Lessons learned at UNLV span the globe
When Hieu Nguyen arrived in Las Vegas, the 27-year-old native of Vietnam only knew about the city from watching Youtube. He also had no friends. That quickly changed while attending UNLV.
Nguyen, a hospitality major, nurtured bonds with other international students and industry professionals — some of whom he now considers close friends.
He is graduating today from UNLV with a bachelor’s degree before leaving for a summer internship in Maryland with PM Hotel Group, a hotel management company. When he eventually returns home to Vietnam, he’ll be taking back everything he learned from one of the nation’s best hospitality schools, he said.
Nguyen is one of 3,753 graduates in the spring commencement, UNLV said. The graduates come from 44 states and 50 countries. They are aged from 19 to 73, with 66% coming from ethnically diverse backgrounds.
“When I came here, I felt really surprised because UNLV as a whole, it’s a very good school because I got involved outside of the College of Hospitality, too, so that’s why I really liked all of the opportunities and the people that are there.”
The William F. Harrah College of Hospitality at UNLV is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s top programs, according to U.S. News & World Report. And it’s hard to beat a campus that’s only miles away from the world-famous Las Vegas Strip, where the hospitality industry is king, Nguyen said.
Nguyen took advantage of his time on campus.
He mentored more than 100 students through his work as a peer mentor for the university’s Academic Success Center, where he addresses college-related questions from first year, transfer, nontraditional and veteran students.
One student followed in his footsteps by joining the hospitality college.
“Throughout my time here at UNLV, I’ve been very fortunate to meet with so many amazing friends, and my professors and my mentors,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen has participated in nearly 20 conferences and 50 professional events, joined more than 10 student organizations, including serving as the vice president of the American Marketing Association; and was inducted into the UNLV Hall of Fame as an Outstanding Student Leader.
He additionally created his own “experiential learning club” for university students of all majors to learn about hospitality through book readings, “foodie” meetups and special events.
Books, Beverages and Bites — also known as “BBB,” or “Triple B” — has organized nearly 60 events and workshops that have been attended by hundreds of students, Nguyen said.
Some of these talks have included lessons about writing posts on Linkedin, where students got to write mock-up posts and get feedback, and practices in networking.
There are also internship panels, journaling for wellness sessions and hotel tours, Nguyen added.
All their work will culminate into the summer release of the first hospitality-focused student journal, dubbed the Pineapple, which will feature writing from hospitality experts across the nation.
“There’s something for everyone, not only in hospitality, but as long as you have the interest to learn about the industry, then you belong to BBB,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen said he’s excited for this weekend’s graduation and knows his parents will be watching the livestream from Vietnam. He may be leaving the university, but he hasn’t had his fill of the U.S. just yet.
After his internship, he plans to work another year — preferably in “any city with good public transport” — then secure a graduate degree before heading back home to Vietnam.
“It’s the ‘Rebels Make It Happen’ spirit — seeing my peers, professors and staff’s devotion has inspired me to make things happen,” Nguyen said of what he learned at UNLV. “That’s a spirit I’ll forever carry with me, with pride, moving forward.”