Prospective Culinary and Hospitality Students Visit West Campus
ShareA Message from Falecia Williams, President, West and Downtown Campuses
More than 160 culinary and hospitality students from five Orange County Public Schools visited West Campus on Thursday, March 1, 2018, for a National Academy Hospitality Symposium to learn about culinary and hospitality careers, with the goal to excite and engage them in pursuing careers in the industry. The National Academy Foundation is an acclaimed national network of high school career academies predominately based in urban district schools with rigorous, career-themed curricula created with current industry and educational expertise. These students are part of the hospitality and tourism curriculum.
Students toured the campus and heard from Vicki Fine, manager, career pathways, regarding the new Downtown Campus, Career Pathways and careers in hospitality, followed by five presenters in the culinary and hospitality field who spoke about their career path and their current roles and responsibilities. Presenters included:
- Jess Lott, tourism account executive, Orlando Magic/Amway Center
- Audrey Benet, restaurant consultant, who has worked for Biltmore Hotel, Tony Roma’s and Chili’s
- Landy Mitchell, employment specialist, Loews Hotel
- Michelle Williams, convention manager and catering manager, Rosen Centre Hotel
- Jennifer Denlinger, professor, culinary management, Valencia College
- Brett Bingham, agent, New York Life
Representatives from Rosen College of Hospitality Management and Johnson & Wales also spoke at the event.