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From co-op to a trip abroad, DC Tourism – Destination Marketing student soaks up experiential learning experiences

Graduate Spotlight: Amanda Morrison

Launching a career in travel and tourism is a childhood dream come true for Durham College (DC) Tourism – Destination Marketing graduate Amanda Morrison.

As she perused programs before applying to college, Morrison knew it was the right fit for her.

“Since I was a child, I have been fascinated by attractions, travel, history, culture and all the incredible things tourism offers people, but never thought I could turn these fascinations and passions into a career,” she said. “I also chose this program with one thing in mind – can I really see myself being in this industry in five, 10 or 15 years?”

Now that she’s graduating, Morrison says the answer is a resounding yes.

“I can confidently say that I can see myself working in this industry and amongst the like-minded people I have met along the way for years to come.”

Morrison explained that DC was an excellent school to learn under industry veterans and gain the skills needed to succeed in the field.

“All of my professors were either currently in the industry or had previously worked within my industry,” she said. “Not only were they able to teach us the course content professionally, but they also provided us with more personal industry knowledge and experience that we wouldn’t have learned without having them as a professor.”

She spent last summer doing a co-op placement at Oshawa’s Canadian Automotive Museum and served as the visitor services assistant.

“I was able to learn how to give tours here and just the overall operations of museums, which is what I like the most – I like working in the attraction aspect of tourism.”

The co-op placement turned into a part-time job for Morrison who continues to work at the museum on weekends.

She was active with the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) student chapter at DC serving as secretary last year and president this year.

That led to a major highlight for her: travelling to San Diego through the Faculty-led Classroom Abroad program. In San Diego, she not only attended the PCMA conference which welcomed more than 3,000 international delegates, she also volunteered at the conference and with the San Diego Tourism Authority, gaining important hands-on experience.

“This was, by far, my favourite experience and I have made lifelong connections and learned new aspects of my industry that I would not have had.”

Looking towards the future, Morrison is hoping to travel through work.

“My biggest future goal is to be a person who can make memories for others through tourism. I would like to be able to work at different attractions and meet new people in the industry who have different ideas from me, as there is much to learn from them.”

Award-winning Police Foundations grad extending her stay at DC

Graduate Spotlight: Maya Austin

Maya Austin has a bright future in policing.

The native of Ajax will cross the stage at Convocation this June as a graduate of Police Foundations. After a summer working full-time as a Student Cadet with York Regional Police, she’ll return to Durham College (DC) this fall to further her education in the Advanced Law Enforcement and Investigations graduate certificate program.

In recognition of her hard work and commitment, she was recently honoured with the Joe Moylan Award of Excellence, given each year to a remarkable Police Foundations graduate from an Ontario college.

With one chapter closing and another soon to begin, Maya sat down with us to discuss her DC experience, serving her community and more.

Have you always wanted to pursue a career in policing?

I always had the idea in the back of my head that that’s what I wanted to do. My dad is a paramedic in Toronto, and he has worked really hard for everything that he has. A lot of his close friends are police officers. Obviously, paramedics and police aren’t the same, but they are in the sense that you get to help people and give back to your community. That was always something that stood out to me.

Why did you decide to study Police Foundations at DC?

I got a call from the rugby coach at Durham College and he asked me to play on his team. I started looking into the different programs at DC and I saw that they had a Police Foundations program. I got a rugby scholarship and ever since I started in that program, I knew that’s where I was meant to be.

Have you enjoyed your DC program?

Honestly, it has exceeded my expectations. It’s been great meeting students with the same goals who are just as driven as I am. It’s been a great environment to be a part of, and I’ve been presented with such great opportunities. Through my placement for my Community Policing class, I’ve been able to volunteer at Back Door Mission in Oshawa, which is a homeless shelter. I’ve been hired on with York Regional Police as a Student Cadet, and I got that opportunity through the program as well.

How has the program prepared you for your career?

Most of my professors have backgrounds in policing, and I think that’s really important because they have the experience to back up the material. They have all those very unique stories that they tell that bring a completely different side to the learning. In terms of preparing me for this Cadet position, I passed the interview with flying colors because of my professors and how well that they prepare each and every single one of their students.

Why did you decide to come back this fall for the Advanced Law Enforcement and Investigations program?

I’ve learned a lot at DC. I have such great memories made through my placement and program, and I wanted another year of having that education, especially the hands-on learning.

What advice do you have for future students in the Police Foundations program?

Give everything your all. Two years ago, I would never have guessed that I’d be where I am today. Every opportunity that my professors provided me with, I just took it and I ran with it. I allowed myself to be a sponge and absorb everything that the teachers were saying. So just completely invest yourself into every aspect of the course.

How do you feel about graduating?

I’m very excited. I’m starting a new chapter, working full-time this summer and also balancing rugby and then school in the fall. It’s going to be challenging, but it’s a challenge that I’m ready for. The last two years have really solidified that this is what I want to do.

What does the Joe Moylan Award of Excellence mean to you?

I was humbled to have been nominated in the first place, so to have actually won the award, I was very happy. Just knowing that all the hard work that I put in over those two years has been recognized is an amazing feeling.

Do you want to serve your community? These programs from DC’s Faculty of Social and Community Services will show you the way.

Cybersecurity student transforms co-op placement into full-time job

Grad spotlight: Melanie Gimoto

For Cybersecurity student Melanie Gimoto, experiential learning opportunities at Durham College (DC) – including a co-op placement – led directly to landing a job in her field upon graduation.

Originally from the Philippines, Gimoto worked as a software developer there before moving to Singapore where she worked as a software engineer and then later as a security assessor.

“That’s where my hunger to understand cybersecurity began,” she said. Gimoto decided to look for a college in Canada, ultimately selecting Durham College’s Cybersecurity (graduate certificate) program.

An honour roll student at DC, Gimoto found the school to be a vibrant and welcoming institution.

“The campus is modern and well-equipped, providing a comfortable and conducive environment for learning,” she said. “The faculty is knowledgeable and approachable, always ready to assist and guide students in their academic journeys.”

She took full advantage of practical opportunities in her program. For example, for a hacking course, she demonstrated the dangers of connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi by simulating a man-in-the-middle attack using a Wi-Fi Pineapple, a device that allows hackers to intercept messages between two parties. She said students at DC get a chance to work on real-world projects through the DC Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation.

“While studying, I was able to acquire a job in the Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) as a cybersecurity research assistant,” she explains. “It was a really exciting role as we were developing practical solutions for partner companies, even as a student.”

Her co-op placement at CarltonOne Engagement led to a job as a cyber risk analyst.

“The role involves the sophisticated analysis of phishing emails and threat commands and ensuring that potential vulnerabilities are swiftly identified and addressed,” said Gimoto. “In addition, I conduct in-depth risk assessments providing valuable insights into the security landscape and meticulously analyze threat alerts to safeguard the organization’s digital assets and integrity.”

Her advice to students in the cybersecurity program is to look for a community to support them in their learning and she recommends joining professional groups like the Toronto chapter of ISACA, a global association for IT professionals and WiCyS (Women in Cybersecurity).

“Foster a love for learning and you’ll experience continuous growth,” she said. “That’s essential for achieving success in any field where continual learning is of utmost importance, especially in the cybersecurity landscape.”

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Are you ready to start your career in IT? Check out these popular programs offered at DC in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Information Technology (SEIT):