IMPACT REPORT GRANT ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE 2025 | 2026 PREPARED BY THE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, APPLIED COMPUTER SCIENCE & IT, CONESTOGA COLLEGE, FOR THE CAROLE AND GEORGE FLETCHER FOUNDATION, A PART OF THE ONTARIO ASSOCIATION OF CERTIFIED ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS AND TECHNOLOGISTS (OACETT)
2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 2 OF 32The idea for Conestoga College’s International Women’s Day (IWD) Conference started with a clear need; underrepresented persons in The School of Engineering & Technology, Applied Computer Science & IT (ACSIT) – particularly women – lacked a professional space where their perseverance could be recognized, their ambitions encouraged, and their educational experience elevated. The IWD Conference was the first event of its kind for The School of Engineering & Technology, ACSIT. The objective of the initiative was to create visibility, affirm belonging and strengthen community and professional connections across our technology programs and campuses for women in engineering and technology. The project became real the moment the Enhancing Educational Experience grant from the Fletcher Foundation was awarded. The funding unlocked momentum that had been building among student leaders and faculty who had advocated for this initiative. A formal IWD planning committee made up entirely of women was established, additional student leaders were recruited, and for the first time, student organizations from three campuses (Cambridge, Doon and Waterloo) that had never collaborated before were brought together to operate under a single governance structure and work towards a shared goal. Over the fall of 2025, planning shifted quickly from concept to execution; the committee met regularly to exchange opinions and work through the decision-making processes of building an agenda, selecting speakers, designing sessions, coordinating event logistics, managing a budget, organizing rehearsals, recruiting volunteer teams for conference day, and finally, inviting students to participate. The legwork was substantial, and it was driven almost entirely by students, with support from administration at The School of Engineering & Technology, ACSIT, Conestoga’s Student Success Services and our industry partners. The conference itself delivered a full day of learning, connection, and professional development. It featured practical workshop sessions, an inspiring keynote, a faculty‐industry panel discussion, structured networking sessions, and awards recognizing emerging student leaders. More than 60 students from over 20 programs across the School of Engineering & Technology, ACSIT, including those who participated as allies, and more than 30 guests and speakers were hosted. The most compelling evidence of impact came from the students who built and attended it. Throughout this report, each grant objective is paired with direct accounts from planning committee members, conference attendees, session leaders and industry partners. Their reflections demonstrate that the initiative achieved what it set out to do: increase the visibility and participation of underrepresented learners, expand leadership and project management experience for student organizers, increase awareness of gender barriers, explore the role of institutions in providing equitable learning spaces, and create opportunities for networking and professional growth for all students. This report also details the usage of the funds granted by the Fletcher Foundation for this initiative. By empowering students to design the governance structure, lead the planning process, and deliver the event, the International Women’s Day Conference has established a new model for student‐driven programming at Conestoga and potentially for colleges all over the province. Executive Summary
Initiative Outcomes ..................................... 4 Media & Communication ............................ 27 Feedback, Engagement & Statistics .......... 28 Finances & Budgeting ................................ 29 Partnership Acknowledgements ................ 31 The Future .................................................... 31 2025 | 2026 GRANT IMPACT OVERVIEW CONTENTS2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORT
Developing Leadership, Project Management, Teamwork, Interpersonal Communication and Organizational skills. 2025 | 2026 GRANT INITIATIVE OUTCOMES OUTCOME 1.12025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORT
2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 5 OF 32Leadership & Governance
