NC alumna continues to give back to NC as International Field Study lead

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In 2019, Hospitality and Tourism Management student Carolin Seiferth – who was an exchange student from Germany – had a life-changing experience when she participated in the College’s International Field Studies (IFS) trip to the Dominican Republic. Now, she is the first graduate – apart from staff or faculty – to lead an IFS trip, this time to Costa Rica.

“As the second lead on the IFS in Costa Rica, Carolin is sure to bring a unique perspective unlike any faculty lead in the past,” said Agnes Nowaczek, PhD, School of Hospitality, Tourism and Sport professor.

Nowaczek, who is the primary lead on the IFS to Costa Rica this February, taught Seiferth during her time at NC.

“As an alumna of our graduate program, Carolin can reach our current students like no faculty ever could,” said Nowaczek. “Add to that her global cultural portfolio, current experience in Costa Rica, and plans to continue her MA in Sweden, she is a tremendous asset on both the academic and experiential areas of education that NC offers and thrives on.”

Seiferth attended NC through the College’s semester exchange program and requested to extend her studies with NC to a full year. She became the first semester exchange student to graduate from a NC program after earning a graduate certificate from NC’s Hospitality and Tourism Management in 2019.

“Carolin’s impact as an exchange student was culturally enriching perspective in the classroom, not only from her German background but globally,” said Nowaczek. “During her short stay at NC, Carolin travelled to the Dominican Republic on IFS and spoke Spanish well enough to continue later in her internship in Costa Rica. She engaged with students from various cultures eager to learn and try new things.”

Seiferth is currently completing her internship at Senda Monteverde in Costa Rica, which is one of the 10 luxury eco-hotels managed by Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality. She continues to stay connected to her NC roots and offered to share her internship experiences with Nowaczek’s students in TOUR 9610 Sustainable Tourism Destination Development using a video conferencing program called Zoom.

Nowaczek explained that the process of Seiferth virtually presenting to the class through and answering questions worked very well.

“At the time, she was developing a sustainability tour for visitors which applies to the program planning portion of the course,” said Nowaczek. “Additionally, being a former student of the graduate certificate program, she was able to list relevant skills she gained in various courses that she found very applicable to her work at Senda Monteverde.

“She continues proudly in her role as alumna, with her endless creative ideas and projects she shares with me and our students.”

Explaining how her semester exchange program was one of the best experiences during her bachelor studies, Seiferth expressed how being world-ready implies more than taking classes abroad and began with her decision to leave her home country for a year.

“Living in a homestay family, getting to know another culture and embracing cultural diversity in the classroom and outside the College helped me develop an open mind and curiosity to explore more,” Seiferth said. “Therefore, I went on a Be World Ready field study to the Dominican Republic with Greenhouse and Horticulture students.”

Being world-ready also means Seiferth has friends all around the world.

“After I arrived in Costa Rica for my internship, I was able to stay with the family of a fellow exchange student I met at NC,” she said. “He and his friends made it easy for me to feel home right away.”

For Seiferth, it feels like her experiences with BWR are coming full circle as she worked for BWR while studying in Canada and participated in an IFS as a student. Excitement is the first thing that comes to mind when reflecting on this leadership opportunity.

“I’m excited to share my passion for sustainable tourism with the students, help them understand how businesses here align their goals with protecting nature and supporting the local community all while generating a profit at the end of the day as well as travel through a country which is a role model when it comes to eco-tourism,” said Seiferth. “I’m looking forward to applying my leadership skills and improve them further.

“In the future, I would love to take on similar roles and support students living their experience abroad because I know myself how valuable it is – both on a professional as well as personal level.”

Nowaczek believes her former student will have a positive and large impact on IFS students.

“What better example for our students than meeting one of our stars,” said Nowaczek.

Carolin Seiferth (left) celebrates her convocation ceremony in 2019, and poses with Maxine Semple, manger of cultural and global engagement.

