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Want to find out what it's like to be an HTM student at Purdue University? Read what these students have to say — you can even e-mail them for more information.
Name: Lance Connolly
Hometown: Rushville, Indiana
High School: Rushville Consolidated High School
Emphasis: Foodservice Management
Classification: Senior
What attracted you to Purdue and Hospitality and Tourism Management? Why did you choose it over other schools?
I was attracted to Purdue because of its world class reputation. When I was researching what major at Purdue best suited my interest, I soon learned about the HTM program, and I wanted to become a part of one of the country's finest hospitality programs. I feel that choosing Purdue has been one of the best decisions of my life!
What do you like about HTM?
The HTM department is like family. With over 38,000 students on our West Lafayette campus, you may feel overwhelmed. Once you become a part of the HTM department, you begin to make many friends within your classes. Also, we are very fortunate to have some of the country's finest faculty and staff who care about the student's success and ensure that you have a solid foundation before you launch your career in the hospitality industry.
What activities are you in and are you an officer or on any committees?
I am a member of the Purdue Varsity Glee Club which has made Purdue proud for over 115 years as "goodwill singing ambassadors." With over 100 performances each school year, I keep busy traveling and attending class. Within the Glee Club, I hold the position of a PurdueSir, which is a leadership and scholarship honorary. Within the HTM department, I am a member of the HTM Society and Eta Sigma Delta Honors Society. In Fall 2008 I am a teaching assistant for HTM 101 a Hospitality Seminar that all beginning HTM freshman take. In addition, I have participated in the last three Boilermaker Black Tie Dinners as part of the culinary team. Being actively involved on campus allows you to take full advantage of the many opportunities available to you!
Internship Opportunities
I interned at Crooked Stick Golf Club, Carmel, Indiana in the summer of 2006.
In the summer of 2007 I interned at the Columbia Club in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana and was the Ambassador to the members and was the food and beverage intern.
Over winter break I was an Operations Intern at the Starwood Hotels and Resorts in Stamford, Connecticut.
What would be your "dream job"?
My dream job is to become an estate manager. A position such as this includes all aspects of hospitality from managing a staff to arranging travel itineraries.
The experiences from a job like this would allow me to use my HTM degree to its fullest.
To talk to Lance Connolly email him at lconnoll@purdue.edu
Name: Marissa Gudanick
Hometown: Wheaton, Illinois
High School: Wheaton North High School
Emphasis: Lodging Management
Classification: Senior
What attracted you to Purdue and Hospitality and Tourism Management? Why did you choose it over other schools?
Purdue's ranking among other HTM schools attracted me most and I knew that I would get the best education here. Second was the location. It's far enough from home, but still a close enough distance to go home on the weekends. I fell in love with Purdue's campus the second I saw it. I loved the big school, small campus feel to it. I chose Purdue for all of these reasons. I was attracted to HTM when I was searching for culinary schools. Originally, I wanted to be a chef, but upon finding information about an HTM degree, I changed my mind. I love to work with people, solve their problems, and make sure the problem doesn't happen again. Based off what I have experienced thus far, I have a passion for this industry.
What do you like about HTM?
I like the fact that I have classes with some of the same students. It really helps when there are group projects or when I need help with a class. The professors are accessible to help the student. They are always there for you whether you have a question about their class or the industry.
What activities are you in and are you an officer or on any committees?
I am a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority. I have been philanthropy chair and now I am vice president of finances. I have learned about budgeting, staying organized, and being a good leader for my sisters. I am also involved with the Boilermaker Black Tie Dinner and HTM Society. I was a teaching assistant for HTM 101 which is a part of the TEAM HTM Learning Community for fall 2007. HTM 101 helps beginning students adapt to Purdue and their major and start career planning.
Internship Opportunities
I have completed two internships with White Lodging Services at the Residence Inn in Warrenville, Illinois. For my first internship, I found it by visiting the property on my own. I worked the breakfast, evening social, laundry, and housekeeping. For my second internship, I interviewed through the HTM Career Center. I was a supervisor, worked the front desk, trained new employees, and did projects to improve the hotel scores. In the summer of 2008 my internship will also be at a White Lodging property, the Residence Inn on the Canal in Indianapolis, Indiana.
