Recipients
2024 Recipients
Justice and Fitness Training Centre
Innovators: Sandro D’Annunzio, Sonya Siebert, Pam Rocca, Janelle Diemert, Cherina Gourley, Angela Gallo, Carrie Schachtschneider and Jane Kalinina
The Justice and Fitness Training Centre provides performance and occupational testing to current students, alumni, and various community members. Developed as a learning enterprise, the school of Justice and Fitness identified an opportunity to meet the needs of regional law enforcement employees that are required to fulfill ministry mandated occupational requirements.
It’s an IDEA: Learning to Foster Authentic Inclusion for Accessibility through VR
Innovators: Jim McEwen, Jamie Oresar and Theresa Anzovino
Community Partners: Maureen Connolly (Brock University), Qi Wan (Brock University), Evan Sitler-Bates (XpertVR) and Drew MacNeil (XpertVR)
This innovation was focused on raising awareness about ableism and accessibility, and teaching students about appropriate strategies for challenging ableist interactions in living, learning, and working environments. Done in collaboration with educators at NC and Brock University and XpertVR, the project immerses learners in perspective-shifting scenarios that are based on the authentic lived experiences of the disability community.
Innovation Mentorship Program
Innovators: David DiPietro, Robert Madronic, Stefanie Elia and Ali Ryder
Community Partner: Dave Vandermolen, Sir Winston Churchill, DSBN SS
The Innovation Mentorship Program is an initiative that was launched by Research & Innovation (R&I) in 2022 in collaboration with Academic Departments, Student Recruitment and the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN). It aims to foster a culture of innovation at the local high-school level, pairing Niagara College (NC) classes with similar high-school classes. The NC students work on the same experiential learning project as the high-school students, while providing mentorship along the way.
Culinary Academic Foodservice Innovation
Innovators: Central Stores, Academic Team, Dean’s office, Benchmark
This innovation had a multitude of innovators who contributed to the project’s success and was a huge team initiative. This academic innovation captures a multi-year process from concept to reality to bring the pace and urgency of high-volume industrial kitchen work to students in the Culinary Management Diploma program. Moving beyond “cooking for four”, the program gives graduates experience in a fast paced and high-volume environment, culminating in two courses as an exam meal served to the public and as a series of public ‘pop-ups’.
A Senior’s Freshman Year – The Intergenerational College Experience
Innovators: Jackie Frail and Heather Vokey
Community Partners: Heidehof Home for the Aged
In a 14-week course, first-year recreation therapy students and seniors living at Heidehof Home for the Aged came together to explore the connection between positive psychology and well-being. The students and seniors worked together on various activities aimed to promote well-being such as writing gratitude letters and engaging in physical activity sessions. As well, the seniors were provided the opportunity to mentor students in the class through intentional learning exercises aimed at sharing life.