NJCEIA
ARCHIVES
ANNOUNCEMENTS
MARCH 2008
NJCEIA presented at the CEIA conference in
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on March 10, 2008.
Amy Bravo, Victoria Nauta and Laszlo Pokorny
presented, “Can We Develop Employee Citizens?
Developing Relationships Between
Co-op/Internship Programs and the Public Good.”
A link to presentation materials is available
online.
NJCEIA Student of the Year Award - Nomination
applications are now available online. Share a
link to the NJCEIA site with students, employers
and faculty partners who might be interested in
nominating a student. Entries must be submitted
by April 18, 2008. Contact VP for Awards and
Recognition, Patty Stoudt, for more information,
pstoudt@cougar.kean.edu.
Executive Board - Interested in serving on
the NJCEIA Executive Board? Join the creative,
innovative and fun team of professionals in your
field! Contact Victoria Nauta at nautavic@shu.edu
for more information about serving on the board.
Membership - One of our goals this year was
to expand membership and that we did! Membership
renewal reminders will go out in May. If you
know of any colleagues or employer and community
partners who might be interested in getting
involved, please share with them a link to our
site, www.njceia.org or contact VP for
Membership, Sue Pye at spye@rci.rutgers.edu.
This year we have two Honorary Members. An
honorary member is someone who has served as
president of NJCEIA and is now retired from the
field. Honorary members are not required to pay
annual membership fees.
Archival Committee - This year we are
committed to honoring our past and embracing our
future. The NJCEIA Archival Committee has been
diligently working to connect with all NJCEIA
past presidents in an effort to develop our
Association’s history. We will be highlighting
some of NJCEIA’s accomplishments at the June
Student of the Year Awards ceremony. If you have
any information you’d like to share, please
contact NJCEIA Archival Committee Chair, Barbara
Gross at bgross@middlesexcc.edu.
Announcements - Have you hired new staff in
your Co-op/Internship office? Do you want to
announce the retirement of a colleague? Do you
have an article you’d like to share with the
Association? Do you have a program idea or are
you interested in hosting an NJCEIA meeting at
your institution? Have you developed a
presentation you’d like to share with NJCEIA
members? Keep in touch with other members and
share your work, research and accomplishments.
Contact our VP for Communications, Laszlo
Pokorny at
Pokorny@cook.rutgers.edu.
OCTOBER 2007
The general membership unanimously approved
the proposed amendments to the NJCEIA
constitution during the October 25, 2007 meeting
at NJIT. Congratulations to Patty Stoudt, our
new VP for Awards and Recognition; to Barbara
Gross, Chair to the new Archival Committee and
to all retired past NJCEIA presidents who have
been conferred honorary membership. To read the
amended constitution, click on Mission &
Constitution in the sidebar. New NJCEIA
membership form for Employers
ARTICLES
To Pay or Not to Pay
By Amy Bravo
January 2008
As a coordinator of a cooperative
education/internship program at a four year
college, I respond to a significant number of
employer requests to post internship positions
for our students. Many of those employers detail
the wonderful opportunities they are offering to
our students; the rich hands-on learning,
industry exposure and resume building
experiences. I listen to the extensive list of
tasks a student will be encouraged to perform
and I fully agree with the employer that the
opportunity is exceptional, until I learn that
they want a student to work twenty plus hours a
week with no salary.
Perhaps the employer has been effected
negatively by a weakened economy or was told by
friends in the industry that it is common
practice to hire college students as unpaid
workers because they earn credits, not a salary,
for the work they complete. Despite these
reasons, there are compelling reasons why
employers should pay their student workers.
First, many students take their internships
more seriously when they are paid for their
work. In Tom Robinson’s article A Road Test and
A Goal Mine, he explains that, “employers who
accept unpaid interns probably get what they pay
for a semi-motivated student who will make only
a minor contribution to the business. In all
probability, that employer forfeits any chance
of attracting the intern or co-op student as a
full-time employee later on” (19). Students
recognize the reciprocal relationship they share
with the employer and appreciate the value the
employer places on the time and effort they
contribute to the organization. If an employer
wants to attract strong co-op/internship
candidates in the future, compensated students
are more likely to promote a co-op/internship
employer to their friends.
Secondly, when students earn credits, they
pay for credits. When students work for free,
and attend college full-time, they often find it
incredibly challenging or impossible to fit into
their schedules paid employment to cover their
expenses. Higher education is not simply
desirable for most people; it is a requirement
if they want a decent paying job and a
satisfying career. Many young people pay their
own tuition, in part or entirely, and with the
rising costs of college tuition statewide,
working over fifteen hours a week without pay is
not an option. Additionally, in an age when most
companies and agencies are seeking ways to be
more socially responsible and more committed to
diversifying the workforce, it seems most
logical to offer internship opportunities to all
eligible college students, not just the
wealthier students who can work for free.
Although each college co-op/internship
program works differently, students earning
academic credits earn the credits not just for
the work done on the job, but for the academic
assignment they complete for their co/op
internship professor. Typical assignments
include weekly papers/journals, supplemental
readings, a research paper and project or
professional presentation to a class or group of
faculty. The internship may require the student
to work a minimum of fifteen hours a week on the
job, but also requires many hours of academic
preparation and homework. Although the
internship is in many ways significantly more
rewarding than traditional classes, it is also
more time-consuming and if not fiscally
compensated, needlessly more expensive.
