FIU students take over mega event Ultra Music Festival

With electronic dance music pumping and LED panel lights flashing, FIU hospitality student Peter Bauza took in the spectacle of the Ultra Music Festival. This was the first time the junior in the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management worked the iconic electronic dance music festival. He was one of 30 FIU students working at the mega concert in Miami’s Bayfront Park.

“Working at events such as Ultra helps you apply what you learn in the classroom,” said Bauza, who wants to work in logistics and event management after graduation. The experience gave him a chance to put into action all that his professors have taught him.

FIU Hospitality student Peter Bauza (right) works with graduate student Samantha Wagner at this year's Ultra.

Bauza and his fellow students spent their time welcoming VIPs, manning the will call desk and working with sustainability partner Clean Vibes to reduce the impacts of the 160,000+ in attendance.

Ultra celebrated its 25^th anniversary this year and saw guests from around the world dance to performances by top DJs like David Guetta, Carl Cox and Miss Monique.

“Working at these different events I hope to learn better teamwork, leadership skills as well as general management of events,” said hospitality alumna Isabella Pazos ’24, who will soon begin FIU’s master’s program in hospitality.

Pazos will continue her education to expand her knowledge of mega event management and gain hands-on learning uniquely available from the Chaplin School. The school and its innovative student club Back of House offer the chance to study while working at the largest events in South Florida and beyond, among them the Super Bowl, Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, the Adobe Conference and the FIU-founded South Beach Wine & Food Festival®, which is run by FIU students and alumni and hosts an international crowd of more than 65,000 at 100+ events over four days.

“There are so many opportunities presented to us, opportunities that you don’t get at any other school,” Pazos said. “So many of the people who manage Ultra and other events are FIU alumni, so it’s good to know that could be in my future as well.”

Even more FIU students than in past years worked the festival in 2025 thanks to the invitation of alumna Miranda Ghirimoldi ’23, who is in charge of hiring Ultra's guest registration team.

More than160,000 people came from more than 100 countries to attend the three-day electronic dance music festival in 2025.

“When I was a student, I was contracted as a ticketing agent. It is a full circle moment for me because now I am managing guest list for Ultra,” she said. “For us, it’s very important to have event industry experience before getting out into the world because we need to network and be in contact with event managers to get a job.”

And with some of the most-famous, most-glamorous and most-sought-after sports and entertainment mega events taking place in South Florida, Chaplin grads’ exposure will help them pad their portfolios and potentially land their dream event management position.