What would be your "dream job"?
My dream job would be to manage a select or full-service hotel in a big city.
Word of advice for prospective students.
Get involved in the industry early. Don't think you can't get an internship as a freshman-it shows your dedication and passion if you pursue one. Get as involved as your schedule permits. Do not be afraid to get involved. Step up and be a leader if you can because the experience you can get from that alone will benefit you in the end. Purdue has one of the best HTM programs. The combination of my activities, experience, and education will put me in the perfect place when I graduate.
To talk to Marissa Gudanick, email her at mgudanic@purdue.edu
Name: Rebekah Horney 
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana
High School: Blackhawk Christian High School
Emphasis: Foodservice Management
Classification: Junior
What attracted you to Purdue and Hospitality and
Tourism Management? Why did you choose it over other schools?
The first thing that attracted me to Purdue was the fact that the
HTM program here is number 1 in the nation. I also had a
few friends who were already in the program and highly recommended it to me. The second thing I liked about Purdue was the proximity to my home. Being only two hours away, I have the option of going home for a weekend if I chose and the in-state tuition is a plus.
What do you like about HTM?
I love the Study Abroad opportunities that HTM has to offer. So far I have traveled to Spain and Switzerland with different HTM programs and I loved every minute of it. Spain was a wonderful experience because I was not only able to learn more about the tourism industry while living along the Mediterranean, but was also able to increase my Spanish skills while I was there. The HTM department offers a variety of programs throughout the Fall and Spring semesters, as well as during spring break and the summer. In the summer of 2008 I will be taking advantage of the chance to study abroad through another HTM program in Australia.
What activities are you in and are you an officer or on any committees?
I am currently living in a Cooperative House called Twin Pines, where I am very involved and hold several offices including rush chair, scholarship chair, and chaplain and on the standards committee. As a Purdue Opportunities Awards Scholar, I have had the opportunity to not only be involved in this scholarship program as a scholar, but also as a mentor and as a Peer Facilitator/Teaching Assistant. Other clubs I am involved in include the Navigators, the Salsa Club,and the Purdue Night Train (Swing dance club.) I also volunteer once a week through my Spanish class to help teach English to the Spanish speakers in our community.
Internship Opportunities
Since I have been spending my summers studying abroad, I have not yet completed an internship. I plan to do a required HTM Internship in the summer of 2009.
What would be your "dream job"?
My dream job would consist of being the manager of an upscale restaurant on the west coast or in another country such as Spain. Studying the foodservice side of Hospitality and Tourism Management has also increased my love of food and cooking, resulting in a desire to go to culinary school. I'd like to become a pastry chef and perhaps own a wedding cake business later in my career.
Word of advice for prospective students.
Get involved as much as possible. Purdue is a big campus and offers a wide variety of activities and clubs for all interests. Being involved will not only help you to meet a lot of new people, but it will also help you develop leadership skills if you step into officer roles in any of the clubs or organizations. Involvement in HTM activities is a great way to learn more about your major and the hospitality industry.
If you'd like to talk to Rebekah Horney email her at rhorney@purdue.edu
Name: Tammy Koerte
Hometown: Kauai, Hawaii
High School: Kauai High School
Emphasis: Tourism & Lodging
Classification: Senior
What attracted you to Purdue and Hospitality and Tourism Management? Why did you choose it over other schools?
I was attracted to Purdue and its HTM program because both the University and the HTM program are highly respected and well-known in the hospitality and tourism industry. I chose to attend Purdue because I have lived on Kauai my entire life and I felt that this would be an opportunity to experience something new while pursuing my education at a renowned university.
What do you like about HTM?
I feel that the faculty and staff of the HTM department truly care about the students. It is comforting to be part of a department where I am seen as an individual rather than just "one of the students". The supportive environment has been particularly helpful since I came to Purdue not knowing anyone or having any prior campus visits.
What activities are you in and are you an officer or on any committees?
During my junior year, I was the treasurer of NSMH, National Society of Minorities in Hospitality, as well as the chair of the publicity & communications committee for the 2008 CFS Diversity Fair. I am also currently working on a CFS Honors Project which takes a considerable amount of time.