To read about Seiferth’s first week at NC, visit:

www.niagaracollege.ca/insidenc/2018/09/19/welcoming-the-world-to-nc-meet-exchange-students-studying-at-our-campuses-this-fall/

To learn more about Be World Ready and semester exchange opportunities, visit: beworldready.ca/

Honouring Dan’s leadership through the Dan Patterson Legacy Fund

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A message from Sean Kennedy, senior vice-president International, Steve Hudson, senior vice-president academic and learner services, and Pam Skinner, senior vice-president Corporate Services:

As Dan Patterson concludes his extraordinary 25 year career as the fifth president of Niagara College, we are proud to launch a special fundraising campaign to recognize his legacy.

As the senior vice-president team, we are pleased to have each made a personal donation to The Dan Patterson Legacy Fund to honour Dan and his commitment to Niagara College. Please join us in a gesture of gratitude for Dan’s tremendous legacy by making your own gift to the Dan Patterson Legacy Fund, to support our students to achieve their academic and career dreams.

Funds raised through the Legacy Campaign will establish a permanent endowment, The Dan Patterson Legacy Fund, which will support three student-focused areas of need:

  • Needs-based Bursaries to help make education more accessible for those struggling financially to cover tuition and other related costs;
  • Merit-based scholarships to continue to attract and retain academically-gifted students to our programs, supporting the increasing demand for a highly qualified workforce with strong professional and technical skills;
  • Be World Ready travel bursaries to enable more students to participate in semester exchanges, summer institutes or international field studies through our Be World Ready program to gain culturally diverse experiences and global sensitivities to help them successfully navigate an increasingly connected world.

We hope you will join us in congratulating Dan on his leadership journey at Niagara College by donating to this Fund. We cannot imagine a gift more meaningful to Dan than a legacy of support for NC students, for whom he has worked so tirelessly and with such passion.

Please visit donate.niagaracollege.ca/ways-to-give to contribute to The Dan Patterson Legacy Fund (see NC Faculty and Staff Giving box for making your gift though payroll deduction) or contact a member of our development team:

Ellen Schonewille, ext. 7384 [email protected]

Erica Walters, ext. 7847 [email protected]

Wendy Dueck, ext. 7569 [email protected]

 

Honouring Dan’s leadership through the Dan Patterson Legacy Fund

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A message from Sean Kennedy, senior vice-president International, Steve Hudson, senior vice-president academic and learner services, and Pam Skinner, senior vice-president Corporate Services:

As Dan Patterson concludes his extraordinary 25 year career as the fifth president of Niagara College, we are proud to launch a special fundraising campaign to recognize his legacy.

As the senior vice-president team, we are pleased to have each made a personal donation to The Dan Patterson Legacy Fund to honour Dan and his commitment to Niagara College. Please join us in a gesture of gratitude for Dan’s tremendous legacy by making your own gift to the Dan Patterson Legacy Fund, to support our students to achieve their academic and career dreams.

Funds raised through the Legacy Campaign will establish a permanent endowment, The Dan Patterson Legacy Fund, which will support three student-focused areas of need:

  • Needs-based Bursaries to help make education more accessible for those struggling financially to cover tuition and other related costs;
  • Merit-based scholarships to continue to attract and retain academically-gifted students to our programs, supporting the increasing demand for a highly qualified workforce with strong professional and technical skills;
  • Be World Ready travel bursaries to enable more students to participate in semester exchanges, summer institutes or international field studies through our Be World Ready program to gain culturally diverse experiences and global sensitivities to help them successfully navigate an increasingly connected world.

We hope you will join us in congratulating Dan on his leadership journey at Niagara College by donating to this Fund. We cannot imagine a gift more meaningful to Dan than a legacy of support for NC students, for whom he has worked so tirelessly and with such passion.

Please visit donate.niagaracollege.ca/ways-to-give to contribute to The Dan Patterson Legacy Fund (see NC Faculty and Staff Giving box for making your gift though payroll deduction) or contact a member of our development team:

Ellen Schonewille, ext. 7384 [email protected]

Erica Walters, ext. 7847 [email protected]

Wendy Dueck, ext. 7569 [email protected]

 

Alumni connections: Broadcasting students, alumni collaborate on the Olympic wrestling trials

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Highlights video supplied by NC’s BRTF program and edited by student Jacob Kelusky.

