As part of a collaborative partnership between the Penn State Berks and Stokesay Castle, Chancellor R. Keith Hillkirk and Charles Gulati, president of Stokesay Castle, signed a hospitality management internship program affiliation agreement at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, May 28, at Stokesay Castle.
The internship agreement will provide students in the Penn State Berks' bachelor of science in Hospitality Management program an opportunity to complete internships at Stokesay Castle, a historic Berks County landmark that offers contemporary American fine dining and casual pub fare, as well as a unique venue for weddings and corporate and special events. The agreement officially goes into effect in September 2015.
“This is an exciting opportunity for both Stokesay and Penn State Berks. Over the years with the leadership of General Manager Luis Pereira, we have worked diligently to create a premiere restaurant and banquet venue in order to deliver the highest level of food and service to our customers,” explained Stokesay Castle President Chuck Gulati. “This internship partnership with Penn State Berks allows us to share what we’ve created with students to give them a comprehensive look at the inner workings of our organization, and at the same time benefit from their ideas and support.”
The hospitality industry is a major economic driver in the Berks County area, and the Hospitality Management degree program is offered in response to demand for graduates with degrees in the hospitality industry. Penn State Berks is the only campus outside Penn State University Park to offer this degree program.
"This partnership with Stokesay Castle will provide new and rewarding opportunities for our students to learn the intricacies of the hospitality industry from working professionals,” states Penn State Berks Chancellor R. Keith Hillkirk. “We are excited and so pleased to join with Chuck Gulati and his team at Stokesay."
The Penn State Berks Hospitality Management degree program is offered with the Hospitality Entrepreneurship Option, only available at Penn State Berks. This degree helps to prepare students for management positions in hotels, restaurants, institutions, and other hospitality organizations. The program is designed to provide students with the creative problem solving, opportunity recognition, and leadership skills necessary to effectively manage hospitality operations.
For more information on the Hospitality Management degree, contact program coordinator Jennifer Wakemen at 610-396-6123 or via email at jvp5@psu.edu.