A combination of grit and collaboration will allow an Arkansas Tech University tradition to continue on Thursday, Sept. 26.
During a typical academic year, students from the ATU hospitality administration program serve a dinner that is open to the public each Thursday night during the fall semester.
But nothing has been typical for the ATU Department of Parks, Recreation and Hospitality Administration since its home, Williamson Hall, caught fire while undergoing renovations in April 2019.
Unfazed, faculty, staff and students have moved to a temporary home at 404 N. El Paso Ave. in Russellville and carried on with their academic work. There will soon be a functional modular kitchen to serve the needs of the hospitality administration program at that location.
In the meantime, the department has created a partnership with the Wesley Foundation that will allow ATU hospitality students from the Advanced Food Preparation class to serve a to-go meal on Thursday, Sept. 26.
Pick-up times at the Wesley Foundation, located at 1111 N. El Paso Ave., will be from 5-6 p.m.
“We are planning to serve 50 meals first come and first serve, and the guests must make a reservation to pick up their meals,” said Dr. Seungsuk Lee, associate professor of hospitality administration.
The menu for Thursday, Sept. 26, will consist of a house garden salad with choice of dressing, honey garlic crunch chicken with roasted broccoli and rice and turtle cheesecake.
Cost will be $10 (including tax). Cash or checks will be accepted for payment.
Call (479) 968-0378 or send e-mail to khall18@atu.edu to reserve a Sept. 26 meal.
