Madeline Rekker has always been passionate about creating memorable experiences for others.
A St. Catharines native and graduate of Niagara College’s Hospitality – Hotel and Restaurant Operations program, she embraced every opportunity to gain hands-on experience during her studies. From volunteering at major College events to winning first place at the Ontario Skills Competition for Service and Hospitality, Rekker built an impressive resume while developing her skills. Her time working at Benchmark, Niagara College’s student-led teaching restaurant, stands out as an experience that defines her NC journey.
“Benchmark has by far been my favourite job,” she said. “It’s a place where you can start with zero experience but feel constantly supported, growing and learning every day.”
Now getting ready to pursue an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Hospitality), Rekker will be back at NC in the fall where she will continue to build on the foundation she first developed through her diploma studies.
What led you to study at Niagara College and choose your program?
I wanted to study somewhere near home, and I heard that NC had a good hospitality program. I also loved the aspect of their student-run restaurant to gain real-life experience.
I chose hospitality as my program because the hospitality industry was the first job I ever had and I immediately loved it. I loved interacting with different guests and being able to serve them and turn ordinary moments into memories. I wanted a career where I could keep doing that.
How would you describe your experience in the program? Were there any highlights?
I loved that my program offered so many opportunities to get involved with the school. We got to work on so many different events and volunteer in different areas, which provided real hands-on experience in the industry, but also gave us so many networking opportunities.
I met some of my best friends through my program. What started as just classmates turned very quickly into lifelong friendships that will continue outside of the classroom.
What did you find most rewarding about your program?
I loved how engaging our professors were and you could tell they really cared about us. They had so much industry experience and wisdom they wanted to pass along. It made learning more engaging and fun.
My favourite memory was being able to compete in the Ontario Skills Competition for Service and Hospitality and coming first place.
Did you complete a co-op or placement as part of your studies?
Yes, I completed a co-op at a bakery. This was a cool opportunity to experience what the back of house is like and how it operates differently from the front. It helped me understand why things are done a certain way and how that can impact business decisions.
Were you involved in any clubs, teams or extracurricular activities during your time at NC?
I became involved with the school through participating in and volunteering for student events such as Gala, Caps, Corks & Forks, multiple parades, and by being on Team Benchmark. Through Benchmark, I got to experience even more events and dinners and help make them run successfully.
Do you feel your Niagara College experience has helped prepare you for the future?
Everything I experienced at NC was real, practical and hands-on, and it gave me so many applicable skills that I can use in the future.
Working at Benchmark in particular allowed me to experience many different aspects of restaurant and event operations and gave me such applicable experience for my industry.
What have you been doing since completing your diploma?
I decided to come back to NC to continue my education. I was able to transfer my credits into a bachelor’s degree for hospitality. I graduated with a diploma, went back to school for another two years, and will come out with both a degree and diploma in four years instead of six, which is super sweet.