For third year Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film (BRTF) program student James Maier, covering the Olympic Wrestling Trails in Niagara Falls in December wasn’t his first foray into event coverage, but it was the most dynamic to date.

“The project was different from others we’ve worked on. We were working with a new organization on a sport we were not used to. Not to mention we had two streams happening at the same time,” said Maier. “Everything I have been learning in Dutch’s class came back to help me. I am definitely going to look fondly on this experience for years to come.”

With the help of NC alumnus Brent Gust (BRTF, 2011), video operator with Dome Productions in Ottawa, who led on the technical side, twenty BRTF students applied their learning to covering Canada’s best wrestlers – live – as they took to the mat to compete for a spot on the national team at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Gust, who regularly works on NHL, CFL and other major events in Ottawa, will be covering the summer Olympics in Tokyo. “Coming back to Niagara to work on productions with the students and staff is an amazing experience,” said Gust, “The students can do amazing things and with the support of alumni there is no limit to what we can accomplish. I love coming back and working with students. Paying it forward makes it better for everyone, and having proud grads that give back is the real NC advantage.”

Each match was covered by up to five cameras at a time, and due to space restrictions, students worked out of two on-site control rooms that had to be setup and wired for this project. This became the hub where the group managed the productions for the live-streamed broadcasts, editing stations, audio mixing, instant replays and graphics. Maier was grateful to his fellow students for their support throughout the grueling three days of filming.

The coverage garnered the interest of CBC Sports, who aired footage of the trials on their national platforms. On the receiving end of the feeds at the CBC in Toronto was none other than NC alumnus Hayden Grierson (BRTF, 2017). Grierson works as a Media Presentation technician – Streaming at CBC.

Grierson saw Peter ‘Dutch’ VandenBerg, professor in NC’s School of Media’s name on an email chain for the coverage and realized it was an NC-produced event.

“It was a little bit surreal for me,” said Grierson, who reached out to VandenBerg to let him know that they would be working together. “I was excited to watch the BRTF student’s coverage. The production was good to start, but over the course of the three days I could see the students improving. Camera movement got smoother, graphics looked better and more professional, even the directors sequencing and storytelling improved.”

“The quality of the production definitely lived up to the quality expectations of CBC.ca,” said Grierson. “I love seeing students get opportunities like this to improve their abilities and show off their skills to a wider audience.”

“My colleagues at the CBC were making fun of me because I was acting like a proud mother any time there was a nice sequence or a well-placed shot,” said Grierson. “As Dutch always says, we bleed blue. I still take pride in everything that I see NC students do and always will.”

While in the BRTF program, Grierson had the opportunity to produce the high profile IIHF World Junior Women’s Hockey Championship, another project partnering with TSN.

Thinking back to his own experience as a student, Grierson recalls the nervous energy from the crew before the game. “Everybody got into the swing of it and we were able to create something that we could be proud of. I can only imagine that the crew on the wrestling trials felt similar. They can look back on it as a highlight of their college career.”

2021 Canada Summer Games 

The Olympic wrestling trials were hosted by Wrestling Canada Lutte, the 2021 Canada Summer Games Host Society, and the Brock Wrestling Club. BRTF students’ involvement was just the beginning, as they’re set to cover the 2021 Canada Summer Games, the country’s largest multi-sport.

“The wrestling trials were a great opportunity for our students to get their feet wet filming live sporting events outside of their coverage of the Knights, especially in preparation for the 2021 Canada Summer Games. NC broadcasting students will play a central role in live-streaming coverage for Canada’s largest multi-sport event,” said VandenBerg.

 

 

 

Niagara College 31st annual Seafood Gala

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The Seafood Gala is Niagara College’s most successful annual fundraising event raising over $3.1 million in its 30-year history for equipment, learning resources, scholarships and bursaries. This premier event features a sumptuous buffet including many seafood and non-seafood items prepared by the award winning chefs of the Fallsview Casino Resort, accompanied by Niagara College wines. Guests enjoy an elegant evening filled with live entertainment, music, dancing, and silent and live auctions valued at nearly $100,000. Supported by nearly 75 Niagara College students, this event is not one to be missed.

