An annual initiative is providing an entry point into college experiential learning for high school students.
Led by Niagara College’s Research and Innovation (R and I) division and Student Recruitment team, the Innovation Mentorship Program links high school learners with local businesses and NC academic areas, giving students a taste of applied learning at the College and a preview of a campus environment.
The initiative pairs NC courses with similar high-school courses, running class projects side-by-side with the same industry partner.
The students visit the College for a project kick-off, which includes a comprehensive tour of the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and receive support and mentorship from NC staff and students at various check-in points during the semester. As courses near completion, the top student groups are invited back to campus for final project presentations with the industry partner.
David DiPietro kicks off the Innovation Mentorship program pitch event
David DiPietro, Manager of Business Development with R and I, noted that the program is way to foster a culture of innovation at the secondary school level.
“NC students mentor the high-school students, helping them grow their leadership skills, while high school students gain exposure to college-level experiential learning,” said DiPietro. “They also get more familiar with the overall college atmosphere, and ways of learning, while testing their own leadership skills through the presentations.”
The program launched in 2023 with NC’s School of Business and Management and the District School Board of Niagara, specifically Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School in St. Catharines. Industry partners have included Smokin’ Buddha, WildPlay Niagara Falls, Mahtay Café, Da Bomb Bath Co, Fonthill Family Fruit Farm, and Home2Suites by Hilton.
The initiative has been gaining momentum since receiving NC’s President’s Award for Innovation in Student Learning and Success in 2024 and being featured at the 2025 CEWIL Conference.
New partnerships with NC’s School of Hospitality and Tourism, Holy Cross Secondary School (St. Catharines) within the Niagara Catholic District School Board, and White Oaks Resort & Spa are providing more opportunities for students and demonstrating the demand for the program across multiple school boards.
“White Oaks values being involved in the community. As an organization that is largely based on hospitality, tourism and events, we felt it was a great opportunity to inspire students to consider a career in hospitality by showcasing potential pathways to take,” said Alyssa Waldes, Conference Sales Manager at White Oaks Resort & Spa.
“The Niagara Region is a hub for tourism, and especially with the new Destination Niagara Strategy plan from the provincial government, it is now as important as ever to drive interest in careers in this field,” added Waldes.
For their project, the Holy Cross students from teacher Christopher Beatty’s Hospitality and Tourism Gr. 11/12 class were tasked with developing the elements of a potential conference for White Oaks within a set budget. From concept and logistics to agenda and menu items, the students flexed their planning and creative skills to come up with a professional plan for one of Niagara’s most renowned hospitality destinations.
“Programs such as this create valuable opportunities for students to develop presentation, leadership, and creative skills. Many students were eager to engage with the curriculum, which introduced them to new methods of learning and provided a glimpse into post-secondary education,” said Beatty, who noted that several students expressed a direct interest in attending NC in the future to purse an education in the field.
Back in March, the Holy Cross students had the opportunity to meet fourth-year NC Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Hospitality) students, who shared their experiences developing a business concept for BABH9702 (New Venture Development), a capstone course.
“The value of that encounter – students interacting with students – was to demonstrate to the program participants that entrepreneurship and business development are woven into many of our academic programs at Niagara College, including those in hospitality and tourism,” said NC School of Hospitality and Tourism professor Adam Weaver. “As a student, there is scope to be creative and enterprising at the College.”
On May 21, the top three groups pitched their final projects to a panel consisting of Waldes, Weaver, DiPietro and Tess Finlay, R and I’s Business Development Coordinator. The panelists applauded the students for their efforts.
“The high school participants in the Innovation Mentorship Program demonstrated to me that they are ready for the rigors of post-secondary study, and I was very impressed by the high quality of the presentations,” said Weaver.
Waldes was also impressed. She enjoyed hearing the perceptions, ideas and thought processes of all finalist groups. Ultimately, the group who developed the polished “Better Together Conference” plan rose to the top.
“The winning group blew us away with their implementation plan, research and creativity, and really had a focus on the purpose of the event,” said Waldes. “I would recommend this program to any business looking to be involved in the community and gain some creative new ideas from our future leaders!”
“Focusing the project on White Oaks, which has a reputation for excellence in the community, increased student engagement and participation,” said Beatty. “Overall, this unique experience positively impacted my students by presenting professional challenges they might not have otherwise encountered.”
Students from the winning group celebrate with Holy Cross teacher Christopher Beatty (left), Alyssa Waldes from White Oaks (second from right) and David DiPietro (right).
Winning students Maddie Micallef, Gracie Cherney and Isabella McNabb shared their experiences.
“This was a completely new experience for us, something that we weren’t used to and unlike any other assignment we’ve done in the past. It was overwhelming at first, but once we got working on the project, we really enjoyed it,” said Micallef.
“This was real, industry experience, and it was the most educational assignment we’ve had. We loved the exposure to a real industry partner and having the opportunity to work on a real-world challenge,” said Cherney.
“Through this experience, I gained not only knowledge about event planning, but also skills in communication, leadership, and collaboration that I can carry with me throughout my life,” said McNabb.
Get in touch
NC academic areas and businesses interested in participating in the program can reach out to David DiPietro at [email protected].
