Daniel Vander Hout, in his fourth year of business honours accounting, embodies all the qualities of an outstanding co-op student by exemplifying excellence in his co-op work term, achieving high academic performance, showing commitment to enhancing the profile of co-operative education at Redeemer and making a difference in his community.
Daniel Vander Hout recently completed his co-op work term at Rosa Flora Growers Limited in Dunnville, Ontario and was nominated by Rosa Flora’s controller Arjan Vos. “He is naturally competent, well beyond what can be expected for a co-op student. This set him apart from other co-op students and awarded him the opportunity to get involved in various aspects of the administrative and sales functions,” Vos said of Vander Hout.
During his work term Daniel explored various aspects of the business. He gained experience and improved processes in his administrative capacity. In sales, he covered for salespeople in their absence, increasing sales to their customers, he revised the sales manual and he worked on Rosa Flora’s website, improving online ordering.
Daniel wasn’t always sure that co-op would be the best path for him. Vander Hout states, “Before deciding to enter the co-operative education program at Redeemer, I was skeptical of its benefits for me or if it was worth the time, especially considering I had a potential job opportunity lined up for me after graduating.” Why would he add an additional year to his program? However, after much discussion he took a position with Rosa Flora. He completed that first co-op in December 2019, and is now seeking his second role; another role that can stretch and challenge him for the future. Vander Hout says, “In the end, the co-op experience was so impactful for teaching me to integrate the classroom theory with real-world situations, that I cannot overstate how glad I am with the choice I made to pursue co-op.”
Vos also extols the virtues of co-operative opportunities from the employer perspective. “All co-op students offer fresh experiences on a temporary basis and offer a platform for mutual learning. This provides an opportunity for other individuals to learn, and permanent team members can glean knowledge while teaching and mentoring a new generation.”
But Vander Hout’s contributions are not limited to co-op. Even while on co-op, he remained involved in the community as a board member of a federal political party in his riding and by volunteering as a leader for a local boys’ club. He is also heavily involved on Redeemer’s campus where he serves in various roles, including on the university’s academic senate. Vander Hout will be awarded a certificate and the $500 cash prize at a March 19 ceremony on campus.
The Centre for Experiential Learning and Careers (CELC), is one of the success stories from Redeemer’s 2020 Strategic Plan, helping students like Vander Hout chart a path towards God’s call. Through co-operative education, internships, workshops and individualized career guidance, CELC assists students in exploring where God is leading them after graduation.
Redeemer University offers co-operative education in three programs: business, kinesiology and urban and intercultural ministry. Participating students graduate with a four-year bachelor of arts or honours bachelor of arts degree, having completed 16 months of work-integrated learning in their third and fourth years. Accreditation for the business program is provided by Co-operative Education and Work-integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL Canada), the national body representing nearly 80 post-secondary institutions across the country. Additionally, the accounting stream, a stream offered by the business program, is accredited by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (CPA Ontario). Graduates of the Redeemer co-operative education program enjoy virtually a 100 per cent employment rate upon graduation.