Leadership & Organization Our frequent meetings created space for open discussion, voting on decisions, and sharing perspectives shaped by our different backgrounds. The brainstorming process especially highlighted how collaboration and respectful communication lead to stronger outcomes - Claire Claire Darlow acted as a leader on the 2026 IWD planning committee. She is passionate about helping create spaces where women feel supported, represented, and empowered, both on the field and in the trades. We asked Claire how her leadership style shaped her contributions, and how this experience helped her in leadership, teamwork, communication, and project management as she looks ahead. Claire says she approaches leadership as something rooted in support and reliability. Rather than stepping into a traditional leadership role, she focuses on taking responsibility for individual tasks, completing them to the best of her ability, and communicating clearly with others about what she needs and what she can offer. She values leaders who listen, communicate openly, and are dependable; those are the qualities she strives for and feels the IWD committee achieved as a group. She was able to demonstrate leadership by supporting coordination efforts and taking ownership of the swag component. The goal was to create something memorable that highlighted Conestoga’s technology, which led to keychains featuring 3D‐printed, wood‐burned, and metal‐engraved charms. she was responsible for the wood‐burned and metal‐engraved pieces, as well as organizing, packing, and making decisions regarding the swag bags. It was a small part of the overall planning, but something attendees could keep as a reminder of the event. Claire said being a part of this committee strengthened her communication skills, confidence in voicing ideas, taking ownership of tasks, and solving problems collaboratively. It gave her an insight into the work, coordination, and collaboration required to plan events like this. This experience also made her more inclined to step into leadership on tasks and feel comfortable taking control moving forward.2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 6 OF 31
Leadership & Organization Olena Savych is the acting President of the Google Developers Group @ Conestoga, and sat on the planning committee for the International Women’s Day Conference at Conestoga 2026. We asked Olena to reflect on her conference experience through the lens of leadership. I think student clubs and volunteering experiences are there to make new connections, friends, and learn something new in an engaging way. That is why every time I approach a new initiative or event as a leader, I try to set up planning in a way that would ensure that students who are participating enjoy the process, and students attending enjoy the result of the work - Olena As a student leader, Olena said she approaches leadership from a collaborative, team-oriented perspective. In her experience, the most enjoyable projects, workshops, and events were the ones where every student was empowered to suggest and implement things that they wanted to see. In student activities where she is a leader, she strives to create an atmosphere where everyone feels included and enjoys the initiatives they work on. As a student, she understands how many things need to be juggled during semesters of study. Her philosophy is that student clubs and volunteering, although they add to the to-do list and require students to commit to additional responsibilities, must be meaningful and exciting. In her leadership roles, she strives to lead with clarity on responsibilities and deadline expectations; however, she remains flexible. She understands that assignments, projects, exams, classes and internships should always come first, so she leads with an understanding that however much time a student can dedicate to the volunteering or club activity is enough.2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 7 OF 32
We asked Olena how this initiative helped strengthen her skills in project management, teamwork, and communication, and how it shaped her ambitions going forward. Olena says Participating in the IWD planning committee provided her with confidence for planning future events. There were many highlights during the planning in which she was learning new things from other committee members, or simply observing the different approaches to the organization of the event. There was clear documentation for each of the steps in the planning, and an agenda with the time stamps to follow on the day of the event, with a person responsible for ensuring the time checks. I followed the agenda example with another event that the Google Developer Student Club hosted, and it was immensely helpful during the organization of a similar large event - Olena She emphasized the exceptional communication within the team, and the presentation skills of the committee members. Although she had experience in presenting in front of different audiences, she said she learned a lot from hearing her planning members presenting. She also enjoyed seeing them interacting with attendees, and with this she learned effective ways of networking and engaging with people. Olena also highlighted the creative thinking and openness to all ideas from her planning committee. This IWD conference was very detail-oriented with the creative nametags, charms that attendees could get in each workshop, goodie bags, stations for refreshments, and opportunities to engage with speakers. She loved seeing how these small things made a big difference in attendees' conference experiences. Olena says that overall, this experience showed her how important collaboration can be, and the magnitude of what can be achieved with a great team.2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 8 OF 31
