The sixth annual Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality and Tourism (MEHT) Awards Gala was held on Thursday, April 4 at UNC Greensboro’s Alumni House. This event celebrated student achievements and honored corporate partners. This red-carpet event was attended by 99 guests – a new record.
MEHT Department Head Merlyn Griffiths welcomed guests. “Our annual gala is about honoring student leadership and the invaluable partnerships cultivated with our corporate partners who support our students with internships, guest speaking, networking and full-time positions,” she said. “It’s a testament to the collaborative spirit that drives us forward, forging pathways to success for our students and fostering enduring relationships with our industry partners.”
The event was coordinated by members of the UNCG Chapter of the American Marketing Association and North Carolina Sales Institute (NCSI) Student Business Group. Culinary Visions provided an exceptional meal.
“The MEHT Gala was a magical evening with great energy,” said UNCG American Marketing Association Chapter President Erica Graffeo. “It was exciting to see so many students at the event. We were mesmerized by Spartan Chariots’ a cappella performance.”
Students sang high praise for the evening. “The MEHT Gala was absolutely amazing. It was a great networking opportunity,” said fourth-year marketing student Bri Jackson.
“It was an honor to hear all those sensational people speak at my first MEHT Gala,” said Tyler Hoang, a second-year marketing student. “The environment was splendid.”
The Gala recognized members of the MEHT Advisory Board and partners of the North Carolina Sales Institute. Cintas Corporation received the Premier Partner Award for their ongoing support of our students. Cintas Group Vice President Bill Jeitner presented the keynote address. Four MEHT students accepted full-time job offers from Cintas in 2024.
Six campus organizations recognized student achievements. Awards were presented by the American Marketing Association Chapter, Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization (CEO) Club, Eta Sigma Delta International Hospitality Management Honor Society, NCSI Student Business Group, NET IMPACT and the Hospitality and Tourism Management Club.
The evening concluded with a surprise recognition of the achievements of Dr. Dianne H. B. Welsh, the Hayes Distinguished Chair of Entrepreneurship, who is retiring from UNCG this summer. Incoming CEO President Jules Belfi expressed her heart-warming appreciation to Dr. Welsh, who has led the CEO Club since 1995 and has won many national awards for her work in entrepreneurship.
“I had a fabulous time, and everyone enjoyed,” Welsh said. “Thanks so much for the award and honor. Jules, your speech was great! Also, a big thanks to Dr. Griffiths for her speech and arranging this! What a surprise!”
Students, faculty, and partners are looking forward to next year’s MEHT Gala.
The Bryan School is one of the largest business schools in North Carolina, offering 11 undergraduate, six master’s, 11 graduate certificate and four PhD programs. The Bryan School holds dual accreditation in business and accounting from the AACSB – a distinction held by only 1% of business schools in the world. The school produces the principled leaders and exceptional problem solvers that communities and organizations need.
The Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality and Tourism Department combines several subject areas that are often stand-alone departments, offering a strong multidisciplinary advantage to students who want to choose from a wide range of courses, while retaining enough coursework in each area to satisfy students that are interested in specializing in one of our disciplines.
Story by Sara MacSween, Bryan School of Business and Economics
Photography courtesy of Sara MacSween, Bryan School of Business and Economics
