Denver Campus Student Profile

Name: Nichole Saponare
Major: Hospitality Management
Graduating: 2011
Home: Rocky Hill, CT


MySpace or Facebook?

I only have Facebook.  I love it because it’s great for social and networking purposes. A lot of organizations on campus have Facebook groups.

Favorite Music:
I am a huge Parrothead (in other words, a Jimmy Buffett fan), but I like all kinds of music.

What are some of your career goals?
Some of my career goals include working abroad. I really want to work in another country – hopefully London. After I visited London, I fell in love with that city and I could definitely see myself living and having my career there. I hope to eventually become a hotel general manager.

Best food on campus:
That’s a tough one because I have to have my Starbucks in the morning, but John Hazen White has some amazing sandwiches.

Best campus event:
I think the best campus event is student activities night.  That event makes it so easy for freshmen to learn about clubs and organizations on campus and get involved.

Favorite off campus event:
My favorite off campus event is the career conference.  It is an excellent networking opportunity and really helps to prepare students as freshmen and sophomores for when they are competing for jobs as juniors and seniors.

Favorite professor:
My favorite professor is Dr. Fink in The Hospitality College. I felt like all the projects we had in and out of class were extremely relevant and helped me decide where I want to go in the hospitality field. I still go to him to talk about my career and my goals. His willingness to help is a very important aspect of a good professor.

Why did you choose JWU?
I choose Johnson & Wales because of how career oriented the school is.  I also started as an early enrollment student which was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The 98 percent employment rate was a huge factor because today all that is on television is the increasing unemployment rate, so I wanted to go to a college where I was confident I could get a job after graduation.  After an open house I just felt like this was where I was supposed to be.

What do you feel you get from your education at JWU?

I feel like I am gaining amazing industry experience that I can only get from this university. Most of my friends are paying for core classes and have no classes related to their major in the first two years. One of the best things about JWU is that I could start taking classes in my major right away. The professors are great and have so much industry experience.  I feel that the support and opportunities provided through JWU, whether it be through professors or clubs and organizations, surpasses many other colleges.