Finally, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
outlines the distinction between an unpaid
“trainee” and a student “employee.” A brief
synopsis of the FLSA’s follows, but a more
detailed explanation can be found on the US
Department of Labor’s web site http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/flsa/.
According to the FLSA, students can be
considered unpaid trainees if: the training on
the job is similar to that offered at a
vocational school; the training is for the
benefit of the trainee (not necessarily the
employer); the student does not displace regular
employees but works under close observation; the
employer derives no immediate benefit from the
activities of the student and on occasion the
employer’s operations may actually be impeded;
the student is not necessarily entitled to a job
after the internship, and finally the employer
and the student must understand and agree that
the student is not entitled to wages for the
time spent in the internship.
When unsure whether to pay or not, ask
yourself how you would get the job done without
an intern? Does the internship require more
observation and training than actual work
performance of the intern? What is the ratio of
interns to employees? If you have two paid
employees and five unpaid interns, you may be
violating the FLSA. If you can not afford at
least minimum hourly wage for the intern,
consider providing a stipend to help cover the
cost of tuition for the course, travel to and
from the internship and lunch.
An internship is not the only way for a
student to gain work experience but it does
offer mutually beneficial opportunities to
students and employers looking to increase their
knowledge and productivity without a huge time
commitment. Employer benefits from paid
internships can include reduced training and
recruitment costs; the opportunity to evaluate
potential employees without a long-term
commitment; help with seasonal needs, short
research studies and special projects; the
freeing up of professional staff to maximize
their contributions; a vehicle for corporate
input into academic studies and the creation of
a good image on campus through enhancement of
employer- college relations. The benefits of a
paid internship to a college student are
immeasurable. Financially invest in college
students and they are likely to invest in you.
Robinson, Tom. “A Road Test & A Goal Mine.”
The Greentree Gazette September 2007: 19-24
Shaping Responsibility: Joining
Cooperative Education and Service-Learning
Students through Orientation and Reflection
By Donna Kauder, Ramapo College of New
Jersey
October 2007
Ramapo College’s Cooperative Education and
Service-Learning Programs are among the most
popular and longstanding experiential learning
programs offered. Both programs embody all four
pillars of the institutional mission as they are
intercultural, international, interdisciplinary
and experiential by their nature.
As the College is constantly striving toward
the enhancement and improvement of experiential
education, we have designed and conducted joint
orientation and reflection sessions for the past
four years. These were designed to supplement
individual faculty-led or classroom-confined
orientations and reflections. These sessions
invigorate the program as they provide
opportunities for staff and faculty to
“front-load” students from all majors with
information regarding the praxis between theory
and practice. This leads the students to begin
reflecting on their professional, academic and
personal goals.
At Orientation, students engage in activities
that stimulate them to dig deeper regarding
their work in the field and how it affects their
roles as students and members of a community.
Trained staff facilitators guide encourage
students to “orient” themselves as to how their
placements and how their employers engage in
citizenship. They are prompted to learn about
their placement’s structure, mission, commitment
to the local and global community and to be
aware of how current events shape the field they
are working in. At Orientation, students begin
thinking about how they might shape their
prospective fields by engaging in civic
awareness and participation.
At Reflection, students, staff, faculty and
employers critically examine their roles
throughout the experiential education process.
We conduct role-playing and modeling activities
to engage students in their learning and how it
was (and in some cases was not) connected to
their work in the field. These dynamic sessions
offer more reticent students the opportunity to
share their experiences and impressions with the
group. Organic in nature, the sessions are
constantly changing to adapt to student
challenges, issues, coursework and growth.
The combination of both student programs
allows participants to “cross train” and learn
about the experiences of their peers. Often,
they are surprised at the transformational and
complex experiences the Cooperative Education
and Service-Learning programs provide. Liberal
Arts students are often unaware that Business
students are using their skills and theoretical
knowledge to serve communities through
Service-Learning, and Service-Learning students
see that many Cooperative Education students
elect to serve the public good by interning in
the non-profit sector or by choosing to work
with companies that have a commitment to social
responsibility.
We evaluate both programs and assess our
sessions at reflection. These tools have enabled
our staff to continue to serve student needs and
assist in their evolution from student to worker
and ultimately, engaged global citizen. Our
evaluations of both sessions have been
overwhelmingly positive and helpful in keeping
experiential learning at the heart of Ramapo’s
mission.
EVENTS and MEETINGS
JUNE 2010
NJCEIA Student & Practioner of the Year
Award Luncheon
Date:
Thursday, June 10, 2010
9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location:
The Rutgers Club
199 College Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Directions:
http://maps.rutgers.edu/directions.aspx?id=271
Parking:
Parking located alongside the facility.
Agenda:
9:30 a.m.
Check-in/Registration & Continental
Breakfast
10:00 a.m.
Welcome
10:15 a.m.
Guest Speaker
10:45 a.m.
Awards Presentation & Honoree Recognition
11:30a.m.
Introduction of New board & New Members
12:00 noon
Lunch
1:00 p.m.
Closing Remarks and Networking
Meeting Fee:
Members $35 Non-members
$40
Checks are payable to NJCEIA. Payments
accepted at the door.
Advance
Payments can be sent to:
Lazlo Pokorny,
Rutgers University, School of Environmental
and Biological Sciences, Cooperative
Education, 88 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick,
NJ 08901-8525
*24 hour
cancellation notice required.
