Verda Anwer, McMaster University
Ferhan Qamar, York University
Bella Shang, The University of British Columbia
Ivey Norton, McGill University
Matt Lee, McMaster University
Suhaib Aldada, University of Toronto
Jose Viray, Douglas College
Shasivaranan Segainathan, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
Devon Neudorf, University of Western Ontario
Katelyn Chan, University of Western Ontario
I enjoyed the Level UP program a ton, not only did I get to learn amazing marketing and business tips, but I was able to connect with amazing business owners!
Kylen Simms, McMaster University
I feel that working on the [Level UP] project to be the best part of my experience in college so far. We get a feel for what it's like to work as a software developer, and also get valuable workplace experience working with a company on a real-life project. I really highly recommend this experience to anyone.
Fergal Ingoldsby, Red River College
As a systems design and engineering student, I would definitely recommend experiential learning because engineering itself is an applied science and it's very hands-on. Learning by doing is a really good way to identify your weakness and also, know in which areas you're good at. So once back to school, you can focus on the areas you're lacking. It makes you a better person and also helps you adjust your career goal based on the areas that you're good at.
Tiffany Ngai, University of Waterloo
My [Level UP] project was amazing, and has really impacted my career goals. I already had an inclination towards finance, but this opportunity confirmed that I want to pursue something in finance, specifically investment banking. I would definitely recommend this [program] to other students because if you're learning something in a classroom, the main thing that you would want to learn, and where you learn the most, is when you apply it and get hands-on experience.
Krishna Sridhar, Western University
Level UP motivates and empowers students to prepare for the workforce. By offering compensation to excelling students, this lessens the financial burden of post-secondary school and allows students to focus on their academics and career. With the help of Level UP, I feel that I am appreciated for my work on this project and am ultimately more motivated to excel in my role.
Rowena Shi, Western University
Level UP is an amazing way for students to get real life, applicable work experience while still managing their education. Many jobs and industries are shifting further toward a focus on experience rather than education for hiring decisions, so this program ensures students have the best of both worlds when they head out into the job market
Reese Naumann, University of Alberta
Level UP program from Riipen is actually a life saver for many students who are struggling to get co-op opportunities from companies directly. I have seen many students who got jobs at renowned banks only after completing their projects from Riipen. Students can get hands-on experience before joining a company.
Zinia Mustafa, George Brown College
Riipen allows me to expand on my current coursework with real-life experience that will give me a much more substantial learning experience. With Riipen I am able to go to school and earn money on the side while also gaining valuable experience.
Bilal Mahmood, Western University
Level UP is important to me because it enables me to help build up grassroots initiatives all while balancing my academic responsibilities as a full-time student.
Olivia Yu, McGill University
The Level UP program not only helped me develop new skills but also develop new connections with companies in my community. There are so many different projects that fit so many different categories that any student who is in post-secondary schooling should pursue a project.
Jeanine Yaworsky, Thompson Rivers University
I have never felt so accomplished after finishing a summer work placement. I also made connections in industries I am interested in! As a student it can be hard to find summer work opportunities that align with the field you are studying, but Level UP opened the door to more opportunities.
Katie Tolley, University of Saskatchewan
Level UP has provided me with an opportunity to work on my different skills and provided me an opportunity to showcase and use these skills in the workplace.
Kashaf Noreen, University of Toronto
Level UP is important to me because it allows me to transfer the skills I have obtained in school to real world applications. It provides me with an opportunity to gain valuable work experience while still balancing school.
Siavash Sadegi, Western University
My field of study was not related to the project at all but the project itself is very complementary, because in my field of study we do collaborate a lot. So it was really good to work with another partner, who is in a different field and was able to help me build on those collaboration skills.
Ryan Bateman, University of Saskatchewan
This project gave me much needed experience in video-editing. I could test my abilities while receiving constructive feedback. I got a lot of coaching from my employer, who were open to sitting down and talking me through the needs of the project.
Gina Bennett, MacEwan University
It was incredibly relevant to my field of study. I'm interested in editorial design and that also includes the design of books and manuscripts. In this case, I was designing a notebook. So I learned to create a different concepts and different ways that we can deliver information.
David Ho Sang, George Brown College
I would definitely recommend this to a friend or anyone who's looking to get hands-on experience in their field of study. I was able to complete the project and learn so much more about myself. Whether they're coming from a computer science, business, or marketing background, there are so many opportunities where you can learn and get more experience.
Hafeez Khan, Ryerson University
The environment has always been something I've been passionate about. The company, Local Grown Salads, is a sustainable urban agriculture company [...] I felt that the company's agendas fit very well with my beliefs. I learned a lot and it really correlated with my field of study, which is Environmental Studies.
Asees Sandhu, University of Toronto
The projects really allow you to experiment and test yourself in different fields. So it's not just about working within your comfort zone. You also get the experience and the opportunity to expand yourself and work out of your comfort zone. At the end of it, it's all about building relationships and getting to know different people.
Mehran Janatyani, McMaster University
Experiential learning allows you to become a lot more hands-on. Unlike your traditional classroom learning, where you might be completing assignments or doing tests/exams, doing this type of work and being actively involved in the publication process allows you to develop skills you would not be able to develop otherwise.
John Johnson, University of Alberta
This project has taught me how to manage my time and has allowed me to explore my design and creativity in a professional environment. It reminded me of my passions and goals in graphic design, and how I want to further myself in this career.
Kayla Agustin, Grant MacEwan University
I would highly recommend experiential learning. I think it is the most efficient way to learn. I, myself, am mostly a kinesthetic learner, so I like to experience how things are done. It is definitely the best way to learn in my opinion.
Madison Hilderman, University of British Columbia
I would recommend it to every student. There are so many projects! I can’t express how much I learned and how much more confident I feel after Level UP. I got to see with my own eyes that I was helping a company. It's a win-win situation for both students and employers.
Samira Sayamanesh, Seneca College
I would 100% recommend Level UP to other students. I was doing a professional development presentation for one of my courses and Level UP was something I mentioned during it. I think it's great for any student out there to learn new skills and even get paid for the work too.
Bibi Bacchus, Mohawk College
I would say this program is really great for students who are close to finishing their degree but may want to explore their interests in different majors. This is the best opportunity to try something new and get your feet wet in a new industry that you might not have had the opportunity to try out.
Tyson Bilton, University of Calgary
In the future, I want to be a researcher and this project has helped reinsure me that I'm on the right path of what I want to do.
Ishpreet Chana, McMaster University
This project has easily had the biggest impact on my career. It motivates me to pursue even more things because this Riipen project went really well for me. It pushes me to grow even more as a professional.
Janujan Sritharan, University of Toronto
This opportunity is very beneficial to students who are curious about what the field of work is like. You’re getting a little taste of what it’s like to be part of this company before committing it.
Yi Chen Gao, Simon Fraser University
My experience with the employer was amazing. He gave me everything I needed in order to succeed. I would get weekly feedback and I always knew what I had to do. It was incredible.
Rishab Goel, University of Ontario Institute of Technology
If I were to ever branch out and start my own business or become an entrepreneur, I could use some of the tools I learned to help jump-start my own business
Krish Vig, University of Ontario Institute of Technology
This project really helped me learn how to work with the team and it’s solidified my goal in becoming a professional web developer.
Julian Mayes, Emily Carr University of Art and Design