Giovanna Arcuri, OST Micropublishing & Hypermedia

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A scholarship, award winning posters, & belly dancing are all part of Giovanna's story!

It wasn't hard for Micropublishing and Hypermedia student Giovanna Arcuri to choose Vanier. It's almost like her second home. "I felt comfortable coming here," says Giovanna. "My mom works here so I was in the Vanier daycare centre until I was four years old. Then I came to Vanier for Supercamp for four or five years!"

For Giovanna who attended Gardenview Elementary school and Lauren Hill Academy in Saint-Laurent, Vanier is in her neighbourhood.

"A lot of my classmates came here as well. I see people in the hallways who were in grade one with me!"

The program for her

Most important of all, Vanier had the program Giovanna wanted. "I took a computer design class in high school that I liked a lot. I'm creative rather than theoretical and I was interested in graphic design. I thought of Communications but that program offered more techniques than I wanted."

Creativity, business and the choice of career or university

"I wanted creativity and I was attracted by the work and posters I'd seen designed by Vanier Micropublishing and Hypermedia students. There was also a concrete business side to that program that I liked and I definitely wanted a three-year career program that would allow me to work or attend university after Cegep. As it turns out, I'm heading for Concordia University for a major in Art History which will allow me to explore art differently."

Easy to make friends

"I've loved the Micropublishing and Hypermedia program. It's small so it's like a family. We make a lot of friends and create tight bonds with one another. And the teachers are always there. If you have a problem you can talk to them."

Contest winner

At Vanier College, departments that perform concerts, and organize events often run a poster design contest. Giovanna has won several of those contests. Her posters were used for La Semaine de la francophonie, the 2012 Big Band Benefit Concert and Carmina Festum – the 2012 showcase end-of-semester choir concert. Not surprising since this top student also won a prestigious 2012 RFCM (Regroupement des fondations collégiales de Montréal) scholarship – awarded by the Montreal Cegep foundations.

Favorite place: the Micromedia lab

"I love page layout, graphic creation and promotional documents," she says with a smile. "I'm always in the Micropublishing and Hypermedia lab. That's my favorite place to be. It's always open so students can finish their work. But it's not really work for me because I love it."

Part time work and belly dancing!

Besides her studies Giovanna has also worked part time in various departments at Vanier and also performed belly dancing at Nite of Nations – the big multicultural talent show by students. One look at photos of her belly dancing and all negative stereotypes about beautiful women and no brains fly out the window because this gorgeous young woman is a top student and scholarship winner!

A dynamic trio of beauty, brains, and a sense of entrepreneurship

But there's more to the story. "I started belly dancing in a high school after-school program run by our Math teacher who was Egyptian. I do it with two other friends. We've known one another since we were four." Who are these friends? They are mores smart young women. Julia Ferreira was on the Vanier Marketing team that competed in the 2012 Vanier Case Challenge. (See her story on page 80). And Rachel Mazza Lihnakis won the Ruby Knafo Memorial Award when she graduated from Vanier in 2011 in Modern Languages and is currently studying Linguistics at McGill.

From Nite of Nations to a business start-up

"We started a business together last summer called Shimmy Entertainment where we do belly dancing at parties and events. We got the idea after Nite of Nations because everyone loved our performance. Julia prepared the business plan, I created the logo, and Rachel wrote promotional material. We have a website and we all designed our Facebook page called: Facebook.com/shimmywhatyougot." The good reviews and positive reactions have truly boosted our confidence."

Words of wisdom

"You should find a program you like and not one that someone else wants you to do. Make the most of your time in Cegep – make friends and join activities. I'm glad I joined Nite of Nations. Look where it led me."