UC DAAP students recognized for achievement in cooperative education

Each spring, the University of Cincinnati’s College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies honors students for outstanding achievement in experiential learning.

The following eleven students of UC’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) were recognized for their achievements in cooperative education. Their stories help to illustrate why the University of Cincinnati is a top five university for co-ops and internships in the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings.

Despite the devastating impact of COVID on the retail fashion sector, Jessica Qu secured and completed a full five co-ops at Stout’s Footwear, the Natori Company, The Westside, American Eagle Outfitters and print studio Nikki Martinkovic. While at The Westside, she launched a partnership with sustainable scrap circulation company Fabscrap. Her supervisor at The Westside said that in nine years of hiring interns, Qu was the best she’d ever seen – combining innate talent with motivation and follow-through.

Joseph Morlote grew professionally through early co-op experiences at Enerpac (Wis.), Allegion (Ind.) and HUGE (Calif.). He completed his fourth and fifth co-ops at the prestigious MNML Design Consultancy in Chicago. Along the way, Morlote developed contacts among industrial designers and mentored younger students. He also gave tours and panels for prospective students and their families as a DAAP Ambassador. Morlote is interviewing at large corporate firms as well as design consultancies across the U.S.

Peter Loayza came to UC from Peru with a degree in civil engineering from Andean University of Cusco. He is now completing a dual master’s in structural engineering and architecture. He did architecture co-ops at two of this country’s best and most selective firms – DLR Group and Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill (both in Chicago) – and received high praise for his willingness to work hard, ability to learn quickly, attention to detail, professionalism and reliability. Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill has asked him to return after he completes his degree.

At Health by Design in Indianapolis, Olivia Tussey gained knowledge of a wide range of projects to promote walkability in urban and other environments and learned how to communicate those ideas effectively by creating public-facing reports and other visual materials to promote the Safe Routes to School program across Indiana. She plans to work in the field of active transportation with an aim to increase walkability in cities and towns.

The more than 100 faculty and staff in the College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies facilitate real-world work experiences for students, teach students to prepare for their professional lives, and provide career services to University of Cincinnati students and alumni. At the same time, we connect employers and external partners with the talent they seek in a variety of arrangements inside and outside the classroom.

Featured image at top: Students exit the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) building on the University of Cincinnati campus. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand