2012-2013 HRA Student Ambassadors - Hospitality and Restaurant Administration

Six outstanding HRA majors were selected, though a competitive process, to serve as Student Ambassadors for the 2012-13 academic year. In this capacity, they assist the department with recruiting activities and professional outreach. Congratulations and thank you to these exceptional students!

Mallory Allgier currently works as a Guest Service Representative and Night Auditor at the University Plaza Hotel, a John Q. Hammons property, in Springfield, Missouri. She is active in Hospitality Leaders of Tomorrow for which she serves as Co-President, Eta Sigma Delta International Hospitality Honor Fraternity, Phi Sigma Pi National Honors Fraternity, the Springfield Hotel & Lodging Association, the College of Natural and Applied Sciences Student Advisory Board, and Missouri State University's Honors College. She received both the Hospitality and Restaurant Administration Board of Advisors' Scholarship and Missouri State University's Board of Governors Scholarship. Mallory has been on the Dean's List since 2009 and will graduate in May 2013.

Cat Blankenship currently works as a Guest Service Representative at Hilton Garden Inn Springfield. She recently completed her internship at The Breakers Palm Beach as a Guest Service Coordinator. She serves as President of Eta Sigma Delta International Hospitality Honor Society, Co-President of Hospitality Leaders of Tomorrow, and is one of the Student Representatives on the HRA Board of Advisors. She is also an active member of the Springfield Hotel and Lodging Association, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Phi Sigma Pi, Missouri State University's Honors College, and the College of Natural and Applied Sciences Student Advisory Board Committee. Cat has been on the Dean's List since 2009 and is a recipient of the AH&LEF Arthur J. Packard Memorial Scholarship, Missouri State University Board of Governors' Scholarship, Missouri State University Leadership Scholarship, Hospitality and Restaurant Administration Department Board of Advisors' Scholarship, Earl Moulder Memorial Scholarship, Americas Lodging Investment Scholarship, and Missouri Travel Council Scholarship. She volunteers at Ozarks Food Harvest, Victory Mission, Boys and Girls Club, Kids Against Hunger, CARE Animal Shelter, Ronald McDonald House, Serotoma Chili Cook-off, and The Kitchen.

Jeff Driskill has worked at Hickory Hills Country Club in their restaurants, banquets and events, and butler service. His most recent interest is getting hired at the local coffee shop and bistro, the Brown Egg. He interned with Starwood Properties at the Sheraton Hotel & Convention Center in Overland Park, Kansas. While there, he worked in their Food & Beverage Department where he rotated around from being a server in the 1906 Restaurant, a VIP concierge in the VIP Lounge on the 19^thfloor, a barista at the Starbucks in the lobby, and a cocktail server and bartender on the outdoor patio. Jeffrey is involved in Hospitality Leaders of Tomorrow, Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, IFC Bowling League, Greek Week Chair, and New Member Education Team for his fraternity. He also volunteers at the Humane Society, Convoy of Hope, as well as The Clean-up of The Jordan River project during the warm seasons. Jeff did receive PIKE of the Month.

Eli Joplin currently works as a Lead Guest Service Representative at the Hilton Garden Inn where he also completed his internship. He is involved in Hospitality Leaders of Tomorrow and Eta Sigma Delta International Hospitality Honor Society. He serves as the fundraising chair for Eta Sigma Delta. He is also part of a group trying to start a Hilton Garden Inn Green Team where members promote green solutions and research environmentally friendly practices and certifications that our hotel can partake in to create a sustainable future. Eli has volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House and the Springfield Hotel Lodging Association Annual Golf Tournament. Eli has received many honors including American Hotel and Lodging Educational Foundation Scholarship two years in a row and the Hilton Garden Inn Springfield Employee of the Quarter.

Lauren Mattson recently completed an internship at Big Cedar Lodge in Activities and is doing a second internship at Walt Disney World in Quick Service Food and Beverage through the spring and summer. She is active in Eta Sigma Delta International Hospitality Honor Society, Hospitality Leaders of Tomorrow, Sigma Kappa Sorority, and Phi Eta Sigma. Honors that Lauren has received include Deans List, Kim Knight Scholarship, and HRA Board of Advisors Scholarship

Kelsey Staiger completed food and beverage internships at Big Cedar Lodge and the Hyatt Regency at the Arch. She has held a wide variety of positions in the food and beverage industry including prep cook, baker, cook, server assistant, busser, server, hostess, and cashier. She is involved in several organizations such as Eta Sigma Delta International Hospitality Honor Society, Hospitality Leaders of Tomorrow, Rho Lambda, Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. She holds many leadership roles including service chair for Hospitality Leaders of Tomorrow. Kelsey enjoys volunteering on campus, at hospitality based activities, Big Brother Big Sister, Ozarks Food Harvest, Ozark Greenways, Student Enrichment and Introduction to College programs, and several other non-profit organizations. A few of the honors that Kelsey has received include Missouri Restaurant Association Scholarship, American Hotel and Lodging Educational Foundation Scholarship, AH&LEF foundation scholarship brunch and show in New York City, and Dean’s List.