Informing on, Maintaining, and Advocating for Positive Changes to create a more Inclusive and Supportive Environment on Campus.2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORT 2025 | 2026 GRANT INITIATIVE OUTCOMES OUTCOME 1.2
Leadership & Advocacy Sophia Padalino acted as the co-chair for the 2026 IWD Conference. She’s grown from a being class representative in her program to an executive member and now Project Director of the APFM Society, which she was also part of creating. The APFM Society aims to give APFM students opportunities to network and gain experiences outside of the classroom. Her perspectives on leadership and advocacy have been heavily shaped by the women around her and the caregiving roles that both her, and the women before her, have taken on. Growing up in a four-generation household of women has given me firsthand insight into the challenges women face. As the first woman in my direct lineage to pursue postsecondary education, this role has been especially meaningful, allowing me to honour the generations before me while helping shape a legacy of advocacy, community, and empowerment at Conestoga - Sophia On the day of the conference, She held that same intention of bringing community into the campus environment. It was important to her that the event created a space that not only felt inclusive for women to enter, but one they wanted to stay in—something that can be challenging in male-dominated fields. Hearing shared experiences and recognizing both similarities and opportunities to support one another showed Sophia that the committee had achieved that goal.2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 10 OF 31
Sophia said looking back, being part of this committee and stepping into a co-chair role pushed her to grow in ways she had not experienced before. This experience strengthened her commitment to creating positive change on campus and continues to shape how she sees her role in building more inclusive and supportive environments moving forward. We asked Sophia how participating in this committee strengthened her commitment to creating positive change on campus, or help her contribute to a more inclusive and supportive community Seeing the day come to life, while also navigating my own journey of finding my voice, reminded me of the importance of holding space—not only for others, but for myself - Sophia2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 11 OF 32
Leadership & Advocacy Rosie Ryan acted as the co-chair for the 2026 IWD Conference and is a prominent member of Conestoga’s OACETT Student Chapter. She’s a third-year Civil Engineering Technology student at Conestoga, and before beginning her academic journey, she worked as a tradeswoman — an industry where women, and especially women of colour, are significantly underrepresented. That experience, combined with her identity as a racialized woman, shaped the way she thought about inclusion long before she stepped into any formal leadership roles. Now, Rosie brings that perspective into her work as a Student Representative for the PAC, a OACETT Student executive member at Conestoga, and a Peer Mentor for her program. Across all of these roles, her philosophy stays the same: From the start, she was aware of the significance of what was being built — the first-ever International Women's Day conference at Conestoga's Cambridge campus. The committee wasn’t just organizing an event; but setting a precedent that women on the Cambridge Campus deserve to be celebrated and heard. Throughout planning, Rosie says she kept asking: who might feel left out, and how do we change that? On the day itself, a personal moment of connection with another attendee reminded her exactly why this work matters — in that conversation, she could see someone feeling genuinely seen, perhaps for the first time in that kind of space. Rosie said that, more than anything, felt like success. Belonging should be the starting point, not something people have to earn. True inclusion means intentionally designing spaces where those who have been pushed to the margins feel not just welcomed, but genuinely valued - Rosie2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 12 OF 31
Rosie says this experience reinforced something she already believed: change doesn't wait for permission — it starts with people who decide something is worth building. Being part of a committee creating something from scratch sharpened her voice as a leader and deepened her commitment to equity work. As someone who has navigated male-dominated spaces both in the trades and in engineering, she feels a responsibility to keep those doors open for the women who come after her. We asked Rosie how participating in this committee strengthened her commitment to creating positive change on campus, or help her contribute to a more inclusive and supportive community Going forward, I want to keep showing up in spaces where inclusion is being shaped — in student governance, my engineering career, and beyond - Rosie2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 13 OF 32
