Wesley Abraham enrolled at NC to begin his journey towards a second career in the sport business field.
With his eye on the ball throughout his studies in the Sport Management program, he is set to graduate on June 15 with the highest GPA in his program.
We checked in with Abraham to learn about his time at NC and what he attributes to his success as a student.
Wesley Abraham
Age: 30
Hometown: Mississauga (currently lives in St. Catharines)
Program: Sport Management
Academic achievement: Dean’s Award, School of Hospitality and Tourism (93%)
How do you feel about receiving the Dean’s Award, achieving the highest GPA in your program?
I am very honoured to receive the Dean’s Award for my work during my time at Niagara College, and it is an achievement that brings me and my family great joy.
To what factors do you attribute your academic success?
I attribute all my success to a strong work ethic that made me strive to achieve the best possible
grades I could, along with the guidance and support I received from all the faculty in the Sport
Management program and Tourism and Hospitality department. I also attribute my success to
my fellow graduates who pushed me and supported me during my time at Niagara College.
What led you to study at NC and to your program specifically?
I wanted to pursue a second career and Niagara College offered me the perfect chance to get an
education in the sport business field in a hands-on learning setting that suited my style of study.
What interests you in / why are you passionate about your field of study?
I have always had a deep and profound love of sport and the many areas of society and overall
economy that benefit from sport and athlete impact, and thus I wanted to combine my love for
sport with my future career. The Sport Management program at Niagara College offered the
perfect opportunity to achieve that goal.
How did you find your program experience? What did you find rewarding or particularly beneficial?
The hands-on learning environment coupled with the faculty’s ability to relate much of the
material we were learning to real-live events at the time of study was a huge asset to me. That,
coupled with the faculty’s ability to keep us engaged with the learning material while constantly
challenging us and expanding our preconceived sport fandom into critical business thinking was a
highlight for sure.
Did you work a placement or co-op as part of your program?
Part of my diploma certification required an internship which I fulfilled by working with the Welland Jackfish baseball organization for the 2019 season. The experience was enlightening and provided plenty of insight to aid me in my future career goals.
Did you face any challenges over the course of your study?
I worked a full-time job during my time at Niagara College. I achieved my awards through continuous support from my wife and family.
What is it like to graduate at this time during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Given my age and life experience, I was able to quickly adapt to all challenges and obstacles in
order to achieve my grades. That, coupled with a resilient network of fellow graduates helped to
keep me on track to graduate with a high GPA.
Niagara College is celebrating its 5,000 spring graduates with its first-ever virtual convocation ceremonies from June 15-19. Visit the College’s Virtual Convocation site to view the schedule or to access the livestream ceremonies: niagaracollege.ca/virtualconvocation/.