Please join us at the Niagara College 30th Annual Seafood Gala on Saturday, April 4, 2020 at the Fallsview Casino Resort Grand Hall in Niagara Falls.

Reception: 6 p.m.
Dinner: 7 p.m.

Tickets are $250 per person. Tables seat ten. For specific staff rate, see below.

Black tie optional. Non-seafood options available.

The Seafood Gala has consistently sold out for the past several years, so please don’t delay. There are a limited number of staff tickets available at a special rate of $200 per ticket. (Maximum of two tickets per staff member). To order tickets at the staff rate, please contact Joanne Cousineau at ext. 7775 or [email protected].

We are looking forward to enjoying a wonderful evening with you.

For event details visit: niagaracollege.ca/seafoodgala

A ‘Knight’ to remember: Alumni gather for inaugural College event

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Five decades.

That’s approximately how long it had been since George Bailey had stepped foot inside his alma mater.

But on November 1, the Class of 1970 alumnus returned for the first time to attend the College’s inaugural ReuKnighted celebration. Held at the Welland Campus, the event was a collaboration between the College’s Alumni Relations and Athletics departments, and included a reunion weekend of activities.

For Bailey, attending the pre-game tailgate party sparked a trip down memory lane, as he marvelled over how much the College has grown and changed since he attended during its early days.

“There were only two buildings when I was here and that’s where we had our programming,” said the former Radio and Television student who enjoyed a career in public relations and communications for 30 years and wrote a travel column for 20.  “I’m very impressed by the College’s programs and the facilities today. And the people here are still as enthusiastic and friendly as they have always been.”

Bailey was among an estimated 150 attendees who returned for a tailgate party on November 1. Hosted by NC’s Alumni Relations team, the event was held at the Core, and drew former athletes and alumni – mostly from Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film, and Sport Management programs – as well as College staff and students.

For former Knights athlete John Mataya, who is VP and CFO of Bosch Rexroth in Welland, ReuKnighted was another reason to return to NC. Mataya has been a frequent visitor to the College since he graduated from Financial Management in 1984. In addition to cheering on the Knights basketball teams at home and on the road, he has been a supporter of the College and events such as the Seafood Gala and Golf Classic. He has also hired many college students and alumni over the years. His son also followed in his footsteps as a NC graduate.

“It’s always nice to come back to campus, connect with friends and watch the basketball team,” said Mataya.

The event also drew more recent alumni such as television host, reporter and basketball coach Amy Audibert, who graduated from the Broadcasting program in 2012 and has since worked for sports media networks including CBS Sports, NBATV, and NBATV Canada. The Niagara Falls native, who was a basketball player for the University of Miami prior to her days at NC, was an assistant coach for the Knights women’s basketball team (2011-2012) and men’s basketball team (2018-2019). She noted that she was happy to support ReuKnighted by working to broadcast the basketball games and attending the tailgate.

“There are a lot of people I work with in the industry that are here tonight,” she said. “A lot of NC grads work in the TV industry so it’s really fun when we get to chat.”

The alumni tailgate was followed by Knights home-opener basketball games in the Athletic Centre and an after-party. Festivities continued on November 2 with a National Scholar Brunch, a Hall of Fame induction and a volleyball double-header.

NC alumni engagement officer Jana Boniferro noted that following the success of the first alumni reunion of its kind, the College is considering future events to engage the wider alumni community, numbering more than 90,000 worldwide.

“Our first-ever ReuKnighted was a tremendous success,” said Boniferro. “It was amazing to witness the reactions of attendees after not seeing each other in years, and we love all the new memories that were created as we brought together members of our alumni community while cheering on our NC Knights.”

“It was great to see and meet so many Niagara College Knights alumni,” said Michele O’Keefe, associate director of Athletics and Recreation. “With basketball the focus on Friday, and Knights Hall of Fame induction of the 1999 and 2000 men’s volleyball teams on Saturday, the camaraderie ignited a flood of memories and storytelling. Our current student-athletes felt the pride in the gym for basketball and volleyball.”

