Virginia Tech Students Showcase Skills at “Ignite Event Excellence: The EEMG Innovation Showcase”

Virginia Tech’s Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) Department hosted Ignite Event Excellence: The EEMG Innovation Showcase in Wallace Hall. The event spotlighted student work from the Catering, Event Management, Hospitality Sales, and Event Capstone courses, featuring applied learning projects and experiential educational opportunities developed both in and outside of the classroom throughout the Fall and Spring semesters.

A total of 52 students participated across 18 teams, demonstrating the planning, strategy, and communication skills essential to success in the events and hospitality industry. Projects were judged in four competition categories—Event Management, Catering, Event Capstone, and Hospitality Sales—by 12 professionals currently working in the field.

"Events are a universal thread woven into the fabric of our social and economic lives, spanning from intimate social gatherings to high-stakes corporate functions, and thrilling sports and entertainment spectacles. Event planning and management is a growing business that centers on the art and science of creating experiences that leave a lasting Memory.” said Dr. Zheng Xiang, Department Head and Professor of Feiertag HTM . “I'm glad to see this initiative, led by HTM Assistant Professor of Practice Tarah Warner, offering a valuable opportunity for our students to share their learning and engage with professionals in this field."

A unique highlight of this year’s showcase was the presence of the official Richmond Raceway pace car, which was on display outside Wallace Hall, creating an exciting visual connection to the keynote speaker’s background and Richmond Raceway's involvement. The car drew attendees outdoors and helped set the tone for an immersive, experiential event.

Inside, keynote speaker Lori Waran, President of NASCAR’s Richmond Raceway, brought additional energy to the event with insights from her extensive experience in producing and managing events throughout her career. She spoke candidly about the importance of adaptability, professionalism, and creating meaningful experience, while also emphasizing the value of tenacity in the face of failure. Waran encouraged students to view setbacks as stepping stones, sharing moments from her own journey where perseverance led to growth and opportunity.

The event also welcomed participation from Virginia Tech’s Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), who displayed two of their custom-built race vehicles at the venue. The Formula SAE team, Virginia Tech's formula-style race team, showcased its race car, which is designed and built by students who compete against 120 other university teams. Alongside them, VTGT, a student-run grand touring team, exhibited a race vehicle that recently won first place in B class earlier this semester in a sanctioned regional competition. Their presence added a high-performance motorsports element that aligned closely with the NASCAR theme and drew strong interest from attendees. The SAE teams’ participation was made possible by Michael Planey, SAE President, who coordinated their involvement to help create interdisciplinary connections between engineering, hospitality, and motorsports.

Each competition category was judged by a panel of experienced industry leaders:

• Catering Judges:
  Ivy Oliver-Bush (One Fine Day Events, LLC), Michael Bordens (University Club), James Landrum (Hyatt Place & Residence Inn Blacksburg-University)
• Event Capstone Judges:
  Melissa Milione (Hyatt Hotels & Resorts), Macy Oja (Events By Macy), Chelsea Yeatts (One Fine Day Events LLC and Bent Oaks Manor)
• Event Management Judges:
  Carrie Davenport (Altria Group Distribution Company), Jillian Waller (Mountain Lake Lodge), Erika Lytell (The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center)
• Hospitality Sales Judges:
  Brian Wells, Elizabeth Sandoz (The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center), Lyndsi Hale (Mountain Lake Lodge)

The showcase not only celebrated student achievement but also connected them directly with industry mentors, local businesses, and student-led organizations, all working together to highlight innovation and career readiness. The showcase stood as a dynamic intersection of education and industry, leaving students, professionals, and guests inspired by the innovation, excellence, and collaboration on display. 

Congratulations to our student award winners!

• Catering: Betaneya Daniel, Chenlong Du, Caroline Herbert, Katherine Kim, Bo Nuernberger
• Event Capstone: Riley Leetch, Laila Prade, Cassidy Schultz
• Event Management: Catherine Carey
• Hospitality Sales: Abbey Burton and Caroline Miele

A special thank you to our sponsors of the event: A Party's Favorite Entertainment, Altria Group Distribution Company, AV Media Inc., Aztec Rental, Bent Oaks Manor, Events By Macy, Hyatt, Hyatt Place Blacksburg/University, Mountain Lake Lodge, One Fine Day Events LLC, Resident Inn by Marriott Blacksburg-University, The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center: Curio Collection By Hilton, TMW Productions LLC, University Club of Virginia Tech and Weddings by TMW Productions LLC.