The Canadian Association for Cooperative Education has named Kate Mueller, a molecular biology and biochemistry undergraduate student, as one of the country’s two co-op students of the year. Mueller is the third SFU student in seven years to receive the $1,000 award, which recognizes students enrolled in accredited co-op programs who excel in job and academic performance and responsibility. The young scientist, who boasts a 4.16 cumulative grade point average, a Governor General’s bronze academic medal and the B.C. Science Achievement Award, "is an ambassador for co-op education around the world," says SFU’s co-op education director Muriel Klemetski. "I knew," says Mueller, "that gaining hands-on experience outside the classroom would be one of the best ways to learn and enable me to explore and shape my career goals."