When Connor Arnett was deciding what to do after high school, he wanted a creative career. He also wanted an education that would prepare him for work. He found both in Centennial College’s Public Relations program.
Now, Connor helps prospective students discover the same opportunities he found at the college. He will also be working at Centennial’s Fall Open House on Saturday, November 28, 2026, where students can explore programs, meet professors and see the college’s learning spaces in person. Register now to attend the Fall Open House across Centennial’s campuses.
Choosing Public Relations at Centennial College
Connor says his high school focused heavily on the university pathway.
“Unfortunately, my teachers didn't promote the college pathway as much,” he says about high school. “So, you kind of get stuck in some high schools, in the university mindset of it all, but you're missing out on so many great programs within colleges.”
Centennial was already familiar to Connor, thanks to his family.
“Funny enough, both my parents actually went to Centennial College as well,” he says, “and they did the corporate communications program, before it evolved into the Public Relations program it is now.”
At Centennial, Connor quickly found a learning environment that suited him.
“I got involved with that program over four years, and I fell in love with it,” he says. “I made a lot of great connections and met many great professors. It really just came to down to wanting to do business in a creative way.”
That creative approach was important to Connor.
“I'm someone who can't just do textbook and test work,” Connor says. “I need to have my creative output. I enjoy and excel in this outlet. The great thing about the PR program was that I got to do presentations on different topics almost every week.”
The program also let him explore areas of Public Relations such as social media, psychology and government communications.
“There's a wide range of courses,” he continues. “You can start from social media analysis, there’s a course getting into a psychological mindset, and one focused on PR in government. It was such a broad range of topics that I got to discover.”
Turning classroom learning into career experience
One of the most valuable parts of studying Public Relations at Centennial was learning from people working in the industry.
“It's good to get practical experience talking to professionals in the industry,” he adds, “because you really advance your learning, and you get a lot of knowledge coming from people who have been in the industry for 10, 15, 20 years.”
That industry connection also helped Connor find his co-op placement. For one of his first projects, he interviewed Public Relations professional Dave Stell, who works at Children Believe. Connor stayed in touch with him after the assignment. He eventually completed his co-op with the organization.
“When it came time for my co-op experience to get that practical learning,” he says, “I reconnected with him on LinkedIn through that assignment, and then ended up doing my co-op with Children Believe.”
The placement let Connor put his Centennial education into practice. He worked on social media, campaigns and metrics, and helped lead a candidate campaign. He also travelled to Toronto to shoot social media videos and released his first global publication.
“I got to apply all my skills from that program,” he says about his placement. “So, when it came to social media development, doing campaigns, tracking metrics, I actually got to lead the Canada Day campaign for them, and go down to Toronto and shoot social media video content. I got to release my very first publication as well, globally, which was amazing.”
For Connor, the experience demonstrated the value of combining classroom learning with practical experience.
From PR graduate to Centennial recruiter
While completing his Public Relations program, he applied for a PR award through Centennial. His submission built on his capstone project. It explored how hyper-personalization could affect communication with consumers and help organizations grow. He won the award.
“From that, I actually had a recruitment manager reach out to me and say how much like he loved the piece,” he says. “They said this role of recruitment representative would be a great opportunity with my communications background. So, I did the interview with them, and got the job. It's amazing to see Centennial hiring students like myself right after graduation. I’ve had the role for a few months and I love it!”
Today, Connor travels to high schools and fairs across Ontario to tell students about Centennial College. His own experience gives him a personal connection to that message.
“Now, I really want to spread the word and teach more people about Centennial College with this recruitment position,” he says, “because I don't think people understand the importance of colleges, especially in today's landscape and changing market.”
Connor says he especially enjoys seeing students discover programs that match their interests and goals.
“The great thing is that we get to advertise and communicate what Centennial College is about,” he says, “our values, our great programs, many of our student services, our athletics, our gaming, and so much more. And there's always something that sticks out to someone within our programs.”
Discover Centennial College at Open House
Connor will be at Centennial’s Fall Open House on Saturday, November 28, 2026, helping students learn more about the college and its programs. The event takes place across all Centennial College campuses.
For Connor, Open House offers something that a screen cannot: the chance to experience Centennial in person.
Register now for Centennial College’s Fall Open House and explore programs, meet professors and see the college’s labs and learning spaces.
“So, the great thing about our Open House opportunities is that you get to interact with a wide range of professors,” he says. “The professors have been in the industry for a long time, so it's great to ask those value questions before selecting a program, to know what you're getting into, and to get a feel. They're there to answer any question you have.”
Visitors can also explore Centennial’s labs and learning spaces in person.
“The best part is that they get to tour our labs as well,” he says, “and see the environment and spaces they're working in. It doesn't do it justice just to see it virtually, even though it is an option. When you see it physically, and you're standing there, you can picture yourself in these programs, you're talking to professors, and you're meeting with actual students.”
For Connor, that sense of community was a major part of his own Centennial experience.
“It’s about building a community hub at the end of the day, and that's what I loved about Centennial College.”
Find your path at Centennial College
Connor now has a unique perspective on Centennial. He studied at the college, built industry connections through his Public Relations education and co-op, won a PR award and began his career at Centennial after graduating. Now, he is helping future students find their own path.
“There's a lot I wish people knew about Centennial College,” he says. “Being the first ever college, I'm very honored to be a part of Centennial and its journey so far, throughout so many decades and experiences. What I think I want people to know is that it's a home for the creative, for the passionate, for the bold, and for the leaders of the future.”
Connor encourages students to experience Centennial for themselves.
“My favorite part of Centennial is building those lifelong connections with classmates, and just pushing your kind of learning forward,” he says. “I don't think I'd be able to have that creative outlet at any other university or institution. You feel recognized, you feel noticed, and you feel you can communicate well. That's why I love Centennial. I don't want to be anywhere else.”
Ready to explore your options at Centennial College? Register now for the Fall Open House on Saturday, November 28, 2026, and discover the programs, people and learning spaces that could shape your future.
By Anthony Geremia