*No-shows will be billed for meeting fee
RSVP:
Barbara Raido,
braido@middlesex.edu by June 5th
MARCH 2010
CEIA Annual Conference - 2010
Experience: A Revolutionary Idea
Date:
March 21-23, 2010
Location:
Hilton Boston Back Bay
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Join us in Boston, Massachusetts for the
2010 CEIA Annual Conference. We will
celebrate accomplishments of our field and
contemplate trends, challenges, and
opportunities for cooperative education and
internships.
Mark your calendar for this special
event!
For more information on the conference email
info@ceiainc.org or view the
conference website.
2nd Annual Mini Conference (co-sponsored
with NJACE)
Date:
Friday, March 26, 2010
Time:
8:30 a.m -3:00 p.m.
Location:
The Heldrich Center for Workforce
Development, New Brunswick, NJ
Program will include:
- Overview of the center and tour
- Updates on the job market (US and
NJ)
- Overview of key skills NJ Employers
are seeking
- Overview of: Bioscience jobs
-
Transportation/Logistics/Distribution
Jobs and Green Jobs in NJ
- Discussion of how NJCEIA and NJACE
can utilize the Heldrich Center
VIEW PROGRAM FLYER
DECEMBER 2009
PR and Marketing for Career Services
Building Your Brand From Within
Date:
December 11, 2009
Time:
9:00 a.m - 12:00 p.m.
OCTOBER 2009
Panel Discussion hosted by NJCEIA and
Embassy Suites Hotel
A Panel of Human Resources Specialists will
be discussing what they look for in candidates,
effective recruiting methods, diversity goals,
career changers, internships and most of all,
how all this is being affected by the economy.
Panel will include: J&J, MTV Networks, FedEx
Ground, Embassy Suites, Port Authority NY/NJ,
Paychex
Date:
October 22, 2009
Time:
9:30: Registration/Coffee
10:00 - 12:00: Panel Discussion
12:00: Lunch
1:00: NJCEIA Meeting
Location:
Embassy Suites Piscataway-Somerset
121 Centennial Avenue
Piscataway, NJ 08854
Directions:
http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/PISNJES-Embassy-Suites-Piscataway-Somerset-New-Jersey/directions.do#directions
Meeting Fee:
Members $30 Non-Members $40
* 24 Hour cancellation notice required
No shows will be billed for meeting fee
Checks can be made out to NJCEIA/ Payment
is accepted at the door
Early registration payments can be
sent to:
Laszlo Pokorny/VP, Finance
1433 Huron Road
North Brunswick, NJ 08902
info@naturasourceinternational.com
Registration:
Please RSVP by October 12, 2009
For questions, please contact Barbara Raido,
VP of Programs
Braido@middlesexcc.edu or call
732-906-2595
JUNE 2009
Promoting Enrichment through
Professional Development
Student & Practitioner of the Year Awards
Luncheon
Date:
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Time:
9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location:
The Rutgers Club
199 College Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8547
Directions:
For driving directions from your location
click here
Parking:
Parking located alongside the facility.
Agenda:
9:30...…………..Check-in/Registration
& Continental Breakfast
10:00…………….Welcome
10:15…………….Guest Speaker
10:45…………….Awards Presentation &
Introduction of New Board
12:00………….... Lunch
1:00…………….Closing Remarks & Networking
Meeting Fee:
Members $35 Non-members $40
Checks are payable to NJCEIA. Payments
accepted at the door.
Advance Payments can be sent to:
Lazlo Pokorny, Rutgers University, School of
Environmental and Biological Sciences,
Cooperative Education, 88 Lipman Drive, New
Brunswick, NJ 08901-8525
*24 hour cancellation notice required.
*No-shows will be billed for meeting fee
RSVP:
tammy.samuels@rutgers.edu or call
732.445.6125 x11 by June 5th
JUNE 2009
Rethinking, Retooling, Recharging
12th Biennial CRMA Conference
in collaboration with the Career
Counselors' Consortium
Date:
Thursday, June 4 and Friday,
June 5, 2009
Location:
Suffolk University, Boston, MA
View conference website for details.
Click
here
for registration form.
APRIL 2009
Join us in Portland, Oregon, USA for the
2009 CEIA Annual Conference.
When:
April 19 - 21, 2009
Topic:
We will celebrate accomplishments of our
field and contemplate trends, challenges, and
opportunities for cooperative education and
internships.
Building a Sustainable Future
2009 CEIA Annual Conference
April 19-21, 2009 (Sunday - Tuesday)
Hilton Portland
Portland, Oregon, USA
Conference website
* Note: Southwest Airlines has just
opened up reservations through April:
http://www.southwest.com/
Book your flight to the CEIA conference now!
MARCH 2009
NJCEIA Meeting
New Jersey Cooperative Education and
Internship Association
Mini Conference
“The Rapidly Changing Face of the
American WorkPlace”
Date:
Friday, March 27, 2009
Time:
9:30 am - 2:00 pm
Where:
New Jersey Institute of Technology,
Newark, NJ 07102
Featured Speakers:
Zohar Adner, a Stress Specialist from the
Stop Stressin’ Out Workshop
Gerry Crispin, an international speaker,
author, and consultant who speaks on
employment strategy, hiring processes and
staffing technology
Dr. Carl Van Horn, the Heldrich Center
for Workforce Development
Registration:
Register by March 3rd for only $30
After March 3rd, Registration fee:
Members-$40 Non-members- $50
Register by email to
cuhl@stevens.edu
Make checks payable to NJCEIA and mail
to:
Laszlo Pokorny
Cooperative Education
School of Environmental & Biological
Sciences
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Martin Hall Room 211
88 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
DECEMBER 2008
NJCEIA December Program
When:
Friday, December 5, 2008
10:00 AM to 1:30 PM
Where:
Montclair State University, University
Hall, Courtyard Lounge
Topic:
Enrichment Through Professional Development:
Explore the traits required to be an
effective leader.
