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He always imagined himself working for Disney. A quick study in the Career and Community Studies program, Nick Valentine completed his certificate in hospitality and event management in just three years. Nick also had the distinct pleasure of being the first CCS student to participate in the Kent State University’s commencement ceremony.

Upon graduating in December 2021, Nick spent 18 months working at Tradefull, a software company based in North Canton, Ohio, where he was tasked with handling packages and making sure boxes were wrapped and shipped properly. After several months on the job, Nick was assigned to a crew steering new workers.

“I had been there so long that they trusted me with training new people,” he said. “That felt really nice to have on my resume.”

Onward and upward

Nick learned about the Disney University Program while he was still taking hospitality classes at Kent State. But he had no intention of applying.

“I didn’t even think about it,” he said. “I thought I would work in Ohio and live the same lifestyle. But one day I decided to apply for the program on a whim and I got it! I was shocked!”

Participating in Best Buddies and working with FAB (the Flash Activities Board) helped prepare Nick for his current duties in Florida, although he confides it was a huge transition – and a lot of anxiety – relocating down South, where he’s been a resident of Orlando since March 2023. His position was scheduled to end in August, but Nick got another big surprise after only three months working at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort.

“One day I got an email to apply for an extension,” he said. “I applied and got the extension! So, I’ll be staying until January 2024. I’ve met so many people from all over, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Colombia, France. It’s really cool to see the inclusion of everybody. I really love it here.”

Disney gives employees the choice of working at its theme parks or resorts. It also offers classes, but Nick’s second shift schedule prevents him from taking them. However, he is strongly considering taking a course that allows students to imagine building roller coasters and theme parks.

Nick’s role is providing guests with linens, blankets, towels, wash cloths and similar items. He’s considering other opportunities, like performing as a Disney character or becoming a parade performer at Magic Kingdom. One day at work, he even crossed paths with Kevin Jonas of the Jonas Brothers.

Though he’s happy to be in sunny Florida where he can lounge poolside and stroll the Disney properties on his days off, Nick still has fond memories of his time at Kent State.

“I’m happy I chose to come to Kent State,” he said. “I hung out, played games and had parties and did fun things like making friends, basically. I really liked working with FAB because I got to meet people from all over the world, and then I made good friends with people that I still talk to, so that was nice.”

Nick remembers health and wellness being his favorite class at Kent State. The curriculum, which encourages a healthy lifestyle of exercise and a balanced diet, is paying dividends now because Nick buys his own food and cooks his own meals. Part of that means reading and understanding food labels.

“I miss being in college, but I was glad I was done because it’s so much school and it takes forever,” he said. “The CCS program helped me with communicating with other people. And I’ve been doing well with communicating ever since.”