Internship Opportunities
Kauai Visitors Bureau summer 2006
Information Services, Public Relations, Advertising, Travel Trade
Outrigger Waipouli Beach Resort & Spa (Kapaa, Kauai) summer 2007
Front desk, housekeeping, and human resources
Sheraton Kauai Resort (Poipu Beach, Koloa, Kauai) summer 2008 Sales Intern
I got all the internships on my own.
What would be your "dream Job"?
I would like to be involved in tourism planning and development or destination marketing.
Word of advice for prospective students.
Get as much hands-on, internship experiences as possible. It will help you determine where your interests lie and will make you more marketable when you graduate.
To contact Tammy Koerte, email her at tkoerte@purdue.edu
Name: Kevin Mills
Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana
High School: Cathedral High School
Emphasis: Lodging Management
Classification: Senior
What attracted you to Purdue and Hospitality and Tourism? Wy did you choose it over other schools?
I have always been a Boilermaker fan since I was a kid. While I was in high school I was very interested in the culinary arts and foodservice industry, and strongly considered culinary school, but learned Purdue had a top notch program, and after visiting I felt like Purdue and HTM was a perfect fit for me.
What do you like about HTM?
One of the best things about HTM is the sense of a small program within a large University. By that, I mean there is a group of students with each incoming class that will follow the same curriculum and will have many classes together. You make friends with similar goals and personality, as well as being resources for help in those classes.
What activities are you in and are you an officer or on any committees?
I have been a member of the HTM Society for three years, and have been involved with the Boilermaker Black Tie Dinner for three years as well; first as a food server, then as a back of the house cook, and this past year as the Wine Director. I am a member of a social fraternity and have served on lower board. I also work part time a the Purdue Memorial Union as a caterer and bartender for banquets and receptions in the ballrooms.
Internship Opportunities
In the summer of 2007 I interned with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana in their food and beverage department. I was a liaison between the suite holders and the hospitality warehouse and ensured that the suite holders were happy so they could entertain their clients at the "World's Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
What would be your "dream job"?
Being from Indy, I have always been a huge fan of racing, and to be able to incorporate that with hospitality would be my ideal job. I would love to be a hospitality director and make travel plans and itineraries for an IRL or F1 team.
Word of advice for prospective students.
My advise would be to "prioritize." While being new at a college, some may feel like there is not enough time in a day to do all of the work and studying necessary for each class. If you prioritize, you will not miss an assignment, and there still is time to have fun and relax.
To contact Kevin Mills , email him at kpmills@purdue.edu
Name: Ryan Turley
Hometown: Houston, Texas
High School: Clear Brook High School in Friendswood, Texas
Emphasis: Tourism & Lodging with a minor in Economics
Classification: Junior
What attracted you to Purdue and Hospitality and Tourism Management? Why did you choose it over other schools?
I was attracted to Purdue by the #1 ranking. I wanted to go to a place where I knew I could get a top notch education and have a great career. I chose Purdue over other schools because of the friendly atmosphere when I visited. All of the advisors and students seemed eager to help and get to know me, even as a visiting high school senior. It felt like a place where you could get to know everyone. Coming from far away, this was really important to me - having people to make me feel comfortable at my home away from home.
What do you like about HTM?
The best part of HTM is we are getting real world training. All of the classes are relevant, so you're instantly learning things to get ahead in the real world.
What activities are you in and are you an officer or on any committees?
I am the treasurer for HTM Society and involved in the Boilermaker Black Tie Dinner event. I am also a CFS Ambassador, helping to promote and educate students about the College of Consumer and Family Sciences.
Internship Opportunity
In the summer of 2008 I am interning as a staff accountant at Hotel Terra in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
What would be your "dream job"?
My dream job would be working in hospitality finance; either in hospitality consulting, a hotel real estate investment firm, or as the controller of a large property.
Word of advice for prospective students.
Come in with an open mind. Don't think that you know exactly which career field you're going into. HTM opens up so many possibilities, which is why the internship requires you to rotate through many areas. Realize that you can tailor your career to fit what you're good at, and what you like. There's no reason for you to be stuck in a job you don't like in HTM! Also, don't be afraid to ask questions, because you're not expected to know all the answers.
To contact Ryan Turley, email him at rkturley@purdue.edu
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