Presented by: Regina Clark Left Brain
Leverage, CSP
http://www.reginaclark.net/home.htm
Post Lunch Special Event: Segal Gallery
Tour: George Segal-Modern Humanist
http://www.montclair.edu/segalgallery/
New York Times Art Review:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/nyregion/new-jersey/09artsnj.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Segal%20Gallery&st=cse&oref=slogin
Reminder: Clean out your
closet for a cause: “Hire Attire” Business
Clothing Drive. (See
Flyer)
Location:
Directions:
http://www.montclair.edu/welcome/directions.html
Parking: Red Hawk Parking Deck:
http://www.montclair.edu/map/index.php?FontSize=10&w=950&h=494&x=0&y=0&Zoom=2&Building=RP
To Register:
Register By: Monday, December 1, 2008
To register or for additional
information, please contact:
Christian Uhl, Vice President for Programs
By email: cuhl@stevens.edu
By phone: 201-216-8917
Meeting Fee:
Members: $30 Non-Members: $40
Early Registration payments can be sent
to:
Laszlo Pokorny, Cooperative Education
School of Environmental & Biological
Sciences
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Martin Hall Room 211
88 Lipman Drive New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Make Checks Payable to NJCEIA
Payments will be accepted at the door
OCTOBER 2008
Joint NJACE and NJCEIA Program -
“Diversity in the Workplace”
Friday, October 17, 2008
The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ
200 Pennington Rd. Ewing, NJ
Forcinia Hall 134
Guest Speakers:
Christina Vargas Law, CCDP
Director, Diversity and Affirmative Action
Stony Brook University, Office of Diversity and
Affirmative Action
Jennifer Santiago
Regional Recruiting Supervisor and Regional
Diversity co-chair, Enterprise Rent-a-Car
Erin Barron, Assistant Director
Office of Cooperative Education, Stevens
Institute of Technology
Rita Burton, Counselor for International
Students
Counseling and Career Services Department,
Middlesex County College
JUNE 2008
Honoring the Past…Embracing the Future &
Student of the Year Awards
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Café Arugula
59 South Orange Ave.
South Orange, NJ 07079
973-378-9009
Agenda:
11:00 - Registration
11:30 - Welcome
Acknowledgement of Past Presidents
12:00 - Lunch
1:00 - Student of the Year Awards followed by
Introduction of 2008-09 Executive Board
MARCH 2008
"Can We Develop Employee Citizens?"
PowerPoint presentation from the
national co-op conference
and
"What Aren’t We Teaching Our Students:
critical pedagogy and the co-op education
curriculum"
-Article from the Journal of Cooperative
Education and Internships
FEBRUARY 2008
“Helping Your Co-op Student Develop a Road
Map to Success.”
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Pavilion Room One
505 Ramapo Valley Road
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Speaker:
Craig Treadway, a co-anchor of the early edition
of “The CW11 Morning News” on WPIX Channel 11,
Tribune Broadcasting’s CW Television Network
affiliate. He is seen weekdays from 5 am to 7 am
on “The CW11 Morning News.”
Agenda:
Noon: Registration
12:30 pm: Lunch
1:15 pm: Presenter – Craig Treadway
2:00 pm: Networking
SPOTLIGHT
REESA GREENWALD - EXEMPLARY COMMITMENT TO
COOPERATIVE EDUCATION
April 16, 2008
Reesa Greenwald has worked in the field of
Experiential Education for over twenty years.
She has served on the NJCEIA board in various
roles throughout her tenure in the field,
including the role of President in 1994 and
again in 2002.
A member of CEIA (Cooperative Education and
Internship Association)for many years, Reesa is
a NAWIL (National Academy for Work Integrated
Learning) trainer and has served on the
conference planning committee. She joined the
Board last year in the role of Vice President
for Professional Development. In her role as
Program Chair, Reesa was responsible for
coordinating the CEIA national conference in
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The theme to this
year's conference was "Mastering the Links to
Success," and a success it was. Over 250
professionals attended the conference from
CEIA's eight regions. Nine awards were given to
students, practitioners, educators, researchers
and employers. In addition to her role as
Program Chair, Reesa also presented, "Nuts and
Bolts of Experiential Education." Reesa is
currently preparing for the 7th annual NAWIL
Cooperative Education and Internship Training in
Breckenridge, Colorado, June 18-20, 2008.
Prior to her current position as the
Associate Director of The Career Center at Seton
Hall University, Reesa worked in Cooperative
Education and Service Learning programs at
Montclair State University. Reesa's commitment
to the field of is commendable.
When not at work, Reesa has been committed as
a volunteer and Board member of the Foundation
for Diabetes Research. Her commitment to the
field of Experiential Education, to her students
and to her community is commendable.
