Sara Zia (ElecE 2T5+PEY) completed her PEY Co-op term at Tenstorrent — but she didn’t stop there.
The graduating electrical engineering student spent her 12–16 month co-op designing and optimizing high-speed chiplet packages for the company’s next-generation AI hardware. This experience led to her fourth-year capstone project, where she developed an open-source tool for S-parameter extraction of chiplet-to-chiplet interfaces.
This fall, she will begin an MASc at U of T, continuing her focus on signal and power integrity at the University of Toronto Electric Vehicle (UTEV) research centre.
Zia is one of two students named PEY Co-op Student of the Year at the Engineering Career Centre’s (ECC) Eighth Annual PEY Co-op Recognition & Awards reception, held on April 8, 2026 at the University of Toronto’s Faculty Club. The annual awards reception brings together students, industry partners, faculty and staff to celebrate outstanding contributions to the PEY Co-op work term.
The second recipient, Sofiia Savchyn (Year 4 ElecE), completed her summer co-op at t0.technology, a company developing integrated microwave systems for superconducting sensors and radio astronomy instrumentation.
During her work-term, Savchyn developed end-to-end transfer functions to calibrate the company’s integrated control system — calibrations now embedded in the system firmware — and enabled the platform’s first measurements with superconducting sensors. Those results were later presented at the SPIE conference in Japan.
Savchyn has since returned to t0.technology for a 12 month co-op where she is designing superconducting detectors (MKIDs) and cryogenic hardware, collaborating with research teams on novel scientific instrumentation.
In addition to Student of the Year, this year’s ceremony recognized winners across two more categories — Mentor of the Year and Employer of the Year — alongside nominees from organizations in the energy, aerospace, finance and healthcare sectors.
“Congratulations to all the winners who’ve made an exceptional impact,” says Roger Francis, Executive Director of Engineering Career & Experiential Learning at U of T Engineering.
“Over the past few years, we’ve seen a growing community of students advancing their careers, thriving academically and investing in their futures.”
“The ECC provides a platform for meaningful engagement, creating opportunities for our students to succeed, and for our industry partners to connect. Together, we are making a lasting impact.”
Since 1979, U of T Engineering’s Professional Experience Year Co-op Program has helped shape the careers for more than 25,000 U of T engineering students.
Today, the program has partnerships with over 800 companies worldwide. The popularity of the program has also grown, with 95% of first-year students choosing to enrol.
Full circle: from PEY Co-op to Mentor of the Year
Anthony Sgro (CivE 1T2+PEY, MEng 1T4) P.Eng., was named Mentor of the Year, a recognition that carries particular meaning given his own history with the program.
Sgro completed his PEY Co-op in 2011 at Arcadis, formerly IBI Group, where he has since built a career spanning more than 14 years, leading projects and providing consulting and engineering oversight across toll and revenue systems.
For more than eight years, he has led the hiring and management of PEY Co-op students on his team, driven by a passion for student development and career growth.
An employer where interns influence real decisions
Birch Hill Equity Partners was named Employer of the Year. From developing advanced analytical models to shaping competitive positioning and market strategy, and implementing AI across its organizations, the team’s work spans from strategic definition to hands-on technical execution. They partner directly with investment professionals and portfolio company executives on complex, high-impact challenges.
“Every team member, including interns, works on initiatives that influence key decisions and drive meaningful change within the businesses we support,” says Olivia Tracey, Manager at Birch Hill Equity Partners.
A deep pool of nominees
Beyond the winners, the evening recognized an impressive breadth of nominees. Student of the Year nominees came from placements at Ontario Power Generation, AMD, Scotiabank, Bombardier, Honda of Canada, Canadian Natural Resources (CNRL), Hydro One, the City of Toronto and many more.
Mentor nominees represented organizations from Sanofi and MDA Space to TC Energy and Intel, reflecting the program’s reach across virtually every engineering sector.
The ceremony also recognized seven peer coaches and nine alumni ambassadors for their contributions to student mentoring and program development.
What’s next
This year’s reception also marks a milestone moment for the program’s future.
In 2025, U of T Engineering expanded its programming with the launch of the MEng Co-op program, an exciting new initiative that welcomed 40 students in its inaugural cohort. The strong reception from the job market has made this first year especially meaningful.
The program, administered by the Engineering Career Centre and modelled after PEY Co-op, extends access to the same global employer network, offering graduate students the opportunity to gain professional experience, expand their networks and earn a competitive salary.
With this momentum, the program looks ahead to an even more significant milestone as the University of Toronto approaches its bicentennial next year.
For more information on the PEY Co-op Program Recognition Awards, visit engineeringcareers.utoronto.ca.
