Getting an education is the key to success in life and business. But when you can receive that education while also getting real-world experience and giving back to the community at the same time? Well, it’s hard to put a price on that.
That’s exactly what happened at Algonquin College (AC) when students in the Office Admin – Executive (OAE) program partnered with Canadian Blood Services (CBS) to raise awareness about the need for blood, plasma, stem cell, and organ donations.
Anyone can ‘Be a Hero’
“Be a Hero – You’re Somebody’s Type” was a student-led initiative that began in January 2024 and represented the students’ Event and Conference Management capstone project.
Capstone projects aim to integrate theory and practice in a real-world industry initiative, and involve students working in groups to create, plan, implement, and manage a project of their choice. Students must consider budgetary constraints, project goals, resources, timelines, risks, and milestones.
The students collaborated with both CBS and another Algonquin’s initiative, “Partners For Life” created about five years ago, to hold a series of events this past March. The events were intended to raise awareness, collect stem cell swabs, and sign up new members for the Partners For Life.
“They said, ‘Hey, let’s collaborate,’” explains Sandra Wu, the College’s Academic Chair in the Finance, Accounting, and Legal Studies department, of the moment OAE students realized the synergy with Partners For Life. “Instead of starting net new, they decided to continue what the team started five years ago to try to improve student engagement.”
Professor Wu says the project was spearheaded by Professor Connie Poupore, along with students Monica Lefebvre (who also helped with graphic design) and Kasper Hamilton, who led the team of students, communicated with stakeholders, and ensured effective resource utilization. “Those two students really went above and beyond,” says Wu.
Engaging the student community
Every Wednesday between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. this past March, the students set up tables in the College’s E Building to encourage the AC community to join the team, learn about the significance of donating, and perhaps even perform a stem cell swab.
Stem cell donations can only be done by healthy people between 17 and 35 years old. While receiving invaluable experience organizing and executing the campaign, the students managed to sign up approximately 180 new members for Partner For Life and complete more than 40 swabs. CBS provided bus transportation to and from the blood donor clinic for team members.
A continuing tradition of community service
AC has a long history of giving back to the community through capstone projects and other student-led initiatives, illustrated by AC’s Student Changemaker Award. These are a way for the Board of Governors to formally recognize successful student projects that make a significant impact.
Student-led projects that received Changemaker Awards in 2024 included a Community Volunteer Income Tax Program run by students in the Financial Services – Canadian Context program in partnership with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Another project included the donation of 2,000 meals to the Ottawa Food Bank by Culinary Skills, Culinary Management and Bachelor of Culinary Arts Food Science students.
It all adds up to a seemingly never-ending appetite to improve the skills and development of students while improving their industry contacts and the health of the local community, all at the same time.
“Our students really do go above and beyond and apply their knowledge into action to do things to benefit people in the community,” says Wu.