STUDENT OF THE YEAR AWARDS
2009 NJCEIA Cooperative Education / Internship
Student of the Year
On the Rutgers banks, June 11, 2009, we held
our annual awards banquet at the Rutgers Club in
New Brunswick, NJ. We were very excited to
present our first recipient of the Practitioner
of the Year award along with two students of the
year awards.
The
four-year school award winner was Keith Cassidy
from Stevens Institute of Technology. Keith
worked as a co-op, Business Process Analyst, for
Movado Group, Inc. While on co-op with Movado
Group, Keith’s primary task was to support
critical supply chain systems. He coordinated
the efforts to upgrade Movado’s picking system,
which controls the inventory that drives 70% of
their business. He also focused on an SAP
project which enabled him to independently
travel to offices in Hong Kong and Switzerland.
In addition, he developed several training
programs for incoming co-op students like
himself. His employer noted his accomplishments
by saying “I’ve been in the workforce for over
37 years and I have never met an individual
quite like Keith.” Keith, now a full-time
employee of Movado, graduated with both a
Bachelors and Masters degrees in Engineering. He
also attained a graduate certificate in Network
Information Systems.
The
two-year school award winner was Andrew Stanish
from Bergen Community College. Andrew worked as
a Technical Production Intern for CNBC. Andrew’s
primary project was to create a web site for the
Dow Jones Utilities Index, which he finished in
“record time.” He also volunteered his time to
assist a team with the election coverage.
Andrew’s professionalism and work ethic was on
par which meant he was able to work on several
other big projects, including the 30-plus page
site for FTSE CNBC Global 300 Index. His innate
ability to handle multiple projects successfully
enabled him the ability to also assume “The Wall
Street Journal Report” website while a colleague
was on leave. Needless to say, Andrew was very
busy. In fact, his supervisor said “Andrew
successfully proved that he had what it takes to
be a technical site producer at CNBC.” Andrew is
a rising senior, expected to Graduate May 2010
from Bergen Community College with an
Associates in
Applied Science, Business Technology, Network
Administration.
Last
but not least, the first Practitioner of the
Year award recipients’ were Dominique Clarke and
Christine Cervelli. No one knew who won, not
even the winners. Dominique and Christine were
nominated together and won the award as a
unified front for their unparallel teamwork and
many contributions to experiential education.
Dominique and Christine helped conceive and
implement the first mini-conference for NJCEIA
and also helped redesign the association’s
website. They’ve contributed their talents to
NJCEIA to increase and diversify membership. In
their roles with NJIT, they designed and created
the first Division video podcasts to advertise
Career Development Services. Most notably, they
were asked to present their podcast efforts at
the national conference for CEIA. Their zest and
creative energies have helped to sustain the
work of experiential education and have
challenged practitioners in the field to
continue the “outside-the-box” thinking.
Dominique Clarke is the Associate Director and
Christine Cervelli is the Assistant Director of
Career Services at NJIT.
The NJCEIA Awards program provides an
opportunity for students, employers, college
practitioners, and families to celebrate the
enlightening experiences that await students
involved in cooperative education and
internships. As with every year prior, we
celebrated just that along with the notable
recognition of our peers with the addition of
the Practitioner of the Year award.
2008 Student of the
Year Awards
By Patricia Stoudt
On June 12, 2008, out
of thousands of students participating in
cooperative education and internships across New
Jersey, two wonderfully outstanding students and
their employers were honored.
The
four-year school award winner is Jeremy
Hebert of Seton Hall University who was
nominated by Reesa Greenwald. Jeremy worked in
the summer of 2007 as an intern with the African
Area Studies program of the Foreign Service
Institute (FSI), The U.S. Department of State’s
Premier training facility.
During his internship,
Jeremy was charged with several responsibilities
regarding the training and development of
ambassadors, Foreign Service officers and other
US officials traveling to Africa. With the
encouragement of his supervisor, Marlene Urbina
de Breen, he took on responsibilities beyond the
expectation of an intern. First, Jeremy did
extension background research regarding the
destination country that new Foreign Service
officers would be deployed. He compiled the
necessary information into electronic briefings,
or “e-Briefings”, which are now used within the
entire Area Studies department of FSI. Jeremy
stated in his application “that the Ambassador
to Namibia expressed personal thanks for the
“e-Briefing,” as it helped prepare for her
Senatorial hearing.” Second, when the FSI Chair
was re-assigned to a new position, Jeremy
stepped right in to assist Marlene “as Acting
Chair with course design, syllabus development,
course scheduling, and overall class management
of the Sub-Saharan two-week intensive seminar,
and weekly session of the 20-week program for
language students of the SubSaharan African
Advanced course.” These are only brief examples
of his contributions.
Jeremy’s
supervisor, Marlene, had many positive things to
say about him. For her and the FSI Chair, Jeremy
stood out from the crowd. Marlene stated,
“Jeremy was one of those rare young
professionals, seeking from day one new
opportunities to broaden his knowledge and
enhance his understanding of the agency, U.S.
interests and policies in Sub-Saharan Africa and
other regions of the world…. He came across as
an extraordinarily matured, self-directed and
self-motivated person, with a very strong
academic background and a set of research and
drafting skills more characteristic of a
mid-level Foreign Affairs Officer than of a
college undergraduate. He showed great
enthusiasm for the African continent and for our
program, undertaking multiple tasks while
volunteering additional working hours in the
Passport Office. His high energy and good sense
of humor made him a valued colleagues.”
