Edzabeth Ortega was Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s first business student to complete a cooperative education placement with Saskatoon-based electrical, automation and manufacturing services company Team Power Solutions. One of the company’s founders, Brook Davis, met Ortega at a Sask Polytech career fair where he was scouting engineering technology students and says that, almost immediately, he knew he had to find a place for her. “It was clear she was very bright,” remembers Davis, “and I had a feeling she’d be a good fit for us.” Though he found her a co-op placement in their business development office, Ortega gets full credit for securing her place in the company; Team Power Solutions was so pleased with her work that they offered her two more co-op placements over the course of her studies.
Making her mark during co-op terms in part earned Ortega the honour of being named Co-op Student of the Year—a title Sask Polytech awarded the soon-to-graduate student at a ceremony earlier this month. “It’s so rewarding.” says Ortega “It means the effort has been worth it.”
Making her mark during co-op terms in part earned Ortega the honour of being named
Ortega came to Sask Polytech as an international student in 2021. Born and raised in Venezuela, she earned a degree in international relations from Universidad Santa Maria in Caracas before working in international sales in Peru and Chile. Instability in South America and a desire to pursue further education in business prompted Ortega to make the decision to move to Canada. “I came to Saskatchewan with my wife and we have felt really welcome here—first at Sask Polytech in Moose Jaw and also in Saskatoon where my wife works and where I have been working with Team Power Solutions. We are looking forward to the arrival of a baby. We haven’t looked back.”
The annual Co-operative Education Student of the Year award honours a co-op student who has demonstrated professional promise, academic achievement and practical application of theory—accomplishments Ortega’s instructors say she consistently demonstrated throughout her two years in the Business diploma program, where she has been specializing in management. This latest award complements a growing list of honours she has earned during her program, including several scholarships and the Dean’s honour list.
Gail Stuermer, who taught Ortega management accounting in her first year and training and development in her second, says she was a natural choice for the award. “Edza is the kind of student who makes our job as instructors easy,” Stuermer explains. “She’s brilliant and an exemplary student who contributes to her team and peers and is committed to learning. It was such a pleasure recommending her.”
Paul Flavel, who instructed Ortega in advertising, agrees that Ortega stood out. “Great students take initiative and Edza is one of these. She wasn’t a marketing student, yet she strove to understand everything that was going on in my class. She was inquisitive, seeking to understand concepts and improve throughout the term.”
Both instructors say that Ortega also shows leadership and skills when working as a team—qualities that will take her far in the workplace. “She really shone in the team project,” says Flavel, “communicating well, working collaboratively, helping the group to stay on task and making sure everyone was involved. This set her apart.” Stuermer agrees, noting that, “Edza came to the program with a strong background as a mature student and was willing to share her experience. She effectively applied her knowledge gained from previous education, work, and co-op experiences in the classroom. She’s passionate about the learning environment and doesn’t hesitate to share her enthusiasm.”
Thinking beyond strictly academic or workplace attributes, her instructors use the word “kind” when describing Ortega. Stuermer notes that she is generous and genuinely concerned about others: “She looks for opportunities to help, whether classmates in group work or other international students finding their way at Sask Polytech. That shows a certain strength of character, particularly given she’s far away from home herself.”
While maintaining a GPA of over 90 percent and working part-time at Team Power Solutions, Ortega has also been a Sask Polytech international student ambassador, contributing to various marketing campaigns and answering questions from prospective international students. “I want to share my experience with other students,” she says, “to let them know that Sask Polytech is a place to grow. I also want to let them know that sometimes life pushes us to say goodbye and that we can make choices that scare us a little bit—but on the other side there is always someone willing to help you and to make you feel at home, to care for you and help you thrive in your chosen path.”
In addition to a certificate of achievement and a cash award, Co-operative Education Student of the Year winners earn a great highlight for their resume. Ortega is already one step ahead, having stayed on with Team Power Solutions following her third co-op placement. “I’m excited to have been promoted to business development coordinator,” says Ortega, “and I’ll be moving to full time as soon as my program ends near the end of April. Team Power Solutions is a great environment and has great people. It really is team first, they don’t just say it.”
Johannes Schauss, manager of business development at the company says, “Edza has been a rising star since joining Team Power Solutions as a co-op student last year. Her unparalleled work ethic and results-driven mindset have been instrumental in strengthening our partnership with Sask Polytech. Edza's dedication and determination have not only impressed us but have also elevated the standards of excellence within our team. Her commitment to achieving tangible results and her collaborative approach have been invaluable. We are thrilled to welcome Edza as a permanent member of Team Power Solutions."
The Co-op Student of the Year award is part of National Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Month, an initiative led by Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL Canada). CEWIL promotes the value of co-operative education programs at 79 universities, colleges and polytechnicals across Canada.
For more information about co-operative education, visit our website: Co-operative Education (saskpolytech.ca). To learn more about the Co-operative Education Student of the Year award, visit Co-operative Education Student of the Year (saskpolytech.ca).