Funds raised from ReuKnighted ticket sales support scholarships and bursaries NC.

ReuKnighted: Former Knights to reunite at Niagara College for alumni tailgate on Friday, Nov. 1

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Niagara College is gearing up to welcome the spirit and enthusiasm of former Knights at the Welland Campus for ReuKnighted, the first alumni reunion of its kind. The weekend will kick off with a tailgate on Friday afternoon followed by a Knights basketball game, with festivities continuing into Saturday.

Tickets are still available and alumni are welcome to register for the event this Friday.

Former Knights athletes and alumni from NC’s Broadcasting – Radio Television and Film, and Sport Management programs, will come together for an exclusive tailgate party with appetizers and refreshments beginning at 4:30 p.m. in The Core, hosted by the Alumni Relations team. The indoor tailgate will be followed by the men’s and women’s basketball home-opener games in NC’s Athletic Centre. An after-party featuring entertainment will follow.

“We’re excited to welcome alumni back to Niagara College,” said Michele O’Keefe, associate director, Athletics and Recreation. “Alumni are integral to NC Knights tradition and ReuKnighted is our way to celebrate and engage them.”

The reunion weekend will continue into Saturday with the National Scholar Brunch and Hall of Fame induction in the morning, followed by a volleyball double-header in the afternoon. Tickets include game admission for both the Friday basketball and Saturday volleyball games.

“ReuKnighted is a great opportunity for alumni to come back to campus and reconnect with former classmates, teammates, faculty, and friends of Niagara College,” said Jana Boniferro, NC alumni engagement officer. “We’re very excited to host members of our alumni community and look forward to getting ‘reuKnighted’ as we help cheer on our NC Knights.”

ReuKnighted is a family-friendly, ticketed event, and a chance to reconnect with former classmates and teammates. Registration is open at niagaracollege.ca/alumnirelations/reuknighted.

The first 100 alumni to register will receive a special gift – an NC-branded alumni scarf – courtesy of Alumni Relations. All event proceeds support scholarships and bursaries for student athletes.

Being the first alumni reunion of its kind, NC is considering future events to engage the wider alumni community, numbering over 90,000 worldwide.

 

ReuKnighted: Former Knights to reunite at Niagara College for alumni tailgate on Friday, Nov. 1

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Niagara College is gearing up to welcome the spirit and enthusiasm of former Knights at the Welland Campus for ReuKnighted, the first alumni reunion of its kind. The weekend will kick off with a tailgate on Friday afternoon followed by a Knights basketball game, with festivities continuing into Saturday.

Tickets are still available and alumni are welcome to register for the event this Friday.

Former Knights athletes and alumni from NC’s Broadcasting – Radio Television and Film, and Sport Management programs, will come together for an exclusive tailgate party with appetizers and refreshments beginning at 4:30 p.m. in The Core, hosted by the Alumni Relations team. The indoor tailgate will be followed by the men’s and women’s basketball home-opener games in NC’s Athletic Centre. An after-party featuring entertainment will follow.

“We’re excited to welcome alumni back to Niagara College,” said Michele O’Keefe, associate director, Athletics and Recreation. “Alumni are integral to NC Knights tradition and ReuKnighted is our way to celebrate and engage them.”

The reunion weekend will continue into Saturday with the National Scholar Brunch and Hall of Fame induction in the morning, followed by a volleyball double-header in the afternoon. Tickets include game admission for both the Friday basketball and Saturday volleyball games.

“ReuKnighted is a great opportunity for alumni to come back to campus and reconnect with former classmates, teammates, faculty, and friends of Niagara College,” said Jana Boniferro, NC alumni engagement officer. “We’re very excited to host members of our alumni community and look forward to getting ‘reuKnighted’ as we help cheer on our NC Knights.”

ReuKnighted is a family-friendly, ticketed event, and a chance to reconnect with former classmates and teammates. Registration is open at niagaracollege.ca/alumnirelations/reuknighted.

The first 100 alumni to register will receive a special gift – an NC-branded alumni scarf – courtesy of Alumni Relations. All event proceeds support scholarships and bursaries for student athletes.