Jeremy recently
graduated with a Bachelor’s in Diplomacy and
International Relations.
Jeremy’s co-op
supervisor, Marlene Urbina de Breen, was not
able to attend the luncheon. The NJCEIA Employer
Certificate of Appreciation was mailed to Ms.
Urbina de Breen.
The
two-year school award winner is Michael
Sztuk of County College of Morris who was
nominated by Denise Schmidt. Michael worked in
fall 2007 as an intern with Hamilton Park Hotel
and Conference Center.
When Michael first
started at Hamilton he was a buffet attendant.
After a couple of months he started working in
Room Service two days a week. By the end of his
internship he was a “floater” which means he was
able to perform more than one job on a regular
basis. And, this past December, Michael was
awarded “The Associate of the Month Award.”
The co-op experience
had a huge impact on Michael. Michael stated
that he was shy and did not engage in a lot of
communication with the guests. But as time went
by and he rotated to the different departments
he learned that communication is important.
Michael had stated in his application that he
learned more by combining both working in his
chosen field and going to school then if he had
just went to school.
Michael’s
supervisor, Michelle Mitterer, stated that:
“Michael has been a model employee. He has an
innate sense of the hospitality business,
anticipating guests’ needs before they even
realize what it is they are looking for. He has
a genuine and sincere personality that shines
through with every action. His shyness does not
discourage him from doing his very best to
communicate with both internal and external
customers. Michael is well liked and respected
by his peers.”
Michelle went on to say they are committed in
keeping Michael on through his college years to
help him “grow and develop into an excellent
food and beverage manager”.
Michael has recently
transferred to Fairleigh Dickinson University
where he is majoring in Hospitality Management.
He is expected to graduate next year.
Michael’s co-op
supervisor, Michele Mitterer, was able to attend
the luncheon. Ms. Mitterer was presented the
NJCEIA Employer Certificate of Appreciation.
2007 Student of the Year Awards
By Patricia Stoudt
Excitement was in the air on June 14, 2007,
as two wonderfully outstanding students were
honored.
The four-year school award winner is Diana
Rodriguez of New Jersey Institute of Technology
who was nominated by Sharon Gilbert. Diana
worked each summer from 2004 to 2006 as an
Engineering Intern at T&M Associates.
During her internship, Diana participated in
the steel bridge team from 2004 to 2007 and
achieved first place in the Metropolitan area in
2006 and 2007. She participated in the seismic
design team from 2005 to 2007 and achieved the
Saul K. Fenster Innovation in Design Award from
Newark College of Engineering. She actively
participated in the student chapter of the
American Society of Civil Engineers and worked
for two years as a Peer Mentor for the school’s
counseling center where she assisted students
and facilitated workshops on various issues
associated with college life.
Diana recently graduated with a Bachelors of
Science degree in Civil Engineering. She was
hired full-time at T&M Associates as an
Assistant Staff Designer in the Structural
Division.
The two-year school award winner is Kwabena
(Kobe) Ofori-Atta, a Chemical Technology major
from County College of Morris who was nominated
by Al Foderaro. Kobe was unable to attend the
award ceremony because he was getting married,
but he has requested to come in the fall to
thank the NJCEIA personally. Al Foderaro
accepted on his behalf.
Since 2006, Kobe has been working as a Co-op
Stability Technician in the Underarm Product
Development Department at Colgate-Palmolive.
During his internship Kobe was responsible in
the smooth running of the stability laboratory.
Kobe also helps train incoming cooperative
education students at Colgate-Palmolive.
In his absence, a statement from Kobe’s
biography was read. One thing that stands out
from his statement is his sincere gratitude
towards the staff of the Cooperative Education
department at County College of Morris for all
of their support and the determination they
showed in securing him an internship position
with Colgate-Palmolive. To sum up Kobe’s
statement,
“Need I say more? The journey to where I am
currently has not been easy. I sure do have a
while to go. Nevertheless, I know with the
assurance and support that I have benefited from
in the past, the journey is endurable and will
result in certain success, should I stay true to
the course set before me and not deviate from
it.”
2006 Student of the Year Awards
Four-year School Award
Elaine DiTonno, Cook College Graduate
receives 2006 New Jersey Cooperative Education
and Internship Association Student of the Year
Award (Laurel Van Leer, Elaine DiTonno, and
Bruce Crawford are pictured at the Recognition
Luncheon)
New Brunswick, NJ – Elaine DiTonno, a recent
graduate of Cook College, Rutgers University,
was the recipient of the 2006 New Jersey
Cooperative Education and Internship Association
(NJCEIA) Student of the Year Award. Elaine was
recognized by the NJCEIA for her outstanding
work while a cooperative education student and
for her involvement in the community through
academics and volunteerism.
As a Cook College cooperative education
student, Elaine worked in positions related to
her college curriculum while earning a salary
and academic credits. Her co-op education
experience with the Cook College Alumni
Association included writing a production and
marketing plan for alumni notecards and items
created from Kilmer Oak (made famous by the poem
written by Alfred Joyce Kilmer's poem, "Trees,"
was a white oak which once stood on the campus
of Cook College) wood currently in storage. She
developed a plan to sell items to be crafted
from the Kilmer Oak including pens, coasters,
and plaques. Elaine also worked as a Sales
Department Assistant with Atalanta Corporation,
a multinational gourmet foods importing company
based in Elizabeth, NJ. Elaine was awarded a
$300.00 scholarship by NJCEIA at a statewide
recognition luncheon held at Cook College in New
Brunswick, New Jersey on June 1, 2006.
