IMPACT 2020 Winners Announced
Congratulations to the 5 student winners and 3 honourable mentions! Click the link below to read the winning stories!
IMPACT 2020 is now complete. Thanks to everyone who helped promote it, submitted a story and voted! Stay tuned for next year’s student story competition.
What's your 2020 story?
2020 was a year of adaptation and recovery from the changes brought about by the pandemic.
ACE-WIL recognizes that college and university students possess the kind of skills, knowledge and mindset that helped businesses pivot and create new innovative ways of working during these unique, challenging times.
IMPACT 2020: WIL Student Story Showcase, is an initiative asking students, employers, or work-integrated learning coordinators/faculty to submit a 150 word story on how the student made a positive impact, brought innovation, or contributed to a new initiative in the workplace in 2020.
The story submissions will enter the work-integrated learning student into the running for a $250 prize.
Not sure if you’re on the right page? This page is for Impact 2020 story submissions. Click here for Student of the Year Awards.
Guidelines
What is on the submission form?
Students, employers or WIL coordinators/faculty must answer this question to be in the running for the $250 IMPACT 2020 prize:
In 150 words or less, please describe how you, or your student made a positive impact, brought innovation or contributed to a new initiative in the workplace.
The submission process is designed to be simple and accessible. We encourage you to submit a story whether or not the story of impact is big or small.
Who can submit a story?
- A BC college or university student who completed a work-integrated learning work term in 2020 (international students may also apply) or;
- An employer who supervised a work-integrated learning student in 2020 or;
- A work-integrated learning coordinator/faculty member at a post-secondary institution in BC (i.e. co-op coordinator/advisor, WIL coordinator/advisor at a post-secondary institution in BC etc).
Please note: Multiple story submissions on the same student will be accepted (for example, a student and employer both submit a story), however the student may be contacted to confirm which story they would like to be used in the winner selection process.
What is the timeline?
Story submission period: January 15th 2021- February 28th, 2021 at 5:00pm. – CLOSED
Story Review and Winner Selection: March 2021 – COMPLETED
Winner announcement: April 2021 – WINNERS ANNOUNCED
What qualifies as work-integrated learning?
Work-integrated learning is a model and process of experiential education which integrates a student’s academic studies within a workplace or practice setting. There are 9 types of work-integrated learning but some common forms are co-operative education (co-op), internship, practicum/clinical placement, field placement, apprenticeship, work-experience, applied research project, and field placement. If you’re still not sure if you or your student qualify as having a work-integrated learning experience, you can inquire by email to commcoop@uvic.ca.
Who can win a $250 prize?
Only work-integrated learning students will be awarded the prize. However, in addition to students nominating themselves, employers or work-integrated learning coordinators/faculty can also nominate a student.
How will the winners be selected?
The stories will be reviewed and voted on by members of the Association for Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning BC/Yukon (ACE-WIL). Voting will take place during March 2021 which is National Co-op and Work-Integrated Learning Month. Up to 5 student winners will be selected to win $250 each.
Why is ACE-WIL offering the Impact 2020 prize?
Student stories are an important way for ACE-WIL to showcase the value of student talent in the workplace. Previous student stories published by ACE-WIL highlight the important contributions students have brought to employers across BC, as well as the benefits that work-integrated learning has on a student’s future career.
In addition, 2020 brought many changes to the economy, and ACE-WIL wants to share the real stories of how students have helped workplaces continue to adapt, even under these conditions.
The student winners of IMPACT 2020 and their employers may be contacted for a follow-up interview that will then be used to promote work-integrated learning and demonstrate to employers the value that student talent can bring to the workplace.