Lincoln University graduates win international Disney World placement

It’s a globe-trotting year ahead for two Lincoln University Commerce degree students who have wrapped up their study and will soon be capped.

Alisha Henderson of Auckland and Melissa Gibbons of Christchurch have both won places on the Disney International College Program which will take them to the United States of America for a year’s work and professional development opportunities at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Alisha and Melissa are two of several Lincoln University students who received offers to work in the USA following the latest round of Disney World interviews.

“This is such a wonderful opportunity to gain first hand work experience at one of the world’s top entertainment and tourist operations,” says Alisha, who has been a Sports Scholar (Netball) at NZ’s specialist land-based university, Lincoln University.

“To be able to have employment with a corporate giant like Disney World on my CV is a dream.”

For the first half of her year at the Walt Disney World Resort Alisha, an outdoor sports enthusiast, has chosen lifeguarding as her work role. After that she will choose from a range of other work experience opportunities offered under the program.

She describes the recruitment process, which was carried out by the Disney organisation on campuses throughout NZ, as very professional and she is looking forward to the year away.

The former Birkenhead College pupil is no stranger to overseas travel and has previously travelled to California, Fiji, Australia, and has also been on a cultural exchange to Japan.

Alisha is not quite settled yet on her ultimate career choice and says she will use the Disney World experience as a “gap year” and decide on future directions while she is away.

“A Commerce degree, especially with majors in Business Management and Marketing, gives you many options,” she says.

Currently she is on a Lincoln University Summer Scholarship carrying out a small research project on “consumer tribalism” – a concept connected with the loyalty consumers show for particular brand names and associated store franchises.

Melissa, like Alisha, has also done a double major within her Bachelor of Commerce degree. Born on Australia’s Gold Coast but brought up in NZ and a past pupil of Christchurch’s Villa Maria College, where she was a House Leader, Melissa wrapped up her degree with majors in Hotel Management and Business Management.

Melissa has applied for a hospitality position in one of the Disney World hotels. She enjoys the hospitality industry and as a student has worked at Christchurch’s Poplars Apartment Hotel, where she was second in charge of reception, and prior to that was at the Heritage hotel.

She believes that her Lincoln University Hotel Management courses have prepared her well for working in the hospitality industry.

“I never planned to do an OE,” she says, “but now here I am now about to have this big learning experience in the USA.”

After the end of the 2009 academic year Melissa worked as a Christmas Cookie Time seller working independently under the Cookie Time franchise.

“It was a great opportunity to experience all aspects of running one’s own business, from the financial side through to relating to customers and the public. I will carry many of the lessons with me into this next great opportunity, working in America.

“Naturally the other great preparation has been my Hotel Management study at Lincoln University, especially courses such as Food and Beverage and Accommodation Management, they will be such a help working in an international hospitality setting.”

Melissa also enjoys the outdoor life and plays netball and in the past has played women’s rugby. She says she has been a fan of Disney characters all her life and when she saw the opportunity to apply to be interviewed for work in Disney World it was “too good a chance to let pass”.