The NJCEIA scholarship award was established
to acknowledge students in New Jersey
educational institutions that represent the best
of what experiential learning can offer
students. Cook College faculty sponsors, Dr.
Donn A. Derr and Professor Ned Lipman, sponsored
Elaine during her co-op education employment
experiences. Elaine also received the
Rutgers--Cook College, Cooperative Education
Student of the Year Scholarship Award at a
campus-wide recognition luncheon in May of 2006.
While at Cook College, Elaine was an active
participant in the following charitable events:
Locks of Love, Toys for Tots, MS Walk and Relay
for Life. She was also a member of the Cook
College Environmental and Business Economics
Club. Elaine graduated as an Edward Bloustein
Distinguished Scholar, a Teagle Foundation
Scholar, and she completed a semester of
study-abroad in Australia. She graduated with
High Honors in May 2006 with a Bachelor of
Science degree in Environmental and Business
Economics.
The Cooperative Education Program at Cook
College, Rutgers, The State University of New
Jersey was established in 1974 and had 310
students employed in positions with businesses,
government and non-profit agencies during 2005.
Two-year School Award
Edward Schruba, a mechanical engineering
technology student from County College of
Morris, was the 2006 recipient of the Two-Year
College New Jersey Cooperative Education and
Internship Association (NJCEIA) Student of the
Year Award. He was recognized for his
outstanding contributions while employed as a
cooperative education student at the United
States Armaments Research, Development and
Engineering Center located at Picatinny Arsenal
in Dover, New Jersey. Ed received a $300
scholarship from NJCEIA at a statewide
recognition luncheon held at Cook College in
June.
Mr. Schruba worked as an engineering aide and
reported to the Director of the Explosive
Ordnance Disposal Technology Directorate. During
his co-op employment he was assigned to support
three engineering teams: the Robot Applications
Team, the Foreign Material Exploitation Team,
and the Media Team. Ed was assigned to all three
teams because of his proven ability to
multi-task and because his skills were diverse
enough to contribute to all three groups.
During his co-o, Ed was recognized for a
number of outstanding accomplishments that
included:
Building models of foreign ordnance that are
used for training aids for Explosive Ordnance
Disposal (EOD) soldiers. The displays aid in the
instructing of soldiers about the physical
features of the ordnance and how the ordnance
functions;
Performing independent research on the best
approach to transport small size robots for
short distances. He did a market search and
selected a number of hand carts which he then
modified to include a turn table to allow the
robot to be rotated on the cart to facilitate
testing of the robot; and
Reverse engineering scores for foreign
ordnance using CAD software. The ordnance had
very challenging geometry and features and Ed’s
proficiency in both AutoCAD and PRO-E helped him
reverse engineer fuses, projectiles, mines and
submunitions. In addition, he performed quality
control of 3-D models developed by other student
engineers.
The Robot Team Leader also had Ed assist with
testing of on a new low cost Disrupter Cartridge
for the RE-70 Standoff Disrupter. Ed supported
the data capture and data analysis associated
with the test. While assisting the Robot
Applications Team Leader, Ed organized test data
and technical information so that a draft of a
Technical Report on the development of the RE-70
Full Bore Plain Slug could be published.
In addition to these projects, Ed assisted
the Director of the EOD Technology Directorate,
Joseph Wu, in his personal project to study the
existing process for recovering fragments in an
Arena Test. Ed’s role was to prepare the floor
plan of the existing building where these
operations are performed and to assist
consultants in the rendering of their concepts
in engineering drawing format using Auto Cad and
PRO-E.
Ed was nominated for the award by both Al
Foderaro, Director of Career Services and
Cooperative Education at County College of
Morris and his supervisor, Joseph Wu. Mr. Wu, in
his endorsement, described Ed as “a mature,
helpful, productive co-op student who exuded a
strong work ethic with a positive attitude.” Mr.
Schruba’s accomplishments contributed greatly to
the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology
Directorate’s success in supporting its mission
and the mission of its customers. Ed helped the
Directorate accomplish its mission to train EOD
soldiers in foreign ordnance recognition so
that, when they are deployed to Iraq and
Afghanistan, they can better perform the mission
of rendering safe unexploded foreign ordnance.
The County College of Morris and Picatinny
Arsenal join in saluting Edward Schruba for his
outstanding contributions and for being
recognized as the 2006 Two-Year College NJCEIA
Student of the Year.
2005 Student of the Year Awards
Amy Bravo
The four-year school award winner was Jibu
Abraham, an student from Stevens Institute of
Technology. He worked for HoneyBee Robotics and
was nominated by Catherine L. Rooney.
The two year school award winner was Jhonatan
Munoz of County College of Morris. He was
nominated by Al Foderaro and worked for Howmet
Castings.
2004 Student of the Year Awards
By Amy Bravo
The Student of the Year Awards program
provides an opportunity for students, employers,
college professionals and family to celebrate
the rich experiences that await students
involved in cooperative education and
internships.
The two year school award winner was Enrique
Agapay of Middlesex County College. He was
nominated by Barbara Gross and worked for
Accutest Labs.