Acting as a Positive Role Models, Demonstrating and Reinforcing Positive Behaviours and Attitudes, Actively Listening, and Respecting Alternative Opinions, while Taking Action. 2025 | 2026 GRANT INITIATIVE OUTCOMES OUTCOME 1.32025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORT
Modelling Leadership Next, she facilitated a unique partnership with the Google Developers Group at Conestoga through Olena. They had planned their own International Women’s Day event but had no venue; Olena reached out to Mo wanting a collaboration and Mo went on to host meetings to discuss the integration of agendas, budgets, and logistics. This collaboration expanded the conference to another technology campus, opened the event to more students, and offered more value to attendees through more workshops. On the communications side, Mo created custom agendas for speakers, planned their arrivals, assigned committee chaperones, and designed workshop structures that included introductions, transitions, and closing guidance for students. Mo says one of her earliest contributions was reshaping the session‐leader selection process. Instead of a quick vote based on speaker bios, she turned it into a discussion about relevance to the attendees, putting ourselves [committee members] in the shoes of participants and evaluating how we'd enjoy what we're planning to deliver. She realized that she had modelled how the rest of the team would approach our meetings for rest of the project – committee members became more vocal and comfortable expressing their opinions. Mo Eyitsede joined the planning committee to lead communication and media. I always want to be the kind of leader who does the work - I have to devote myself to the people who trust my judgement and directive; Listening patiently, actively finding ways to get them to their goals faster and easier, providing constant reassurance and encouragement when helping them solve problems, championing their well-being, and helping them up when they stumble - Mo We asked Mo to reflect on what ways her role allowed her to demonstrate positive leadership, modelling good behaviour, listen actively, respect different viewpoints, and lead proactively.2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 15 OF 32
Modelling Leadership Mo was hands on during planning; as the team worked through their tasks, she encouraged creative thinking, took their ideas seriously, and supported them directly when challenges came up so nothing derailed their progress. She had them document their workdays, write speaking notes that she reviewed, and organized rehearsals to help them feel prepared and confident. On conference day, Mo facilitated the panel discussion, and coordinated a team of ten volunteers, providing detailed zoning plans, movement routes, and break schedules. She shifted from her focused planning mode into a more positive, encouraging presence—throughout the day she made sure to go around and give team members high fives, letting them know they’re doing great, absorbing any panic, and making sure the team could enjoy the event they had worked so hard to build. These experiences allowed me to model the leadership qualities I value: thoughtful decision‐making, active listening, respect for different viewpoints, and proactive, steady support for the people around me - Mo2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 16 OF 31
Increasing Student Engagement and Perceived Empowerment.2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORT 2025 | 2026 GRANT INITIATIVE OUTCOMES OUTCOME 1.4
Engagement & Empowerment As an Iranian immigrant, where there is a lack of inclusion and belonging for women and minority groups in my home country, I have always valued opportunities that raise awareness and empower under-represented communities - Saba Saba Berenji serves as an Executive Lead in Conestoga’s Google Developers Group. Since her first year at Conestoga, she has been involved in the campus community through volunteering, leadership programs, and her role as a Student Ambassador. Through these experiences, she has had the opportunity to support students, advocate for consent culture, and help organize initiatives such as the 2026 International Women's Day Conference on campus. Saba says the International Women's Conference was one of the highlights of her involvement at Conestoga. Hearing female leaders share their experiences was inspiring, and one lesson that resonated with her from the panel discussion was that: there is no such thing as being behind in life. Every experience has value and helps shape who you become and shape your path toward your goals. She especially enjoyed her interaction with Eslin Ustun, a PhD