Students in the Community Integration through Cooperative Education (CICE) program received year-end awards Friday for participating in an Enactus project that won national recognition.
When COVID-19 prevented CICE students from completing their field placements because of workplace restrictions, a partnership was developed that allowed the students to team up with the College's Enactus team and work on a project called Endure.
The CICE program provides individuals with developmental disabilities and other significant learning challenges the opportunity to experience college life, pursue post-secondary education and develop skills that will help them prepare for employment.
The CICE students provided Enactus students with valuable feedback on Endure's financial literacy modules designed to help individuals with developmental disabilities manage money, find employment online and develop skills for online interviews.
The project placed second in the Enactus Canada National CWB Financial Education Challenge held in May.
First and second-year CICE students were excited to be included in a project with their peers, said program coordinator Stephanie DeFranceschi.
"We took an unfortunate situation of the pandemic and turned this into a partnership that will continue beyond the pandemic," she added. "Our CICE program looks forward to continuing to work with our Enactus group of students."
This project truly represents St. Clair College's Vision, Mission, and Values statements of accessible, inclusive post-secondary education, DeFranceschi said.
The awards and other items prepared for students graduating from CICE will be distributed curbside across from the Toldo Health Sciences Centre at the main campus today from 10 a.m. to Noon.