ALEX EDWARDS I The Daily Mississippian
Lenior Hall currently houses the hospitality management program.
Since its inception in 2007, Ole Miss Ambassadors for Southern Hospitality has grown to allow students to get a taste of the hospitality industry.
“These students are the voice of our department when it comes to student planning events such as tailgates, fundraising, field trips and guest speakers for learning outside the classroom,” said faculty advisor Jeremy Roberts.“They plan trips to various destination cities around the Oxford area as well as Tunica, Jackson, Memphis, New Orleans and of course Oxford to learn more about the hospitality industry in interactive panel discussions, on-site visits and tours.”
A group of hospitality management students created the student organization as a means for students in the major to learn, improve and practice hospitality skills. It has since been expanded to include all students who are interested in hospitality management.
Each year, Ole Miss Ambassadors for Southern Hospitality focuses on certain areas of hospitality management. The members create events and activities that pertain to the focus areas. This semester, the organization focused on tourism and event planning, among other areas of interest.
“We visited the Oxford Tourism center in which we learned about tourism industry and the ways tourism exists here in Oxford,” said Jacqueline Stout, junior hospitality major and CEO of the organization.
Ole Miss Ambassadors for Southern Hospitality planned and coordinated a Halloween fundraiser for children of the Oxford area this semester. The event consisted of various games and activities for children in the Oxford community.
“We thoroughly enjoyed our Halloween fundraiser and hope to make it a tradition that gets bigger and better each year,” Stout said.
In addition to widespread participation from students in the Department of Nutrition and Hospitality, the organization’s officers expressed excitement over the involvement from students of all majors.
“We had members at the (activities) fair for students with undeclared majors, which was a lot of fun,” said Sloan Gray, junior hospitality major and secretary of the organization.
Ole Miss Ambassadors for Southern Hospitality has numerous activities planned for next semester, many of which will take place outside of the Oxford area. The organization hopes to organize a trip to News Orleans, according to Gray.
“While in New Orleans, OMASH members would get to experience tours in hotels and restaurants,” she said.
Getting involved in the organization can open opportunities allowing experience for students of all majors, according to Roberts.
“Even if they aren’t interested in the hospitality industry, OMASH is a great way (for students) to gain experience in volunteering and learning the in’s and out’s of some awesome corporations and businesses,” Gray said. “OMASH is also a great way to make connections with prominent people not just in Oxford but other cities and states as well.”
Roberts encourages students from all majors to participate in Ole Miss Ambassadors for Southern Hospitality. Interested students can apply on the hospitality management page of the Ole Miss website.
-Mallory Bailey
mmbailey@go.olemiss.edu
