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“The Festival gives our students a unique opportunity to work alongside industry leaders, presenting them with invaluable hands-on experience and the perfect setting to network,” said Mike Hampton, dean of FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management (CSHTM). “We, at FIU, are honored to work with the Festival Founder and Director Lee Schrager and Southern Wine & Spirits to develop and nurture the next generation of hospitality and tourism leaders.”
Students working the Festival are involved in many aspects of event planning, logistics, and operations that will help to prepare them for future jobs in management.
“Our students use this festival as an opportunity to showcase their talents and hone their critical thinking skills,” added Hampton.
Two students in particular developed the winning formulas for two new products, which will be launched at the festival:
- Alex Bello, whose Buffalo Mac ‘N Cheesy Burger recipe won him Red Robin’s Golden Robin Contest, will join Red Robin at the Amstel Light Burger Bash presented by Schweid & Sons hosted by Rachael Ray at the Festival on Friday, Feb. 20, where he will have the opportunity to showcase his pub-inspired burger creation. The marketing senior beat out 151 entries to earn a $10,000 scholarship and the chance to be featured on the menu at participating Red Robin® restaurants nationwide.
- Eddie Zeng recently won the second annual Badia Spices student spice competition. Badia Spices will launch the new seafood spice at the Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village on Saturday, Feb. 20. The winning blend is a combination of thyme, kosher salt, celery seed, fennel seed, cumin, paprika, black pepper, and smoked paprika. The spice is expected to be available in stores by summer. Zeng won a $5,000 scholarship and his blend will be used to create a commercial version that will be distributed globally by Badia with five percent of the sales donated to Chaplin’s Student Enrichment Fund in perpetuity.
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