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UC DAAP students recognized for achievement in cooperative education
Co-op shaped their development as designers and creators
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.
Ravi Kumar, Architecture
Ravi Kumar. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II
Columbus, Ohio, native Ravi Kumar stood out in his co-ops at leading architectural firms in New York, Chicago and Philadelphia. He has been commended for his ethics, attitude, organization and technical aptitude and received top marks on every aspect of his performance. Kumar actively reflected on his experience and pursued opportunities to learn the fundamental professional competencies of a licensed architect. Kumar now intends to earn a dual master’s degree in architecture and urban design.
Claire Minton, Communication Design
Claire Minton works on a concept-mapping activity while on co-op at the Live Well Collaborative in September 2023. Photo/provided
Claire Minton worked at Darren Goodman Glass Experience, Quotient Technology and Live Well Collaborative, where she practiced design research, user experience design, marketing design, project leadership and client communication. Minton approached her entire co-op journey with enthusiasm, positivity and openness. Even in the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, Minton put in maximum effort to earn quality work experiences. Every employer review was glowing, even for her very first design job. After she graduates, Minton will do a fellowship with Live Well Collaborative in Cincinnati.
Jessica Qu, Fashion Design
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.
Sydni Hanes, Fine Art, Game Art
Sydni Hanes. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II
Throughout her time at UC, Sydni Hanes diligently pursued her interest in game art and design. For her first two co-ops, she acquired and practiced many relevant technical skills as a self-directed learner and built a network of industry connections. For her third co-op, she worked at EleventyPlex, a product development company that serves toy industry giants such as Mattel, Hasbro, Fisher-Price and P&G, where she helped bring new concepts to life in digital 3D. All along, Hanes demonstrated great drive, passion, talent, optimism, perseverance and hard work.
Joseph Morlote, Industrial Design
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.
Emmaline Miller, Interior Design
Emmaline Miller (left) and her Utile co-op supervisor promote UC’s co-op program to Boston-area employers at an event in July 2023. Photo/provided
Through co-ops at Rockwell Group (NYC), Gary Lee Partners (Chicago) and Utile (Boston), Emmaline Miller gained experience in luxury hospitality design; residential, corporate and multi-family design; and sustainable design practices. While at Utile, Miller promoted UC’s co-op program to other Boston-area employers. An exemplary cooperative education student, Miller has embraced the learning opportunities, employer partners, and ability to explore her major through co-op. She has gained countless career-relevant skills, established a valuable network, and set herself up for future success.
Hannah Stanchfield, Urban Planning
Hannah Stanchfield. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II
Cincinnati native Hannah Stanchfield completed co-ops with Hamilton County Planning, College Hill Urban Redevelopment, and Northside NEST. Stanchfield managed façade improvement programs in two Cincinnati neighborhoods and communicated regularly and skillfully with 25 local business owners about the design and construction. She also created maps in ArcGIS and visual and written materials for public meetings. After graduation, Stanchfield will continue her passion for community redevelopment work in Cincinnati.
Peter Loayza, Master of Architecture
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.
Olivia Tussey, Master of Community Planning
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.
Domagoj Bui, Master of Design
UC Master of Design student Domagoj Bui (right) with co-op advisor Hilary Lewallen. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II
Domagoj Bui came to UC from Croatia with an industrial design background and a strong interest in urban mobility – how people get around in urban spaces. For his master’s co-op, he worked at design agency Yellow Window in Belgium, and he also works in UC’s Digital Futures lab on urban mobility. He lectured in the Mobility Theory and Methods course at UC and has published and presented multiple research papers as a graduate student. Bui demonstrates superior strategic and design thinking skills yet remains curious and humble.
Ankita Naik, Master of Landscape Architecture
Ankita Naik. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II
At Works Partnership Architecture in Portland, Oregon, Ankita Naik created renderings, construction drawings and advanced visualizations of landscape architecture designs. She designed two innovative rooftop gardens for a seven-story multi-family housing development on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Her work showcases her passion to integrate landscape architecture and architecture design in a sustainable and collaborative manner.
About the College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies
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
Discover DAAP
- View DAAP student work in the annual DAAPworks exhibition
- News: Two University of Cincinnati students make the 2024 GDUSA Students To Watch list
- News: DAAP, A&S launch cutting-edge games and animation program
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