2017 Honors & Awards Dinner spotlighted students, donors, and Alumna of the Year
FSU Champions Club on September 21.
The Dedman School of Hospitality’s 2017 Honors & Awards Dinner at FSU’s Champions Club on Sept. 21 was a commemoration of the scholarship of students, the generosity of donors, and the career and accomplishments of 2017 Alumna of the Year, Janine Budzius (’86).
As emcee of the event, director Don Farr recognized the school’s 70th anniversary. The school has hosted events in honor of the milestone throughout the year in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta.
Farr recognized other highlights of the year — the school attaining status as an independent entity under the FSU Office of the Provost, the success of fundraising efforts in support of its Little Dinner Series, Dr. Woody Kim’s receipt of a lifetime research achievement award from the International
Council on Hotel Restaurant and Institutional Education, and the formation of a director’s council. He thanked the school’s faculty and staff for their efforts.
Farr next enumerated the accomplishments of 1986 graduate, Janine Budzius, general manager and chief operating officer of Philadelphia Country Club, before presenting her with the school’s 2017 Alumna of the Year Award.
acceptance speech.
The award has been presented each year since 1994 and several previous recipients were in attendance: 1995 recipient, Jim Riscigno (’66); 2005 recipient, Bill Wagner (’67); and, 2006 recipient, Cyd Bougae (’75).
“The most significant honor I have received in my career, prior to this evening, was being called a graduate of Florida State University’s School of Hospitality and College of Business in 1986,” Budzius said, during her acceptance speech. She also noted the contribution of the late Charlie Hoare (’79) to her success. Hoare was an alumnus and successful club industry manager known for bringing together Dedman students with industry professionals.
Farr discussed the importance of scholarships and thanked scholarship donors for their generosity before announcing the names of student scholarship recipients for the 2017-18 academic year. He congratulated students and asked them to remember the importance of their scholarships throughout their careers and to support future students when they are able.