First Graduates of the UH Hilton College-San Antonio Join Houston Classmates at Convocation Ceremonies

HOUSTON, May 4, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For Richard Bundick and Anesa Sankar, graduation has extra meaning. They are the first graduates of the new University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College-San Antonio. They'll join fellow hotel and restaurant management graduates in Houston for the college's convocation ceremony on Friday, May 13, at Hofheinz Pavilion.

"My experience at this new campus has been unparalleled," Bundick said. "From day one, we've all been like a big family. We are living hospitality every day."

The UH Hilton College-San Antonio opened in 2014 as a way to pair the top-ranked hospitality program with the Tourism Capitol of Texas. It is the only bachelor-level hospitality degree offered in San Antonio. Located in Sunset Station, the new program is growing. By fall, 55 students will be enrolled. The program works in partnership with St. Philip's College, which offers a two-year degree in a variety of hospitality programs. Graduates from St. Philip's College (as well as other accredited two- or four-year institutions) can transfer to the UH program to complete a Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Both Bundick and Sankar transferred from St. Philip's.  

"My most valuable experience here has been developing a bigger and better professional networking circle," Sankar said. "This school has given me the skills and tools to venture into hotel operations. I am on my way!"

San Antonio has a thriving hospitality industry, creating opportunities for students to take their classroom experiences into the real world through internships and networking.

"These graduates are the start of a phenomenal change that UH—the first Tier One institute in San Antonio—is bringing to South and Central Texas," said Lisa Hernandez, director of operations for the college. "This is the first cohort of students that will be able to give back to an industry they love and are truly passionate about."

It's estimated that San Antonio's tourism industry employs more than 112,000 people, the third largest industry in the area, underscoring the importance and the potential of this program.

"I am excited that institutions of higher education, like UH Hilton College, are helping connect more San Antonians to opportunities for prosperity, especially in the travel industry, which is vital to our city's economy," said San Antonio Mayor Ivy R. Taylor.

For more information, visit www.hrm.uh.edu.

SOURCE University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management

Related Links

http://www.hrm.uh.edu