Two students at the University of South Alabama were recognized by USA Career Services as Co-op and Intern Students of the Year at a ceremony on May 9.

J. Regi Allen, IV, a senior in mechanical engineering, received the annual Co-op of the Year award for his work with Aker Solutions | Umbilicals, NA.

Dylan Vivier, Engineering Manager at Aker and Allen’s supervisor said of him, “Regi is a pleasure to have around the office. He’s a hard worker and has done valuable work for our company.”

A native of Mobile, Allen was a former executive chef at an area restaurant who left the profession to pursue what he was “truly passionate about studying – mechanical engineering.” He will be working through the summer at Aker and hopes to be hired when he graduates in May 2014.

Naveen Manne, who graduated this month with a master’s degree in information systems, received the Intern of the Year award for his work with ST Aerospace Mobile Inc.

“Naveen has an outstanding personality combined with an impeccable aptitude to learn new skills,” said supervisor Saikiran Kalegowda. “He has taken on many challenges and accomplished them in an excellent manner.”

Manne is from Hyderabad, India, where he received his bachelor's in computer science and engineering at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University. He plans to seek a career in IT while pursuing his MBA.

Cooperative education allows USA students to integrate periods of classroom study with paid positions related to the discipline they are studying. Co-op students typically rotate alternating periods of full-time work and school. Internships are similar to co-ops but consist of one or more semesters of work, can be full-time or part-time, and can be paid or for academic credit. Through these programs, students experience work in a real world setting and are able to gain valuable experience.

For more information on USA’s co-op and internship programs, call Career Services at (251) 460-6188 or visit www.southalabama.edu/careerservices.