University of New Hampshire Second Annual High School Hospitality Management Summer Program Great Success
38 high school seniors from across the country and internationally participated in the week long session
DURHAM, NH – The University of New Hampshire Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics held its second annual Hospitality Management Summer Program for rising high school seniors who are considering a career in the $3.5 trillion high-growth service industry of hospitality management. The one-week, tuition-free program took place July 19th through July 25th and introduced participants to the wide variety of careers available in the industry; including hotels, resorts, event management, food service businesses, marketing and sales, and revenue management.
Nelson Barber, chair and associate professor of hospitality management, developed and managed the Hospitality Management Summer Program. The program is a first-class introduction to Hospitality Management for students who are interested in pursuing a career in the industry. This year, participants came from as far away as California, Texas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico, and British Columbia; as well as all of the New England and several mid-Atlantic states.
“The Hospitality Management Summer Program offers high school students the opportunity to develop a framework for understanding the hospitality industry while experiencing what college life is all about at the state’s flagship public university,” said Barber. “Through presentations, hands-on experience, guest speakers, computer simulations, and more, the program introduces participants to the scope of the hospitality industry, senior level executives and the market forces at play in this competitive field.”
Students spent one week on the UNH campus, participating in and experiencing the excitement of what college life has to offer. They took college courses with renowned faculty, worked with state of the art hospitality technology, and met with current students and alumni involved with the UNH Hospitality Management Program. A typical day included a field trip to Tuscan Kitchen in Salem, NH where participants learned firsthand how a restaurant and high-end market operates, and to Newmarket, a global hospitality software company, where students learned how state of the art event and hotel technology works.
High school student Isabel Jimenez traveled from Puerto Rico to participate in the Hospitality Management Summer Program and determine if she wanted to pursue a career in the field. “Before the program, I wasn’t 100% sure hospitality management was something I wanted to do, but now after just one week, I’m 200% sure,” explained Jimenez. “Without a doubt, through this program I experienced things I never thought possible, such as personal tours of the Tuscan Kitchen and the Wentworth by the Sea 4-star Marriott resort; and learned an incredible amount about something I would really enjoy studying in college and undertaking as a career.”
“The hospitality management summer program was a tremendous opportunity for rising high school seniors to experience college life and gain hands on appreciation for what the hospitality industry can offer as a career opportunity,” said Dean Deborah Merrill-Sands of the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics. “The college fully supports this program and is looking forward to continued success during next summer’s program.”
Since its inception in 2014, 67 students have participated in the Hospitality Management Summer program. The summer program application process will begin in early spring 2016. To learn more, visit https://paulcollege.unh.edu/undergraduate-programs/hospitality-management-bs/2015-summer-program .
About UNH’s Hospitality Management Program
The Hospitality Management Program at UNH is more than an area of study; it’s a way of life. Our Program is ranked among the Top 25 Hospitality Programs in the U.S. You will study and work in a state-of-the art facility. We are the second-oldest four-year degree program in the country, building our reputation on student focused, renowned, highly-engaged faculty, staff and alumni mentors.
Our graduates develop into senior executives 15-20 years from graduation through creativity, entrepreneurship, and access to cutting edge technology.
VALUE PROPOSITION: The Hospitality Management Program at UNH will provide a world class education that sets students apart from the competition and well prepared for a successful career
About UNH Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics The UNH Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics offers a full complement of high-quality programs in business, economics, accounting, finance, information systems management, entrepreneurship, marketing, and hospitality management. Programs are offered at the undergraduate, graduate, and executive development levels. The college is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the premier accrediting agency for business schools worldwide. For more information, visit paulcollege.unh.edu.
The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state’s flagship public institution, enrolling 12,300 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students.
