Celebrating Student Success at Graduation

 ITC Oscars!

The Langham Hotel Grand ballroom was transformed for the ITC Oscars! With life size Oscar statues, red carpet, paparazzi and of course student and industry stars. 

 “Graduation is the highlight of the year for our students. This is the graduates’ night to celebrate their success, dress up and have their moment” said Michelle Chatfield City Campus Manager.  With over 320 students, their families, ITC staff and industry guests coming together to celebrate the graduates’ achievements from our City, Botany and Distance Learning Campuses the night was the biggest graduation event ever!

Chris Deere General Manager of Rainbows End was the key note speaker along with Renee Boyle and Nadine Kaessemodel from Nomads Fusion Backpackers. They spoke of the high level of enthusiasm, passion and training that is needed to work in the industry. ‘“We are proud to work closely with the International Travel College. It is great to see students graduating tonight that are already working at Fusion and this is a sign of the high standard of training you have been given.” said Renee.

The night was about celebrating success, hard work and outstanding achievement. With sponsorship of special awards from industry partners Menzies Aviation, AJ Hackett, Sky jump, Stray, InterCity, Fullers, Juicy Rentals and Nomads Fusion Backpackers students received fantastic prizes.  Amongst the special awards presented were Marcia Tekeu Student of the year: City Campus, Outstanding Achievement Jodi Fox:Distance Learning and the College Life Award went to Sina Bode from the Botany Campus

A huge thank you goes to Kerry Priestley and Caroline Phillips from ITC and to the Langham Hotel for arranging such a stunning evening!

Graduation at the Langham Hotel

ITC Graduations are legendary and the highlight of the student’s year. Themed as the ITC Oscars the Grand Ballroom at the Langham Hotel was the venue for this prestigious event!

With over 150 students and their families coming together to celebrate the graduates’ achievements from our City, Botany and Distance Learning Campuses the night was set to be a big one!

Chris Daniel Director of Menzies Aviation was the key note speaker “We are proud to work closely with the International Travel College of New Zealand, it is the place to study if you want to get into the Airline Travel and Tourism Industry. Many of you graduating tonight are already working at Menzies and this is a sign of the high standard of training you have been given.” said Chris.

The night was about celebrating success, hard work and outstanding achievement. With sponsorship of special awards from industry partners Menzies Aviation, Avis, Sky walk, Stray and Nomads students received fantastic prizes. Amongst the special awards presented were Caroline Gallop Student of the year – City Campus, Chrystal James Student of the year – Distance Learning and Outstanding Academic Achievement went to Megan Bennett from the Botany Campus.

With graduates walking along the red carpet, cameras flashing and life size Oscar statues it was truly like being in Hollywood! These events involve a lot of behind the scenes organising and a huge thank you goes to Kerry Priestley and Caroline Phillips from ITC for arranging such a stunning evening!

Xmas Graduation

The Future of Tourism was the event theme this December for graduating students of the International Travel College of New Zealand. The ASB Lounge Event Suite at Eden Park Rugby Ground had been transformed into a space set where photographs were snapped with a full size spaceman and a spaceship, an alien lit the way to the buffet table and the back drop was a huge night sky speckled with glittering stars.

Karen Houston, ITC Director, gave an entertaining introduction to the key note speaker Hon Damien O’Connor – Minister of Tourism, sharing details of his varied background. The Minister talked to students about sustainability and the importance on the role they have to play in the future of Travel and Tourism in New Zealand, giving snippets of his tourism background and experience before and since his rise to Parliament.

Industry sponsored special awards were also given out to those students who have achieved something exceptional during their time studying with ITC with delighted recipients receiving prizes such as flight seats from Menzies, cricket tickets from Eden Park, bungy jumps from AJ Hackett, car hire from Europcar, car hire from Stray, Sky Jump tickets from Sky Jumlop and theme-park tickets from Rainbows End.

Oscar Graduation

It was a fantastic night for ITC student Lebron Liki, winner of a fantastic prize of a return flight to Europe as part of ITC’s graduation celebrations. “We’re celebrating ten years of graduations. That’s been more than 30 events with over 1,000 students who have left the College with their awards and qualifications” said College Director, Karen Houston, “As we’re in the travel and tourism business what better way to celebrate than with a big travel prize!”

Lebron Liki, a former student of Tangaroa College was supported at her graduation by Bryan Marsh, the school Careers Advisor. “There couldn’t be a better winner of this awesome prize” said Bryan “She has worked so hard and Tangaroa College is very proud of her and what she has achieved”. Lebron has been at ITC for a year and is continuing on to study the Diploma in Travel and Tourism Management, so her trip to Europe will be a great way to top off her two years of study before she heads into work in the industry.

Lebron was one of 120 students and their families celebrating at this special Graduation held at Float, popular Auckland’s waterfront venue, and attended by keynote speaker, Rodney Walshe founder of Walshes World. “It’s wonderful to see so many great young students graduating into the industry” said Rodney, “and with the skill shortages in the industry they’re sure to be in demand!”

Awards on the night included more than 30 students who were awarded Certificates with Excellence – the top academic achievement and many students also received special awards. Student of the year was awarded to Wayne Brewer from the Botany campus, his hard work and great attitude were recognized by all the ITC team at Botany. The City campus recognized Amber Reid for all her hard work and outstanding achievement throughout her course.

Another great evening organized by Kerry Priestley and Caroline Philips from ITC – thanks heaps to them and their teams for a lovely event!

Christmas Graduation

This year the end of year graduation theme was Christmas. Float Bar at Auckland’s Viaduct basin was converted into a Christmas wonderland with real pine Christmas trees, fairy lights and a larger than life Santa! Students walked the red carpet where they were presented with their certificates by Michelle Chatfield, Campus Manager-Recruitment and Kerry Priestley, Campus Manager-Academic.

This year’s industry guest speaker Adam Berry, Managing Director and joint owner of Orbit Corporate Travel and House of Travel Parnell gave an inspiring speech! His key messages of having a passion for the industry, excellence in customer service, being open to new technology, making sure you travel and having that can do attitude re-enforced what we all say at ITC!

Hollywood Graduation

Another fabulous graduation was held at Float Bar at the Viaduct Basin in Auckland. The room looked magnificent, with a Hollywood back drop, not to mention a huge gold Oscar! Apart from the lack of Hollywood stars everyone looked like thye would be apprearing on the red carpet!

Karen Houston, College Director, and Michelle Chatfield, Campus Manager (pictured above), presented the students with their well earned ITC Certificates. Steve Burke (pictured left), Senior Travel Tutor presented students with some special awards, as well as presenting with their University of cambridge diploma's.

Summer Graduation

The graduation was held at Float Bar at the Viaduct Basin in Auckland. The room looked magnificent with palm trees, leis for all the guests and a real Hawaiian theme! Apart from the weather [raining!] everyone felt in holiday mode! Karen Houston, College Director, and Michelle Chatfield, Schools and Recruitment Manager, presented the students with their well earned Certificates. Our guest speaker was Peter Lyne, who congratulated the students on their hard work and welcomed them into the exciting world of tourism.

Many thanks to Carla Sutton, Academic Support Coordinator and Kerry Priestley, Academic Group Leader for organising such an excellent event.