(Black PR Wire) CHEYNEY, PA - August 23, 2016 -- All of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania’s recent Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management (HRTM) graduates are gainfully employed in hospitality and related businesses, proving that an HRTM degree from the nations first HBCU (Historically Black College or University) isn’t just a piece of paper. With seasoned faculty with proven track records in the hospitality industry teaching Cheyney HRTM students, hands-on experience via internships, and exposure to industry leaders at national conferences, Cheyney HRTM graduates can soar on to great heights in a high-demand industry that has too many opportunities to count.

HRTM 2016 graduates Akeem Whittaker and Islam Fish are working as Restaurant Managers for Red Robin Restaurant Company. Christian Fairchild is enjoying success with a recently established real estate and transportation business. Daquan Cook is engaged full-time with Impark (Imperial Parking Corporation), one of the largest parking management companies in North America. Khayriyyah Furqan is a Front Officer Manager for Holiday Inn Express & Suites. Marque Levy is an Assistant Food & Beverage Manager with Sodexo, a multinational food services and facilities management company. Serea Robinson is a Floor Supervisor at The Logan Philadelphia, Curio Collection by Hilton, and Yuhanna Muhammed is a Front Office Manager Trainee at the Hilton Waikoloa Village in Hawaii.

In addition, numerous current HRTM majors and minors are wrapping up exciting, paid summer internships and jobs. For example, Cierra Collins and Chalise Robinson worked with Aramark, the worldwide provider of food, facilities, and uniform services. Collins worked as a Food and Nutritional Services Intern at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in North Carolina while Robinson served as a Front Desk Supervisor at Lake Powell in Bullfrog, Utah. Dewhitt Jones interned not far from campus in Housekeeping and with the Front Desk at the Wyndham Garden Glen Mills-Wilmington Hotel. Evelyn Williams is working as a Food Services Manager for Attleboro Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Langhorne, PA. Isaiah Stratton worked as a Gallery Host at Hyatt Place Secaucus/Meadowlands in New Jersey. Leonard Brown interned in Chicago, IL as a Sales Consultant with the Kellogg Company. Naomi Spearman worked as a Manager with Ace Diner in Philadelphia, PA. Nettia Johnson-Fripp has been working as an Operations Manager via The Voyage Global Leadership Development Program at Marriott International. Sharell Reddin and Tyneesah Davenport worked as Program Coordinators with the Hyatt High School Summer Bridge Program. Siani James worked in line queue management at the Philadelphia International Airport. Starr Tate interned as a Supervisor-in-Training for Ovations Food Services at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, PA and Temple University, and Stessie Pierre has been interning with American Cruise Lines and traveling up and down the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest.

While some of the students obtained internships and jobs on their own, many of these opportunities were the direct result of Cheyney’s annual participation in the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH) Regional Conference and the NSMH Annual Conference & Career Fair or were acquired via connections with HRTM faculty and corporate partners.

Cheyney’s HRTM Program is recognized as one of the 50 most affordable small colleges for Hospitality Administration. Students get a cutting edge experiential education that boosts their industry knowledge, hones their decision-making and critical thinking skills, prepares them for entry-level managerial success, provides critical partnerships with leading industry organizations, managerial simulations, and opportunities to attend regional and national conferences.
A liberal arts university, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania hosts signature programs such as the Keystone Honors Academy, the Call Me MISTER teaching program, the Aquaculture Research and Teaching Laboratory and the accredited Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management program. Recognized as the first institution for higher learning for African Americans, Cheyney University has been educating students for 179 years. The University offers baccalaureate and graduate degree programs at two locations, Cheyney and Philadelphia, PA – Center City. For more information, please visit our website.