CR8: Student Highlight 2011

Rock'n Peach Bliss Cheesecake Maker

NSCC grad, Jacqui Keseluk loves cake. Her passion for all things sweet encouraged her to enter the Food Network's Recipe to Riches contest. Jacqui's Multi-Layered Peach Cake won the cake category netting her $25,000 and a chance to win the grand prize of $250,000.

A grad of the Baking & Pastry Art and Culinary Arts, Jacqui would like to use her contest earnings to open her own café and pastry shop. "It's been my dream since I was 15 years old. If I win the competition, I'll be using the prize money to open a business in my home community of Fall River," says Jacqui.

Works of Art with Heart

Students from NSCC's Boulanger & Baking Art program created gingerbread houses – so magnificent even Buddy "The Cake Boss" would be impressed. This year's themes were: Harry Potter/Hogwarts, The Polar Express, Old Canadian Winter and an Asian-inspired house design.

The houses take about 2 weeks to prepare. The students and instructors describe them as a "labour of love". Each year, the houses are donated to local charities.

Receiving houses this year were Ronald McDonald House, the IWK and the Festival of Trees Black Tie Gala Auction, an event which raises funds to support the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia.

NSCC grad takes bronze medal at WorldSkills International

Aaron Hebb of Bridgewater was one of four Canadian medalists at the WorldSkills International Competition which took place in London, England.

Aaron earned his spot on Team Canada by winning a gold medal in Car Painting at the Skills Canada National Competition in 2010. At the WorldSkills event, he took home a bronze medal and became the first Nova Scotian competitor to medal at this global event.

Aside from his moment on the podium, Aaron says that meeting people from all over the world was a definite highlight of the experience. Nearly 1,000 competitors from over 53 countries/regions competed in 46 skill areas at WorldSkills.

NSCC Students Screen at Atlantic Film Fest

It's a big year for NSCC at this year's Atlantic Film Fest. 4 Screen Arts students are screening their shorts in this year's festival.

The Atlantic Shorts featured Snitch directed by Josh Denaro and Von Bekrem directed by Shemus Penny. Gravity's Pull, directed by Luke Freeman was also featured as part of the Atlantic Shorts 5 program.

Victim directed by Matt MacIsaac is about a series of crimes that escalate. Beautifully shot, it is described as a nighttime slice of existential noir filmmaking. Victim was featured in the CBC Atlantic Shorts Gala.

Ultimate Foodie Adventure

Cape Breton hosted the ultimate foodie adventure this summer which provided an incredible opportunity for NSCC culinary students to work with world class chefs.

Right Some Good was a 10-day food festival. Chefs from around the world were paired with local culinary teams including 4 junior chefs from NSCC. Justin Yap was paired with Chef Atul Kochhar from the United Kingdom. Katie Wall cooked with Chef Vincent Masson from Belgium and Brandy Currie worked with Chef Miguel Angel Millan of Spain.

On the final night, Martha MacDonald worked with Chef Christopher Coutanceau of France creating a spectacular menu for a dinner by candlelight at the Fortress of Louisbourg.

Student Success

Trena Simmonds, a 2011 graduate of the African Canadian Transition Program was awarded the Council of the Federation Literacy Award. This prestigious award recognizes achievements in literacy in every province and territory.

Trena left school at the age of 15 when she was pregnant with her first child. After seeing her eldest son graduate from Cole Harbour High she longed to cross the stage herself and made the decision to return to school.

Trena completed both the African Canadian Transition Program and her High School Diploma for Adults, in collaboration with ALP. She attributes the opportunity to learn in an Africentric setting as a key to her success.

Skills Canada Competition in Quebec City

NSCC students took home medals in all three colours at the 17th Skills Canada National Competition hosted in Quebec City. The students competed in a variety of areas, including automotive service, baking, electronics, hairstyling, and website development.

Hilary Pelerine, a student at Pictou Campus was awarded gold in hairstyling. Hilary was also awarded the 'Best of Region' award for having earned the highest score among her other Nova Scotia teammates. "I put a lot of hours in practicing for the competition, so I was thrilled that hard work paid off," said Hilary.

