UNLVino offers exceptional educational opportunity

UNLVino, the largest wine-tasting event in the world, has raised millions of dollars in endowments for student scholarships since its inception in 1974. But that's not the only way University of Nevada, Las Vegas students benefit from the annual event.

The William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, Department of Food and Beverage Management, offers UNLVino as a working laboratory to select students. The class, FAB 366 UNLVino management, gives the students hands-on experience in managing operations, marketing and volunteers, as well as developing sponsorship and vendor participation.

The class is divided into three teams: marketing, whose task is to get the word out to the local media; culinary, whose task is to gather donated food and prepare it for the event; and events, whose task is to recruit 300 student volunteers, arrange for Serving Alcohol With Care classes for all and then help coordinate the operational aspects. All groups come together on event day to supervise the enormous undertaking.

"How many students at other universities can say they participated in the planning, organization, management and execution of an event attended by nearly 7,000 people?" asked chef Jean Hertzman. "UNLVino is the perfect way to unite the students to serve a common goal: to make each UNLVino the best ever!"

"This is where the academic is left behind and working knowledge begins," said professor Mohsen Azzsoltani. "UNLVino is a really great opportunity for the students.

"Most college students graduate with a grade point average and a big debt. The UNLVino management class gets to add the fact that they helped manage a major convention at a prestigious Las Vegas Strip hotel to their resume -- real, practical experience. Nothing gives me more satisfaction than getting a call from an industry manager saying, 'I hired one of your students a year ago and she has already stepped up to a supervisor's position. Please, can you recommend another from the class?'"

Instructors are Hertzman, culinary; Azzsoltani UNLV events; Brian Buckley, UNLVino marketing; and Edward McKeown, UNLVino coordinator.