Emilia heads to the US

Last week Southern Cross University student Emilia Dempster was hoping to spend the next six months enjoying a laughter-packed internship with comedian Mandy Nolan, helping to organise The Big Joke Comedy Festival. Now the Bogangar student is hastily applying for a passport and packing her bags for the United States.

Emilia, who is in the final year of her Bachelor of Business in Convention and Event Tourism Management studies at the Tweed Gold Coast and Lismore campuses, has won a prestigious Global Recruitment Scholarship to undertake an 18-month paid trainee management internship in the US, valued at almost $6000.

She was selected from more than 100 Southern Cross and Griffith university students who applied through the annual joint Tourism and Hospitality Careers Day and will be placed in a five-star hotel, receive comprehensive on-the-job training and logistical assistance as part of the lucrative scholarship package.

“I’m so excited; I’m just blown away,” Emilia said. “I’m thrilled at this amazing opportunity, which came about so unexpectedly. They stage huge events in the US, where the events industry is thriving, and the opportunity to travel and meet new people in a large international city is incredible.”

However, this windfall is not Emilia’s first. She was also awarded one of 10 $3000 Rising Stars scholarships offered Australia-wide by Amlink Technologies, developers of the world’s leading EVENTS computer software. The money allowed her to attend the recent annual conference of Meetings Events Australia, the main events industry body, in Hobart.

Peter Wynn-Moylan, lecturer in Southern Cross University’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, said Emilia’s success was a great achievement.

“Emilia is part of our first cohort in the events management degree, so this is a wonderful outcome,” he said. “The international experience will be invaluable.”

Photo: Emilia Dempster (right) with fellow student Sarah Bower working at the check-in desk at the Tourism and Hospitality Careers Day.