise within 6 weeks of starting, and Brandie has been named by the current Executive Director as her future replacement,” Adam said.
- Brandie said in her application essay that switching from direct health care to management was a positive decision. She said, “I felt burned out, but my coordinator was supportive through the entire process and gave me a lot of advice. I’ve also been able to share my experiences and help other students through discussion boards.”
Jake was just hired full-time as a software developer by his co-op employer, Cincinnati Insurance Companies (Cincinnati Financial).
- Co-op Coordinator Noelle Grome said Jake is “a stellar student with a tremendous work ethic” and she noted that Jake was “the first student ever to be interviewed by Cincinnati Financial and be offered a co-op position on the spot.”
- Noelle said Jake has impressed his supervisor while working on high-level assignments.
- Jake said, “I wasn’t sure what to expect coming into Cincinnati State with zero experience in computer programming, but the opportunity to participate in co-op was a big draw. Without the co-op program, I would not have had a jumpstart in my IT career like I have now.”
Oscar completed co-op work as a Patient Care Assistant (PCA) at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in the pediatric intensive care unit, and will continue this Summer as an Honors Program co-op, completing a research project on stress and burnout in the nursing profession.
- Co-op Coordinator Jayne Dressing said Oscar “struggled to find his career path” at first but had a “life changing” work experience at Cincinnati Children’s.
- Jayne said Oscar’s supervisor, Kasey Lovelace, described him as “the hardest working PCA I’ve ever worked with. He anticipates the needs of patients and nursing staff, which leads to a more organized and supportive work environment for everyone.”
- Jayne added that Oscar’s experience at Cincinnati Children’s “renewed his hope that there is a place for him in the field of nursing.” In Fall, Oscar will continue his education at the Good Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing.