Forty students from the University of Technology's (UTech) School of Hospitality and Tourism Management have been selected as volunteer stewards at this year's Jamaica Observer Food Awards to be held next Thursday on the lawns of Devon House.

During a visit to the university's St Andrew campus Tuesday last, Food Awards chair Novia McDonald-Whyte invited students to gain first-hand knowledge and practical experience from participating in a large-scale event such as the Food Awards. The initiative, led by McDonald-Whyte and Garcia Green-McLennon, UTech's director of student financing, is aimed at exposing students to the events management industry. According to McDonald-Whyte, this opportunity will not only provide students with a wealth of experience, but once integrated into the curriculum of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, students will eventually be given credits which will go towards their final grades.

Green-McLennon told Thursday Food that the students are very excited about volunteering. "Many of them wanted to come onboard this year and it shows how serious they are about their field of study," she told us. "Once you are in the food service department at the School of Hospitality and Tourism, it is your dream to be a part of the Food Awards and come May 31, these students will be able to experience that." Green-McLennon explained that the experience will add to the students' overall development as professionals in the food industry. The UTech student financing director hopes more organisers of events like the Food Awards will team up with the university to help nurture professionalism in students.