Penn College News

Etiquette Dinner Serves Up Mealtime Learning Opportunity for Job-Seekers

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Mark A. Ciavarella (center), assistant professor of business administration/management, brings dedicated support of students to the table.Amelia A. Seaton accepts a parting gift from Dana R. Suter.Joined by the staff and students who prepared and served their meals, the crowd of attendees and mentors spills into the Keystone Dining Room lobby for an après-dinner group shot.Rob A. Armstrong, sous chef in the School of Business & Hospitality, introduces the throng of patrons to the culinary arts and systems students who deliciously filled their plates: from left, Kendra J. Riggle, of Montoursville; Colleen S. Masteller, of Williamsport; and Alissa R. Martz, of Danville.No stranger to championing students' professionalism is Roy A. Fletcher (second from right), assistant professor of business administration/banking and finance.The fall semester's final Etiquette Dinner attracted the largest-ever turnout for such an event, as 84 attendees learned Tuesday how to conduct themselves at job interviews and business functions in a formal dining setting with help from the staff of Le Jeune Chef Restaurant. "Career Services would like to thank business faculty members Roy A. Fletcher and Mark A. Ciavarella, who have incorporated this event into their class syllabi, and electronics faculty Jeff B. Weaver, who sponsored students to attend," said Dana R. Suter, coordinator of part-time student employment and career programming. She also acknowledged the college employees who funded scholarships that allowed attendance by 20 students who otherwise would have been unable to afford it. (That group, which included herself, also comprised Allison A. Bressler, Robb C. Dietrich, Valerie L. Fessler, Carol A. Lugg, Jennifer McLean,  Anthony J. Pace and Barry R. Stiger.) She especially thanked management student Shaun E. Evans, who registered and paid for his meal ... but unexpectedly couldn't take part. "Instead of asking for a refund, Shaun graciously donated his money to the dinner fund, allowing a student who was unable to pay to attend." Mentors who joined students at each of the tables, keeping conversation flowing between courses, were longtime college supporter Annmarie Phillips; assistant professors Ciavarella and Fletcher; and employees Danielle M. Liddic, Lugg, Shelley L. Moore, Erin S. Shultz, Brian D. Walton and  Tom Wilson. Shawnalee E. Miller assisted the record crowd of students with reservations. As the evening concluded, departing restaurant manager Amelia A. "Amy" Seaton was presented with a farewell present from Career Services with appreciation for her help in establishing such a worthwhile campus tradition. “When we unveiled this dinner series a few years ago, we had 15 attendees,” Suter said. “The success of this event is attributed to Amy, her staff, and her expertise and partnership with our department.”