PHOTO Left to right: Cathy Pearl, Human
Resources Manager at Accutest, two-year school
award winner Enrique Agapay, and Terri Orosz and
Barbara Gross, Middlesex County College.
The four-year school award winner was Michael
Phipps, an engineering student from Stevens
Institute of Technology. He worked for Stryker
Orthopedics and was nominated by Lynn Insley.
PHOTO Left to right - back row: Peter
Verrillo, Manager of Platform Innovation and
Michael Phipps supervisor at Stryker, and
four-year school winner Michael Phipps.
Front row: Amy Corona, HR Recruiter at Stryker,
Lynn Insley Stevens Institute of Technology, and
Debbie Ackerly, Recruitment Manager at Stryker.
2003 Student of the Year Awards
By Terri Orosz
Despite gray skies, spirits were bright on
June 5 when the New Jersey Cooperative Education
and Internship Association honored three
students with the 2003 NJCEIA Student of the
Year Award. Hosted by Montclair State
University, the awards luncheon was held at the
elegant Valley Regency in Clifton. The students’
family, friends, and employers joined NJCEIA
members to recognize their accomplishments.
The two-year award winner was Paul Gonzalez,
a Mechanical Technology major, from the County
College of Morris. He was nominated by Al
Foderaro, Director of Career Services and
Cooperative Education at CCM and David Zweig,
Vice President of Engineering for Glenbrook
Technologies in Randolph, New Jersey. As a co-op
student at Glenbrook Technologies, Paul, a
Product Development Technician, worked on two
prototype machines being used to demonstrate
x-ray inspection for homeland security.
Evan Juska, from Seton Hall University, was
the four-year winner. A Political Science major,
he was nominated by Reesa Greenwald, Associate
Director of The Career Center at SHU and Carol
Lynch, Investigative Paralegal with the Monmouth
County Prosecutor’s Office in Freehold, New
Jersey. During Paul’s summer internship with the
Prosecutor’s Office, he drafted a version of the
Amber Plan (a public emergency alert system for
child abductions) for Monmouth County.
The graduate award winner was Edyta Jasinska,
also from Seton Hall University. She was
nominated by Reesa Greenwald, Associate Director
of The Career Center at SHU and by employers
from two internships: Mary-Irene Gladney, Human
Resources Officer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office
in Newark, New Jersey and Ahmad Kamal, Senior
Fellow, from the United Nations Institute for
Training and Research (UNITAR). Edyta worked as
a student clerk for the U.S. Attorney’s Office
and as a Research Assistant/Intern for UNITAR
where she developed reference manuals for the
office which provides training sessions
primarily for developing countries.
The Student of the Year Awards program
provides an opportunity for students, employers,
college professionals and family to celebrate
the rich experiences that await students
involved in cooperative education and
internships. This year was no exception. Through
their co-op and internship experiences, this
year’s recipients had the opportunity to be
involved in work that promoted public health,
safety, and welfare locally, as well as
globally, testimony to the value of real world
experience.
2002 Student of the Year Awards
Cook College Press Release: June 7, 2002
New Brunswick, NJ--Todd Haurin, a recent
graduate of Rutgers' Cook College and a resident
of TABERNACLE, was awarded the 2002 New Jersey
Cooperative Education and Internship Association
(NJCEIA) Student of the Year Award. Todd was
recognized by the NJCEIA for his outstanding
work while a cooperative education student and
for his involvement in the community through
academics and volunteerism.
As a Cook College cooperative education
student, Haurin worked in positions related to
his college curriculum while earning a salary
and academic credits. His co-op education
experience included an internship at the Office
of Sustainable Business, a division of the New
Jersey Commerce and Economic Growth Commission,
in Trenton, New Jersey as well as a semester
with the Union County Division of Parks &
Recreation as an Environmental Program
Aide/Program Developer. Todd was awarded a $300
scholarship by NJCEIA at a statewide recognition
luncheon held at Middlesex Community College in
Edison, New Jersey on June 6, 2002.
The NJCEIA scholarship award was established
to acknowledge students in New Jersey
educational institutions that represent the best
of what experiential learning can offer
students. Cook College faculty sponsors, Dr.
Donn A. Derr, professor, agricultural, food and
resource economics and Dr. George F. Clark,
professor, human ecology, advised Haurin during
his co-op education employment experiences. The
Cook College Cooperative Education Student of
the Year Scholarship Award was presented to Todd
at a campus-wide recognition luncheon in April
of 2002. He was also a finalist for the
Cooperative Education & Internship Association
and the Cooperative Education Division of the
American Society of Engineering Education
National Student of the Year Award in December
2001.
While at Cook College, Todd was an active
member of Kappa Theta Epsilon National Honor
Society, Alpha Zeta Honors Fraternity, and the
campus Leadership Committee among many others.
He graduated with High Honors in May 2002 with a
dual degree in Environmental Policy,
Institutions, and Behavior and Environmental and
Business Economics. Todd strongly believes in
protecting our environment through initiatives
that will benefit the community and the
environment, while promoting economic growth in
the process. He plans to work in the
environmental field and later attend graduate
school.
The Cooperative Education Program at Cook
College, Rutgers The State University of New
Jersey was established in 1974 and had 305
students employed in positions with businesses,
government and non-profit agencies during the
2001-2002 academic year. Students earned an
average of $4,000 each semester with total
student earnings at $1,085,278 in the past year.
