The Hospitality Management (HRTM) program at UL Lafayette obtained funding to support a service learning project called “A Head Start for Family and Consumer Sciences: Mentoring by UL Lafayette Hospitality Management Students”.  The project pairs senior level UL Lafayette Hospitality Management (HRTM) interns with 13 Acadiana high school programs offering Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) to over 250 junior and senior high school students. Those schools include: Abbeville High, Beau Chene High, Cecilia High, Breaux Bridge High, Iota High, North side High, Rayne High, Washington Career Center, WD Smith Career Center, Westgate High, Comeaux High, Lafayette High, and Acadiana High schools. The ultimate goal of the project is for the HRTM program to create and foster an ongoing relationship with the Family and Consumer Sciences programs in Acadiana.

Students enrolled in HRTM 430- Internship in HRTM will mentor FACS students by providing support on technical industry skills, career paths, post secondary education opportunities, and industry certifications.  The project will achieve these goals by working closely with FACS instructors to identify deficiencies and/or needs of the FACS students.  HRTM interns will conduct educational seminars at each of the FACS high schools, provide in class mentoring and sponsor an Acadiana Youth Educational Culinary Conference and Competition. These learning opportunities will aid in preparing FACS students for their future academic/ professional careers in the foodservice industry.  In addition, this project will expose high school students to the higher education opportunities that the HRTM program at UL Lafayette has to offer.

The project is directed by Becky Dubois, HRTM coordinator, internship advisor and former Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) Acadiana Chapter Board Secretary. Linda Fontenot and Mandi Britten, HRTM Seniors, are the intern project co-coordinators. The Department of Marketing and Hospitality and the Hosteurs organization in the Moody College of Business at UL Lafayette as well as Rouses Super Market have provided the program with financial assistance.

The project began in March of 2009 with the HRTM co-coordinators and project director attending the Louisiana Restaurant Association Youth Culinary Competition in New Orleans.  The HRTM co-coordinators visited with FACS instructors individually to identify their school’s educational needs. The HRTM interns and co-coordinators are currently traveling to each of the 13 Acadiana schools to conduct educational seminars. The HRTM team is in the process of planning the Acadiana Youth Educational Culinary Conference & Competition to be held January 7 & 8, 2010. The HRTM team will then accompany the Acadiana schools to the statewide competition in March of 2010.