11:41 a.m., April 9, 2009----A summit designed to encourage college students, especially underrepresented students, to consider hospitality business ownership as a future career path was held at the University of Delaware on April 4-5.

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The third annual Darden Restaurants Foundation Entrepreneurship Summit drew nearly 100 students, professors and advisers from Delaware State University, Morgan State University, Virginia State University, Cheyney University, Lincoln University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore and UD to the weekend event at the Courtyard Newark-University of Delaware hotel on campus.

“There may be more entrepreneurial opportunities in the hospitality business than there are in any other industry,” said Robert Nelson, associate professor and chairperson of UD's Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management (HRIM). “We want the students to realize the breadth of these opportunities and show them that business ownership is within their grasp.”

Cynthia Mayo, director of the HRIM program at Delaware State University, said the summit provided undergraduates with valuable information about owning and operation of hospitality enterprises, information that is not generally provided to undergraduate students.

“As a result, students will view hospitality as a field that has an extensive broad base that will allow them to provide leadership in the community,” Mayo said.

The summit included a business plan contest, whose top prize of $2,500 went to Ida Kraner, Daniel Gerber and Alyssa Konopka from the University of Delaware. The second prize of $1,500 went to Darrius West, Vaidra Boston and Danielle Springer from Delaware State University.

The event, which is supported by the Darden Restaurants Foundation, was organized by Francis Kwansa, associate chairperson of HRIM, and Lozelle De Luz, who served on the UD Board of Trustees and was a previous owner of McDonald's franchises.

This year's summit was cohosted by the Consortium of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and received additional contributions this year from McDonald's and Chick-Fil-A Restaurants.

Article by Martin A Mbugua
Photo by Donna Laws