Tomorrow is the beginning of the 22nd annual South Beach Wine and Food Festival. and Florida International University students are making final preparations for the four-day event.
“We’ve been practicing since the start of January,” said student Ian Gonzalez. “That way we’re able to exceed expectations across the table.”
Over 1200 students of all different majors are given volunteer opportunities to work about 3100 shifts during the festival. They are exposed to a wide variety of positions in the hospitality industry and gain professional experience.
“The students get a lot of networking experience from that,” said Dr. Michael Cheng, the dean of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. “Then there are the friendships they build.”
Along with volunteer opportunities, students have the chance to win scholarships. In total, the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management has raised over $34 million from SoBeWFF. The school offers $15,000 in scholarships to deserving students.
SoBeWFF showcases the talents of wine and spirit producers and culinary experts. With many events occurring and a star-studded guest list, student volunteers are eager to help execute one of the nation’s premier food and beverage events.
