Colorado State University-Pueblo will be hosting its 18th annual Dining Etiquette Training” Nov. 5, 2015 in the Occhiato University Center. The event is organized by Michelle Gjerde, of the Career Center, who has been in charge of this event since she started at the university.
The event, funded by student fees that are tied into tuition, is meant to prepare students for the professional aspect of any job or function of their career after graduating college.
“The event is free for students since it is funded by the student fees that are paid. I encourage all students to try and get a reservation for this event,” Gjerde said.
The dining room is set up to hold 19 tables, each seated with seven individuals per table. A table leader will also be incorporated to coordinate with the majors of the students at each table. These table leaders will include either alumni of CSU-Pueblo or high title leaders in businesses around the community.
Along with teaching students the etiquette of dining, the event will help students with their professional attitudes and create networking opportunities. Registration for the event starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Hearthwell Lounge of the OUC and will follow with a networking reception at 5:45 p.m.
The dinner will begin at 7 p.m. and will include guest speakers that include Jacqueline Taggart, Chad Heberly and Christopher Tuner. Taggart, who serves as a professor of business and director of the Danish program at Pikes Peak Community College, has spoken at the last four etiquette trainings at CSU-Pueblo.
Heberly and Turned who are also CSU-Pueblo alumni will be joining Taggart for the event for their second year in a row. They will be speaking together as a team to students and community members which will be an entertaining experience, Gjerde said.
Heberly graduated from the university in 2004 with a double major in management and economics and is currently on the chair of the Alumni Relations Board. He has served on many boards in the community of Pueblo including Parkview Hospital Foundation Board and the Pueblo Country Club Board.
Turner graduated in 2003 with a degree in political science and was student body president. He was also an intern at the White House and proceeded to attend law school after his internship. He has been given the title of Pueblo County Bar Association Outstanding Young Lawyer and was the recipient of the 2013 CSU-Pueblo President’s Medallion for alumni achievement.
If students make a reservation and decide they don’t want to or can’t attend, they have to call and cancel 48 hours in advance or they are charged a $25 cancellation fee.
“The food is expensive and seating is limited so we don’t want to waste any food or have somebody that wants to attend miss out on coming and having a chance to learn something,” Gjerde said.
There are only 160 total spots available for junior and seniors. More information on the Dining Etiquette Training can be found at 719-549-2358.