Being the first alumni reunion of its kind, NC is considering future events to engage the wider alumni community, numbering over 90,000 worldwide.

 

On-air personality and NC alumna Amy Audibert to return for ReuKnighted

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Television host, reporter, colour analyst, basketball coach – Amy Audibert wears many hats.

An alumna from Niagara College’s Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film (2012), Audibert returned home to study in Niagara after nearly a decade as a student and basketball player at the University of Miami. Today, Audibert – a Niagara Falls native – is well-respected in the world of sports media, having graced the networks of CBS Sports, NBATV, and NBATV Canada, among others, with her vibrant on-air persona. After years playing basketball with the Miami Hurricanes, her favourite place to be is on the court and in front of the camera.

It wasn’t until her homecoming that she realized that her passion for sport media and journalism had career potential. “When I found myself back home in Niagara, I started looking into the BRTF program,” said Audibert. “It didn’t take long to realize how fortunate I was to have a program of this caliber available locally.”

Audibert was a standout in her BRTF class, thriving in mobile productions and craving any opportunity to work on her on-air delivery. Her most memorable moment as an NC student? Helping to produce nation-wide coverage alongside her classmates for the NC-hosted 2011 CCAA Women’s Basketball Championships.

With her years of experience playing centre, Audibert took on the role of assistant coach with the Knights women’s basketball team in 2011-12 and the men’s basketball team in 2018-19 under head coach Phil Mosley. “There is no question that the Niagara College Knights set a high bar for their student athletes, but through the hard work of the students, coaches and administration there is unlimited potential to excel in the gym, classroom and for years to follow.”

“My time at NC really laid the foundation for my current broadcasting career. I was provided with a fantastic education but also built some great relationships with classmates and professors that I still lean on. The BRFT program is one of the most respected in Canada and there is truly something special when getting to work with fellow NC alumni in the field.”

Of her BRTF professors, Audibert cites Peter ‘Dutch’ Vandenberg as “one of my greatest mentors,” citing his encouragement of the many students who found success in the industry.

Audibert’s secret to success? Hard work and great mentors. “The best thing you can do – especially when cracking into an industry – is to put in the work and earn respect early and often. People recognize hard workers; that is always in our own control.”

On November 1, Audibert will be among the NC alumni who will take part in the inaugural ReuKnighted, a celebratory reunion event. “I am so excited to come back to NC and connect with friends, both new and old. I am most looking forward to spending time in my favourite place – the basketball gym – on a Friday evening to cheer on the Knights.”

Join us on November 1 to reconnect with former classmates and teammates. To register for ReuKnighted, visit: niagaracollege.ca/alumnirelations/reuknighted. Proceeds from ticket sales support scholarships and bursaries for NC student-athletes.

 

 

Staff announcement: Development and Alumni Relations

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A message from Wendy Dueck, director, Development and Alumni Relations:

I’m delighted to announce that Erica Walters joined our Development & Alumni Relations team on October 21 as our new development officer – Scholarships & Bursaries. In this role, Erica is responsible for cultivating and stewarding relationships with new and existing donors to support fundraising for scholarships and bursaries, helping to ensure ongoing financial support is available for our students. Erica is taking over this role from Helen Armstrong who retired in August.

Erica comes to us from the Brock University where she has been a Major Gifts Officer with the Advancement team. Erica was responsible for managing a major gift portfolio of almost 200 donors and prospective donors, building relationships and engaging donors in the life of the university to support priority fundraising needs, while helping donors fulfill their personal philanthropic goals.

Prior to that, Erica spent more than five years as the community engagement & development officer for McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, Niagara Regional Campus, where she managed donor development, alumni relations, community engagement, marketing, communications, and events for the Niagara Regional Campus.

Erica also worked at Niagara College from 2010-12, supporting the dean of the Canadian Food & Wine Institute as a communications and business development officer, and has worked in marketing with Niagara Economic Development.

Erica is very community minded and dedicates significant personal service on the Board of Director’s of several local not-for-profit organizations, and has been recognized with a 40-under-40 award.

Please join me in welcoming Erica!