Ksenia discovered her love for hotel management in tenth grade while completing a hotel coop placement in Toronto. At the beginning of her second year, while looking for an opportunity to get involved and to try something different, she discovered the Hornblower Magazine.

In this year-long project, she pursued her passion for both hotel management and for writing and designing. As an executive team member of the Guelph’s Hotel Association of Canada chapter, Ksenia wrote unique hotel management-oriented articles to cater to the ‘sleep’ HTM students. Her articles especially reflect her numerous travel experiences around the world in the past.

Finishing her second year, Ksenia is now prepared to set off on a year-long coop work term abroad.

Laura is a third-year Hotel and Food Administration (HAFA) student, set to graduate in June 2012. Originally in the Human Resource Management program, Laura switched to the HAFA program to pursue her interests in hospitality.

Laura came to the University of Guelph not only pursue her academic goals, but her athletics goals too - specifically with the Women’s Varsity Hockey Team at UoG.  Once she moved into the HAFA program, Laura decided to dedicate her time towards work experience and her courses.  She has been in a manager at a quick-service restaurant and is currently working towards a managerial position at the full-service restaurant she works at currently.

As of this year, Laura has really focused on volunteering in the Guelph community. She is a mentor with the Big Brother Big Sister’s ‘Go Girls’ program, a tutor at the University of Guelph, a member of the Women’s Build Gala and Public Relations committee for Habitat for Humanity, and continuing her role as a year representative on the HTMSA.

Since joining the HAFA program, one of Laura's goals has been becoming an editor on the 2011 Hornblower magazine team. She feels this opportunity has helped reveal her creative writing skills and has expanded her knowledge of managing and producing a magazine.Aside from these skills, Laura volunteered to coordinate and produce the website and cover page for the magazine. Without any experience, she feels she has surpassed an elementary knowledge of web design, which could benefit in her in her future endeavors.

Laura will be working at the Fairmont Banff Springs this summer to continue her education of the restaurant industry. After graduation, she is open to any hospitality position; hotel or food. However, restaurant operations is one of her focuses.

Laura will always remember being an editor. Disciplined to meet deadlines, working with other editors, and writing a million words on paper are not the only things she’ll remember from this experience. She has made life long friends, acquired an interest to travel, and will never turn down a challenge!

In her final year as an undergraduate at the University of Guelph, Gillian was excited to be offered the position of Managing Editor for the 2011 Hornblower. In high school, with a vast number of University programs to consider, Journalism was a top contender. Gillian’s experience on this year’s Hornblower team has given her the opportunity to combine her love for writing with her passion for “eating, sleeping, and travelling.”

Graduating this June with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a major in Hotel and Food Administration, Gillian has loved every moment of her time spent at the University of Guelph. Participating in an exchange to the École Secondaire de Commerce et Management in Poitiers, France was an unforgettable experience for Gillian from which she learned invaluable lessons. Back in Guelph, Gillian became involved with the HTMSA as a third year representative and then as Director of Special Events in her last year. The latter position in particular allowed her to put her organizational and time management skills to work while learning more about event planning, another interest of hers. Through her position as the Managing Editor for the Hornblower this year, Gillian was able to put her teamwork, leadership, time management, and creative skills to work, resulting in a final publication that the team is proud of.

Upon graduation, Gillian plans to move to Europe to gain international work experience in the hotel industry. In preparing for the future, Gillian keeps a particular message in mind; in the words of Mark Twain, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”