candidate at the University of Ottawa, during the networking session. As someone who has always been interested in the intersection of technology and health, learning about Eslin’s work as a researcher in this field was very eye-opening for Saba and helped her better understand the paths available to her. It also gave her more confidence in exploring interdisciplinary opportunities. Experiences like this show why these events are so important for our college community. Especially in male-dominated fields such as IT and the trades, it is important for under-represented groups to hear from others' experiences and connect with like- minded individuals who can share their knowledge, perspectives, and support. We asked attendees to reflect on a meaningful interaction with another student or a session leader that made them feel more capable, and on why they believe opportunities like this conference are important for students on our campuses, especially those from under‑represented groups.2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 18 OF 31
Increasing Awareness of Gender Barriers and Strategies to Overcome. 2025 | 2026 GRANT INITIATIVE OUTCOMES OUTCOME 1.52025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORT
Increasing Awareness The most powerful outcome was watching students realize they already have the capacity to intervene, support, and lead — they just needed the language and tools to do it - Zoey Zoey James is the Senior Program Manager at White Ribbon. Zoey led a workshop on Allyship; this workshop was designed to help students understand allyship as an ongoing practice and build practical skills for addressing gender‐based barriers in everyday life. Zoey shared that facilitating her session at the International Women’s Day Conference was motivated by a desire to create space for honest conversations about gender-based violence, sexual harassment, and the role everyone can play in prevention. Although the sessions were small, she says she was encouraged to see multiple male-identified participants attend and engage thoughtfully in the discussion. What stood out most were the conversations around recognizing what constitutes gender-based violence and harassment, particularly in workplace settings, and exploring practical actions individuals can take to be allies. The experience reinforced for me that meaningful change often begins with personal reflection, increased awareness, and a willingness to take everyday actions that contribute to safer, more respectful communities. We asked our session leader, to reflect on how her Allyship workshop supported students in recognizing gender‑based barriers within their fields, and in exploring practical strategies, mindsets, and actions that can help them overcome these challenges and advocate for themselves and others.2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 20 OF 31
Perceived Ability to Make Decisions and/or Address Issues that may Challenge their Persistence in the Field of Engineering & Technology.2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORT 2025 | 2026 GRANT INITIATIVE OUTCOMES OUTCOME 1.6
Institutional Responsibility As an Iranian immigrant, where there is a lack of inclusion and belonging for women and minority groups in my home country, I have always valued opportunities that raise awareness and empower under-represented communities - Saba Saba serves as an Executive Lead in Conestoga’s Google Developers Group. Since her first year at Conestoga, she has been involved in the campus community through volunteering, leadership programs, and her role as a Student Ambassador. Through these experiences, she has had the opportunity to support students, advocate for consent culture, and help organize initiatives such as the 2026 International Women's Day Conference on campus. Saba says the International Women's Conference was one of the highlights of her involvement at Conestoga. Hearing female leaders share their experiences was inspiring, and one lesson that resonated with her from the panel discussion was that: there is no such thing as being behind in life. Every experience has value and helps shape who you become and shape your path toward your goals. She especially enjoyed her interaction with Eslin Ustun, a PhD candidate at the University of Ottawa, during the networking session. As someone who has always been interested in the intersection of technology and health, learning about Eslin’s work as a researcher in this field was very eye-opening for Saba and helped her better understand the paths available to her. It also gave her more confidence in exploring interdisciplinary opportunities. Experiences like this show why these events are so important for our college community. Especially in male-dominated fields such as IT and the trades, it is important for under-represented groups to hear from others' experiences and connect with like- minded individuals who can share their knowledge, perspectives, and support. We asked attendees to reflect on a meaningful interaction with another student or a session leader that made them feel more capable, and on why they believe opportunities like this conference are important for students on our campuses, especially those from under‑represented groups.2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 22 OF 31
