Leona Baltazar Named 2025 Social Sciences Co-op Student of the Year

Leona Baltazar was named the Social Sciences co-op student of the year for her work at Ontario Power Generation (OPG).

As an eLearning & Digital Design Intern, Baltazar assisted the Renewable Generation Training team in updating and building eLearning modules for Line staff.

Baltazar, a student in the Work and Labour Studies Co-op stream, said she was grateful not only for the award but also for the supervision and mentorship she received along the way.

“Honestly, it feels really special, and I’m really grateful to be chosen as Social Sciences Co-op Student of the Year,” said Baltazar. “This recognition feels like a reflection of not just my work, but also the guidance and opportunities I was given along the way.”

Throughout her work term, Baltazar worked with around 30 training modules, updating and modernizing important courses, and responding to learner feedback.

Leona showed continuous improvement and dedication, which led to a four-month extension, transforming a short-term position into a year-long learning opportunity.

Baltazar said the environment her team created made all the difference.

“What makes it even more meaningful is the environment my supervisor, and the team as a whole, created,” said Baltazar. “I was given so much trust, support, and encouragement to grow, which really helped me build confidence in myself and my abilities.”

Sharlene Mitchell, senior training specialist with OPG said that she was able to trust Baltazar with more important tasks, given the high level of work performed.

“Leona has made an outstanding impact on the Renewable Generation Training team and the work that we do,” said Mitchell. “Leona consistently performed above expectations, which led us to trust her with higher-responsibility assignments.”

And Mitchell said that Baltazar has already left a lasting mark on the company, creating a procedure which has been officially adopted as best practice for future interns and staff.

“Her work has directly improved the quality and effectiveness of our training programs, benefiting both our staff and organizational safety outcomes,” said Mitchell.