ITC graduates fulfil Disney dream

ITC graduates fulfil Disney dream

Three graduates from the International Travel College of New Zealand (ITC) are moving to Disney World, Orlando for the opportunity of a lifetime.

Sammy O’Neill, Tobius Charnley and Paige Scelly have secured work experience placements on the Disney Cultural Exchange Program in January 2016.

As part of this program, they will live, work and play at Disney World, in what will be a fast-paced introduction to an exciting career in international tourism.

Both Sammy and Tobius will be working in food and beverage, while Paige has a role in the merchandise department.

All three graduates say they are excited to “meet new people and experience life in a different country”.

Another thing the three friends have in common is they all attended secondary school in the Auckland area. Sammy went to Massey High School, Tobius to Takapuna Grammar School and Paige to Onehunga High School.

Tobius credits his high school tourism teacher, Mr Mildon, with encouraging him to pursue a career in this industry.

“Mr Mildon showed me how awesome the passion could be for the industry,” says Tobius.

“He also pushed me to go for the ITC scholarship at the end of 2014. I was successful, and spent a great year studying at the ITC City Campus.”

Tobius added that his year at ITC would definitely be one to remember.

“The tutors were amazing, the subjects were fun to learn and my class was like a family.”

Paige and Sammy are also grateful to ITC for providing them with the opportunity to gain a tourism qualification and go to Disney World. To be eligible for the Disney Cultural Exchange Program, students must have completed at least one year of full-time study.

“I loved ITC as it gave me so many awesome opportunities along the way,” says Paige. “And everybody there is so lovely!”

Sammy said the ITC tutors went out of their way to make the courses fun and interesting, which helped her stay motivated and focused on her goals.

“Everything was made to be fun! The tutors and my class were all so funny and energetic – it made learning easy because we got to laugh every day,” says Sammy.

ITC City Campus Manager Michelle Chatfield is very pleased all three students have the opportunity to take their passion for travel and tourism to the United States.

“We’re incredibly proud of Sammy, Paige and Tobius for being accepted into the Disney Cultural Exchange Program,” says Michelle.

“They are all wonderful students – conscientious, bright and self-motivated. We’ll miss their friendly faces around college, but we wish them all the best with their Disney dream.”

For more information about the Disney Cultural Exchange Program, please visit www.itc.co.nz or call 0800 868 747.

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