Enhancing Networks to Support Current & Future Persistence and Success.2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORT 2025 | 2026 GRANT INITIATIVE OUTCOMES OUTCOME 1.7
Those moments matter because they remind people that they are not navigating their goals alone and that meaningful connections can help shape their future path - ZoeZoe led the Power Networking Session. The session was designed to help students get past the intimidating nature of networking, and instead view networking interactions as natural, everyday opportunities to practice building genuine connections through small acts of courage. Networking & Professional Opportunities Zoe Talbot is an Engineering Project Coordinator. She is a former student leader and ambassador at Conestoga College, where she held multiple leadership roles and actively supported student engagement and inclusion. As a young professional and advocate in engineering, Zoe cares about creating spaces where women feel empowered to take up space, use their voice, and recognize that they belong. We asked Zoe to reflect on what drives her leadership and advocacy for women in engineering, and how her session helped students build networks that will support their persistence and future success. She says leading this session was meaningful because strong networks help people access opportunities, build confidence, and continue moving forward when things feel uncertain. What stood out most to her was seeing students push past hesitation and begin connecting more genuinely and confidently.2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 24 OF 31
Having industry representation involved and appearing at events of this nature is incredibly important. It can be very inspirational and motivating to hear the stories and advice of others who have walked the same path - Kyla Networking & Professional Opportunities Kyla Farmer, C.E.T, PMP acted as an industry advisor on the IWD Planning Committee. Kyla says her initial involvement in the IWD Conference was motivated by her own personal interest in supporting the initiative - in wanting to get involved in college-level engineering programs to provide support and representation she wishes had been available to her during her post- secondary career. Kyla is a representative of OACETT Women in Technology (WIT)/Grand Valley Chapter and WTS Southwestern Ontario - she says it was only natural to get both groups involved. We asked our industry partner what motivated their involvement in the International Women’s Conference and why industry involvement at events like this can be meaningful and important, This involvement ultimately sparked greater interest in future collaboration with Conestoga College - her fellow volunteers were impressed with the work ethic, tenacity, and intelligence shown by the students running the IWD Event(s). Kyla says that “having industry representation involved and appearing at events of this nature is incredibly important; It can be very inspirational and motivating to hear the stories and advice of others who have walked the same path - it shows students that it is possible and you are not alone”. Involvement of this nature also provides students early networking connections and opportunities to ask “real world” questions and get practical, honest answers.2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 25 OF 32
Engagement Data, Media, Communication & Budgeting. 2025 | 2026 GRANT IMPACT OVERVIEWS PLANNING & RESULTS2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORT
Media & Communication We built a conference website to share event details and manage registrations, assigning attendees to workshops based on a 25‐person limit. We sent session confirmations and prepared tailored agendas and registration forms for speakers and guests. Branding was a key focus; our branding included a custom logo, personalized workshop‐aligned name tags, and collectible 3D‐printed charms for each session.POWER NETWORKINGATTENDEEJacinta Jameson.CUSTOM NAMETAGS & BRANDINGGOOGLE DEVELOPERS: STRATEGIC LEADERSHIPATTENDEEJacinta Jameson.GOOGLE DEVELOPERS: BUILD WITH AIATTENDEEJacinta Jameson.WIT/WIS PANEL WITH OAECETTATTENDEEJacinta Jameson.CONFERENCE LANDING PAGEIWDCONESTOGA.CA11:15 AM - 12:15 pMWORKSHOPS SESSION 112:15 PM - 01:30 PMLUNCH & NETWORKINGca - cmb - cafeteria & library01:30 PM - 02:30 PMCONESTOGA PANEL DISCUSSIONca - cmb - a120303:30 PM - 03:45 PMCLOSING REMARKSca - cmb - a1203WORKSHOPS SESSION 202:30 PM - 03:30 PMKrizia Francisco & Samantha Campbellca - cmb - a3129STRATEGIC LEADERSHIPwith6Two tech professionals share their career journeys and key skills that shaped their success, offering guidance for building a successful career in technology.Leadership, Growth and Visibility in TechCheryl Farrow & Julia Salvinica - cmb - a2224OACETT/ WIT + WISwith4Learn why volunteering is the most "power- neutralizing" tool we have to amplify our voices and drive collective change.Volunteering in Professional Networks9:45 AM - 10:15 AMCONFERENCE KICK-OFFca - cmb - a1203KEYNOTEca - cmb - a120310:15 AM - 11:00 AMNicki StrazaNicki is a dynamic, high‐energy leader whose passion and depth of experience inspire others and elevate every space she contributes to.11:00 AM - 11:15 AMCOFFEE BREAKca - cmb - atrium9:15 AM - 9:45 AMCOFFEE/TEA & REGISTRATIONca - cmb - atriumPOWER NETWORKINGZoe Talbotca - cmb - A2110Learn how everyday networking works and gain confidence through practice, then do activities that build authentic, supportive connections with others.withNetworking, Confidence Building & Breaking the Mold1TIME TRAVELNicki Strazaca - cmb - a3119with2Explores how bias shapes workplace communication, build inclusive leadership skills through immersive role‐play.The Time Traveller’s DilemmaKiruthika Subramanica - cmb - a3129ARTIFICIAL INTELEGENCEwith3Apply AI with purpose, Learn how MCP enables universal tool connectivity, see agents collaborate autonomously, and deploy a fully scalable multi‐agent system on Google Cloud in this hands- on workshop with a Google Developer Expert.Deploying Production- Ready A2A Systems with MCP in One HourZoey Jamesca - cmb - a2158WHITE RIBBONwith5Build skills in listening, accountability, consent, bystander intervention, and positive role modelling. Learn how to take meaningful, realistic steps in your allyship journey.AllyshipCONFERENCE DAY AGENDA2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 27 OF 32
25+ SPEAKERS, INDUSTRY GUESTS & NETWORKING PROFESSIONALS60+STUDENT ATTENDEESATTENDEE FEEDBACKFeedback, Engagement & Statistics We gathered feedback from participants, asking what they enjoyed, what resonated with them, and how the conference influenced their sense of connection, confidence, and engagement. We’ve used participation data to highlight how conference activities drove progress towards key initiative outcomes.My favourite part of the conference was the opportunity to hear different perspectives and ideas from the speakers and participants. The sessions were engaging and provided useful insights that made the experience both educational and inspiring. I especially enjoyed the discussions where people shared real experiences and practical advice.I enjoyed the structure and schedule. Having some large and small scale workshops and information sessions kept me engaged and offered variety. The scheduling with mini breaks throughout helped me to process what I had just interacted with and get the fullest benefit. Thank you so much, I had a wonderful time even though I am not in a STEM program.Being able to see how women in the trades truly impact the workforce was so exciting, it inspires me to be like them2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 28 OF 31
Finances & Budgeting Participation data, session attendance, and engagement indicators highlight how conference activities strengthened learning, community building, and progress toward key initiative outcomes.2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 29 OF 32
Thank You to Our Partners, Sponsors & Donors. 2025 | 2026 GRANT IMPACT OVERVIEWS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & CONCLUSION2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORT
We Appreciate You The School of Engineering & Technology, ACSIT, extends a wholehearted thank you to The Fletcher Foundation and OACETT for their vision, trust, and generous support. Your investment into this initiative has built the leadership capacity of our students, forged lasting support systems for mentorship between students, faculty and industry partners, opened professional doors for participants and speakers, created opportunities for long term cross-campus connections. These are practical outcomes that extend well beyond a single event, and enhance the overall educational experience of our learners. We’d also like to acknowledge our partners, Conestoga Students Inc., The OACETT Grand Valley Chapter, our collaborating student societies (OACETT Student Chapter Conestoga, APFM Society, CES, and Google Developers Group @Conestoga) for making this student‐led conference possible. With repeatable programming, and new cross‐campus networks now in place, we are shifting our ambitions from demonstration to deliberate growth. Over the coming year we will deepen student governance roles, formalize mentorship and industry pathways, embed the conference model across our campuses, and expand speaker and employer engagement so the event becomes a predictable, scalable offering rather than a one‐off. Fueled by continued partnership and targeted funding, this next phase will broaden participation, open more professional doors for students, and turn the conference into an annual engine for leadership, creativity, and sustained connection across The School of Engineering & Technology.2025-26 ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IMPACT REPORTPAGE 31 OF 32