A dozen Faculty of Engineering students received accolades at the annual Co-op Student of the Year dinner. An undergraduate and graduate student were named McMaster Engineering’s Co-op Student of the Year, and 10 others were recognized as Future Leaders.
For the second year in a row, a student from the Faculty of Engineering was presented McMaster University’s Co-op Student of the Year Award. Shiyu (Shannon) Chen, a Master of Engineering – Engineering Systems and Technology student in the W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology, received the university-wide honour for stand-out contributions during her co-op at Alectra Utilities.
“We recognized an exceptionally strong cohort of co-op students,” said Stephanie Harper, Associate Director of the Centre for Career Growth and Experience. “Each honouree was lauded by their employers for going above and beyond during their co-op terms. Not only did they excel on co-op, but they each are pursuing a multitude of experiences available to them through McMaster that help them develop their skills and career prospects.”
Read on to learn more about McMaster Engineering’s Co-op Student of the Year honourees.
Co-op Students of the Year
Shiyu (Shannon) Chen
McMaster Engineering Co-op Student of the Year (graduate)
Master of Engineering – Engineering Systems and Technology
Co-op: Process Improvement at Alectra Utilities
Shannon excelled during her co-op term with Alectra Utilities’ Process Improvement team. She automated workflows, created process maps and optimized data collection, saving over 10 hours of manual work monthly and boosting team efficiency. At McMaster, Shannon championed its co-op community by establishing mentorship platforms, offering resume and interview guidance, and inspiring peers to pursue co-op opportunities. Her leadership during the Fall 2024 Orientation motivated over 20 students to engage in the co-op program.
Jane D’Souza
McMaster Engineering Co-op Student of the Year (undergraduate)
Bachelor of Engineering – Computer Engineering and Management
Co-op: Project Engineer Intern at Toyota Motor North America
Jane D’Souza contributed to Toyota’s Rav4 202* launch, where she applied 3D CAD modeling, equipment simulations and project management skills to lead equipment installation and modification projects. Her efforts helped drive improved automation and efficiency in manufacturing processes. At McMaster, Jane served as VP, Events for the McMaster Engineering & Management Society, mentored more than 200 students as a teaching assistant and contributed to the McMaster Solar Car Team.
Future Leaders
Future Leaders are finalists in the Co-op Student of the Year Award nomination process.
Sathurshan Arulmohan
Bachelor of Engineering – Software Engineering
Co-op: Sensor Diagnostics Software Team, General Motors Canada
Sathurshan Arulmohan’s achievements include integrating a Software-in-the-Loop environment, developing an integration test framework, debugging production software and creating a diagnostic monitor for millions of vehicles. At McMaster, as the Technical Specialist for the EcoCAR team, he enhances development processes and provides valuable industry experience to fellow students.
Clara Curic
Bachelor of Engineering – Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
Co-op: Field Engineering Intern, Veolia Water Technologies and Solutions
Clara Curic managed a bay water chlorination and dechlorination program during her co-op. She mastered tasks like pump operation, water sampling, chemical testing and troubleshooting. Clara collaborated with supervisors to optimize chemical usage, reducing product consumption and saving the customer an estimated $30,000 CAD annually.
Noura Elsabagh
Bachelor of Engineering – Electrical Engineering
Co-op: Thermal System Integration Electrical Intern, General Motors US
As the sole Electrical Engineer on a team of Mechanical Engineers, Noura Elsabagh developed a MATLAB tool to visualize EV thermal system energy balance, influencing future GM designs. Noura managed ambiguity and scope changes effectively, gaining hands-on experience through site visits and prototype builds. She presented her work to over 80 experts and was featured on GM’s Instagram, internal newsletter and at the intern Celebration Day with CEO Mary Barra.
Muskaan Opel
Bachelor of Engineering – Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
Co-op: IT Systems Co-op, Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) Social Assistance I+IT Solutions Branch
Muskaan Opel collaborated with IBM developers and consultants on IT analysis projects. She used tools such as PowerBI and Visio to create data visualization, automate processes and modernize outdated systems. Muskaan has been a mentor with CodePath, where she helps students prepare for technical interviews and volunteers as a McMaster Engineering Student Ambassador.
Abdul Mannan Mohammed
Bachelor of Technology – Automation Systems Engineering Technology
Co-op: Operations Process Strategy Intern, Royal Bank of Canada
Abdul Mannan optimized processes, automated workflows and presented key findings to senior management, reducing manual effort by 40% and saving over 120 hours per quarter. Beyond technical contributions, Abdul advocated for McMaster students at RBC events, encouraging recruitment and mentoring peers with resume guidance and interview preparation.
Truong (Jasmine) Thu Ngoc Nguyen
Bachelor of Technology – Biotechnology
Co-op: Vaccine Drug Substance Development Team, Sanofi
Truong (Jasmine) Thu Ngoc Nguyen learned protein analytical assays and purifications, contributing to a globally recognized project. At McMaster, as a Women in Engineering Ambassador, Jasmine advised high school students in Vietnam on transitioning to university and the benefits of co-op education. She also assisted peers with job search and interview preparation, showcasing her commitment to career and academic development.
Aiko Sianto
Bachelor of Engineering – Mechanical Engineering
Co-op: New Product Introduction Engineering Intern, Tesla Inc.
Aiko Sianto took on significant responsibilities at Tesla, spearheading new product launches and manufacturing lines, resulting in substantial cost savings for the company. Aiko optimized production processes, enhanced design for manufacturability, and coordinated trials, significantly improving efficiency and throughput.
Sharanpreet Singh Virk
Master of Engineering, Engineering Systems and Technology
Co-op: Sub-system Lead Specialist Co-op/Intern, General Motors Canada
Sharanpreet Singh Virk enhanced Model-Based Design processes, resolved powertrain and hybrid vehicle challenges, and collaborated on innovative automation solutions. At McMaster, as an EcoCAR team member, he represented Canada internationally, contributing to energy-efficient vehicle design and sustainable transportation.
Luxmy Thulasinathan
Bachelor of Engineering – Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
Co-op: Production Engineering Co-op, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Luxmy Thulasinathan independently led a high-priority CAPA project, securing a $350,000 budget and ensuring regulatory compliance. She introduced 3D-printing capabilities to optimize efficiency across departments. Her strategic collaboration, process streamlining and impactful changes proved invaluable to her organization.
Fei (Fiona) Xie
Bachelor of Engineering – Software Engineering
Co-op: Software Developer Intern, Lumerate
Fiona Xie actively contributed to the development and maintenance of a Ruby on Rails web application, submitting over 90 pull requests and adhering to best software development practices. They investigated and resolved 20+ user and application bugs and wrote unit tests to increase code coverage on 3,000+ lines, achieving over 80% coverage on new files.