Other winners included: Lauren Cameron who picked up a Silver Medal in Baking and Bronze medal winners Tim Schmidt (Electronics) and Jeremy Newton (Heavy Equipment Service).

Tanzania Welcomes NSCC Students

Students and faculty representing Human Services, Information Technology and Tourism Management programs travelled to Tanzania to work with their peer organizations.

Human Services students worked with an organization that provides peer counselling and outreach programs for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Tourism Management students learned about the tourism industry. And IT students and faculty helped implement a networking infrastructure and internet capability.

"It's amazing to walk down the street and everyone wants to shake your hand and greet you," says Shana Lawrence, a Human Services student from Marconi. "This is really a life changing experience and I am so happy to be here."

Student Projects @ Tech Show

The Waterfront Campus was abuzz with students showcasing their projects at Tech Show 2011 and putting their skills to the test in the Nova Scotia skills competitions.

Tech Show is an annual event where NSCC students demonstrate their project work and the solutions they are creating for industry and community partners. There were over 40 projects in this year's event.

Projects included: a brake and accelerator assembly designed for a Formula SAE race car by Mechanical Engineering students, an assessment of water quality conducted by Water Resources students and a sensor that assesses balance and mobility in the elderly designed by an Electronic Engineering student.

Animedia Fest

Truro Campus celebrated the 10th annual Animedia Fest. Organized by students in Digital Animation and Interactive & Motion Graphics, alumni and industry reps come together to showcase their work and discuss ideas.

The keynote speaker was Frederic St. Arnaud, a Visual Effects Artist and Matte Painter. In addition to sharing his art and work process, he discussed his recent projects for major motion films – The Golden Compass, Journey to the Center of the Earth and The Wind in the Willows.

Other topics featured in this year's festival included: story-telling, making comics, animating in flash, composition, character development, 3-D gaming, film funding and how to build your reputation and business.

Ideas 2011

NSCC students took 2 of the top 3 spots in Ideas 2011 – a competition which challenged college and university students to apply entrepreneurial-thinking, innovation and creativity to developing a new idea or business and social venture.

With over 200 entries, Crystal Vantour and Kristin Ryno from Burridge Campus placed 2nd overall and collected $3,000 for their idea. Danielle Francis from Shelburne Campus placed 3rd overall and won a $2,000 cash prize.

The event was sponsored by InnovaCorp and the Nova Scotia Association of Community Business Development Corporations (CBDC). NSCC students competed against MBA students and university students from across Nova Scotia.

Heritage Carpentry Preserve Lighthouse

The Battery Point lighthouse got a much needed facelift thanks to students from the Heritage Carpentry program. The structure, which dates back to 1937, was one of nearly 1,000 lighthouses across Canada which were deemed surplus by the federal government in 2010.

Students started replacing rotten wood, windows and roofing in March and future students in the program will take-on the ongoing maintenance the lighthouse needs to keep it from falling down.

The Battery Point lighthouse enjoys a prominent location at the entrance to Lunenburg harbour and is known for its mournful foghorn.

Canada Winter Games

The 2011 Canada Winter Games provided exciting ways for NSCC students to combine learning and volunteering. Radio & Television Arts students helped TSN/RDS with the broadcast productions and even produced a few vignettes.

Students from the Human Services - Correctional Services concentration and Law & Security programs at the Truro Campus volunteered as part of the security teams for Ski Martock, Ski Wentworth and various Halifax venues.

NSCC Tourism Management students from Truro, Pictou and Akerley campuses volunteered with Spectator Services and Culinary Arts students helped the World Trade & Convention Centre prepare and serve the 70,000 dishes needed in the Athletes Village.

Black Box Culinary Competition

NSCC's Akerley Campus took the gold medal at the 2011 Black Box Culinary competition. This competition brings together 6 campus culinary teams (from the Culinary Arts program) who compete for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals and a chance to represent NSCC at the Atlantic Provinces Culinary Exhibition.

Teams create a 3-course menu from a Black Box of ingredients, and are evaluated by a team of chef judges for their kitchen performance, use of ingredients, plating and presentation, and the overall taste and quality of each course.

Also participating in this event were Tourism Management students who managed the event service, Flat(10) a jazz group comprised of Music Arts students and Screen Arts students who supported the event production.