Student-led experiences

Casino Night

Help raise funds and awareness of our Hotel and Restaurant Management programs, all while refining your skills and preparing for the job market. Supporting our student scholarships and building connections with NAU alumni and industry partners, you’ll earn valuable experience and put your classroom expertise to work.

23^rd annual HRM golf tournament

Monday, April 22, 2024, at the Wildfire Golf Club at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa. Registration and breakfast at 7 a.m., shotgun start at 8 a.m., and 19th hole celebration immediately following the tournament.

Arizona Lodging Conference

The Lodging Conference is one of the top hotel industry events in the world. Over the past 20-plus years, tens and thousands of high-powered hotel owners and executives from around the globe have participated. We bring together the hotel industry’s most influential owners, operators, presidents, CEOs, and dealmakers to strategize about development, finance, franchising, management, construction, design, operations, and, most importantly, to make deals.

The students spend three days working at this prestigious event, helping to check in attendees, providing directions, answering questions, assisting with seating, and aiding in any other needs the conference organizers may ask of them. The students are rewarded with valuable exposure to some of the hospitality industry’s top executives, the ability to attend some of the panels and think tanks, and the opportunity to network during evening sessions.

Annual Arizona Brewer’s for Veterans Dinner

The ABV Dinner is an evening of food pairing showcasing Flagstaff’s craft breweries and its best and brightest chefs and food minds.

This is a 100% charity event. All board members, along with an additional 50-plus volunteers, donate their time. The students assist with everything from setup to tear-down, pouring, and cooking. Approximately 270 people in total attended the dinner, which was held at the Flagstaff Elk’s Lodge.

Viola Awards

The Viola Awards celebrates excellence in arts, science, and culture and recognizes artists, educators, organizations, and leaders who make positive contributions to the Flagstaff community. Over 400 people attended the event to celebrate and support these distinguished artists and professionals.

Students are involved with the setup, as well as executing the event and breakdown. The students experience the event-side production of a gala-style award reception with the local community.

Miss Cleo’s Tea Party

Miss Cleo’s Tea Party is an annual fundraising event for the Southside Community Association in Flagstaff. The fundraising event is a yearly tradition to celebrate the community and replicate a high tea experience for the attendees.

Students are involved from the beginning with creating a theme, decor, and agenda for the event. The students reach out to the community for donations, and all the funds raised go back to the Southside community.