This past summer, senior Restaurant Hotel and Institutional Management (RHIM) major Caitlin Ramirez landed a culinary internship at the JW Marriot in San Antonio, Texas. The sprawling hill country resort boasts a nine acre water park, a Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) certified golf course, a spa featuring indigenous inspired treatments, 6 restaurants, and a Starbucks.

As a culinary intern, Caitlin prepared dishes for around 1000 guests a day, and worked at an action station with the Banquet Kitchen where she prepared and served food for more than 300 guests.

"Working as a culinary intern at the JW Marriott gave me the opportunity to not only build my resume, but enhance my cooking and hospitality skills. Working 400+ hours over the summer taught me how to adapt to different kitchen and event settings."

During her culinary internship experience, Caitlin and the other interns were tasked with organizing a service project to give back to the community. Caitlin assisted in the creation and execution of an intern service project called "Cancer Never Sleeps," to raise money for the American cancer Society. The 24-hour service project raised $3000 for the American Cancer Society.

"The internship program was great and showed me the customer social responsibility the Marriott has in the community," Caitlin said. “I think it's great that the RHIM program requires students to get an internship because it gives us hands-on experience and room to grow in our field."

Caitlin says that the RHIM program is unique in that it offers students a variety of opportunities to gain experience in the industry. Students can work in the Hospitality and Retail Management program's student-run Skyviews restaurant in addition to participating in an internship. 

Caitlin says she originally chose RHIM because it allowed her to be the social butterfly that she is and integrate her love of working with people and helping others. Caitlin's appreciation for the program has since grown from the learning opportunities within the program and the unwavering support she's received from her professors over the years.

Caitlin is set to graduate August of 2018, with hopes to soon have a job lined up after graduation. Caitlin says that she loves working with kids and being outdoors, so she is currently looking for jobs within the hospitality industry that would allow her that privilege.

"Through the RHIM program and my internship at the JW Marriott, I have learned the importance of networking and selling yourself in the best way possible. It is important to make a good first impression, because you never know when you might work with that person again."