Deidra Rodney, a graduate from the Tourism and Travel Management* program, has been selected by Baxter Media as a Student Ambassador through the Baxter Student Ambassador program.

The Baxter Student Ambassador Program, now in its tenth year, nurtures the industry’s most promising student talent in tourism and hospitality programs at Canada’s leading colleges and universities. The selection process is rigorous. Applicants must demonstrate academic success, industry and community involvement and leadership skills, and they must complete a skill-testing project.

The successful applicants for the program are given access to exciting opportunities for learning and networking. This year's prize package included a $500 bursary, their professional profile published in Travel Courier magazine (readership of approx. 45,000 travel trade across Canada), a mentor matched with them according to their career aspirations; a certificate of distinction, and a subscription to Baxter Media's digital products. Deidra also won the prize draw among all the ambassadors for complimentary entry to TIAO's Ontario Tourism Summit .

Deidra, who was born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in Clarendon, Jamaica, is interested in pursuing a career in airport operations or business development in the aviation industry, so she was thrilled to be partnered with mentor Scott Armstrong, who has over 15 years of experience in the airport industry and is a communications instructor at the University of Guelph.

She said one of her instructors encouraged her to apply to the Baxter Student Ambassador Program.

“I applied primarily due to a gentle nudge from my instructor, Maria VanKampen, and because I believed it would be a fun yet valuable experience for my career. After my application, I was thrilled to be short listed, but that excitement quickly turned to nervousness about the presentation required to advance to the finalist stage!”

Deidra was asked to do a presentation about travel insurance. She focused on the benefits of Manulife travel insurance for both travel agents and customers, and the advantages it provides for both parties.

“I was quite anxious after my presentation, thinking I had not performed well, and was feeling disappointed. So I was delighted to receive an email informing me that I had won,” she said.

She credits her Holland College program with helping her prepare for the student ambassador program.

“The Tourism and Travel Management program was crucial to my application, particularly in my travel insurance presentation. The program equipped me with in-depth knowledge on the subject, making the presentation relatively straightforward,” she said.

Instructor Maria VanKampen worked with Baxter Media to have Holland College included in the student ambassador program.

“Deidra is great representative of the college to be our first student ambassador,” she said. “We look forward to continuing the relationship with Baxter Media and showcasing our student leaders.” 

This summer, Deidra is working as a Resort Services Supervisor at the Sherwood Inn on Lake Joseph, Muskoka. She plans to continue her education to earn a degree in marketing as she works toward her dream of working in the aviation industry.

Read Deidra’s profile here.

*The Tourism and Travel Management program is now called the Tourism, Travel, and Events Management program.