UFV’s Hospitality Event Planning certificate program is known for its practical focus. In Rebecca Noort’s case, the skills she picked up have an immediate application.

Roughly one week after she crosses the stage here at UFV Convocation, she’ll be walking down the aisle to marry her fiancé Phil.

That means that while she was completing the program, she was also planning the biggest event of her life so far: her wedding. Talk about experiential learning!

Noort, who lives in Abbotsford, excelled in her studies, and has been chosen the 2016 winner of the Lieutenant Governor’s medal for the top student in a certificate program at UFV.

Her professor, Nancy Barker, has nothing but praise for Noort.

“Rebecca is an engaged community member, volunteering in many arenas, helping and collaborating with her fellow students, and working in the tourism industry,” she notes. “Rebecca is the kind of person who always makes lemonade out of lemons. You could translate this into descriptions such as curious, opportunistic, problem-solver, can-do attitude, self-reliant, accountable, strong moral code, communicative, and leader. I always enjoy a student from whom I can learn from, this year, through Rebecca’s attitude, curiosity and initiative I learned a lot.”

“I’ve always been interested in event planning,” Noort says. “This program allowed me to learn more about it, about the types of jobs that are out there, and about the other skills that go along with event planning, such as marketing, communications, and tourism-related duties.”

Throughout the year, the class volunteered at various events, building up their skill set.

“It was great to see what we were learning put into practice,” notes Noort. “I enjoyed volunteering for the different projects and learning from the hands-on experience.”

For her extended practicum, Noort volunteered with the City of Abbotsford, working directly with the special events coordinator.

Noort is honoured to be receiving the Lieutenant Governor’s medal.

“I’d really like to thank my professor Nancy Barker for her support,” she notes. “It was a difficult and intense course, but we all worked together to get through it. I’m proud of my class!”