Choosing Niagara College was an easy decision for Alexandra Billeci: She’d worked in the hospitality industry since she was 15 and knew it was where she wanted to stay – and every visit to the College during class trips reinforced that.
The joy she takes in meeting new people made a career in hospitality and tourism even more desirable.
“I love meeting new people and (I) enjoy giving them great customer service and seeing happy faces,” she said. “People have these great expectations when they visit a hotel or restaurant, and I always find it rewarding when I able to meet or exceed those expectations.”
It comes as no surprise, then, that between her years of experience and passion for the work, Billeci excelled in the Hospitality-Hotel & Restaurant Operations Program at NC. In fact, she soared to the top of her class to earn the Dean’s Award for the School of Hospitality and Tourism.
For Billeci, though, the honour was unexpected.
“I must admit that I was in shock and was not expecting it,” she said. “After the shock had worn off, I was very excited and happy and told anyone who was standing around me at that very moment. It was a great feeling knowing that all my hard work for the past two years paid off with receiving this award.”
Looking back at her time at NC on the cusp of graduation, Billeci credited her instructors for recognizing the potential in her to excel in an area she already loved.
“I didn’t want let them down, so that motivated me to work hard on all the assignments and tests,” she said. “They saw the potential I had and pushed me to try my very best every day.”
Before Billeci was presented with her Dean’s Award during her convocation ceremony on June 11, she recalled her NC experience and why it was so meaningful to her.
Alexandra Billeci
Academic achievement: Dean’s Award Winner, School of Hospitality and Tourism
What led you to study at NC and to your program of study?
I have worked in the hospitality industry since I was 15 and knew that this was the path I wanted to continue working in. I knew I had plenty of work experience, but I still wanted to learn more from the professors who had even greater experience. I knew [Niagara College] had a great reputation for the hospitality program.
Do you have a specific career goal in mind when you enrolled in your program?
When I first enrolled in the program, I wanted to be the general manager of a restaurant or (to) own my own business. But now that I have graduated, I am still not 100 percent sure what I want to be when I grow up – though I would not mind teaching at Niagara College so I can share my experience and knowledge with the future students of hospitality.
How did you find your program experience?
One of the best decisions I have ever made was attending Niagara College. I recommend it to anyone who wants to go back to school as an adult or even right after high school. It is a school that cares about their students and wants to see them succeed.
One of the highlights of my time at NC was when three students and I were chosen to go to Vietnam last summer to represent Niagara College and Canada. It was to honour and celebrate 50 Years of Canada-Vietnam diplomatic relationships. It was truly an experience that I will never forget, and I felt such pride being chosen to go.
Does something stand out to you that you will never forget about your time at NC?
The pineapple is a symbolism of hospitality, and when you are in the hospitality program, there are the Pineapple Awards. Both silver and gold pineapples are given to students who show that they are hard working and willing to participate in class. I knew that I wanted to work hard for one of these pineapples from the very beginning. At the end of the fifth semester, the professors put on a little award ceremony for all the students that won a pineapple, and it was such a fun time.
Did you face and overcome any challenges to graduate?
One of the major challenges I had to overcome during my time at NC was working full-time and attending full-time classes. During the school year, I was managing a brewery in Hamilton, so between commuting to Niagara from Hamilton everyday and also managing a team at work in Hamilton, I was definitely juggling the two. With proper organization skills, I was able to do both school and my job successfully.
Did you work a placement or co-op as part of your program?
Yes, I did my co-op at Collective Arts Brewing, where I helped create, organize, hire and train new staff at their pop-up store in Union Station in Toronto.
Were you involved in any clubs/ teams or extracurricular activities during your time at NC?
During my second year, I was hired on as a lab technician and worked with professor Nicole Jay. I helped with prep for culinary classes and beverage classes, pouring and distributing drinks and food. I also worked the NC Gala and at Caps, Corks & Forks.
How do you feel your NC experience has helped prepare you for the future?
It has taught me to build a foundation in essential skills such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving. With the combination of academic knowledge and real-world application, NC has equipped me with the confidence and competence to excel in the hospitality industry.
What have you been doing since you completed your studies at NC?
Since graduating from NC, I started a new job as FOH (front-of-house) manager at a brewery in Hamilton. I am really enjoying it and I’m meeting a lot of cool people.
Are you working towards a career goal or are you planning to pursue further education?
Right now, I am enjoying my new job and taking some time to relax and focus on one thing at a time. I hope to go back for my MBA in the next five years or so.
