There was food and wine. There was music by the K-State Faculty Jazz Band. There were name tags, babies and gifts.
But mostly there was conversation and laughter.
The three retiring faculty members being feted – Pat Pesci (Mr. P.), Deb Canter (Dr. C) and Betsy Barrett (Dr. B.) – had run up 100 years of service to K-State and the Department of Hospitality Management and Dietetics. Together they have taught, challenged, mentored and befriends thousands of students.
Many of those former students, now college professors and business professionals themselves, returned to Justin Hall on May 2 to give their best wishes to the retirees. A new study abroad scholarship fund and the Dietetics Excellence Fund will accept donations in their honor. (Details below.)
Giving kind, gentle, humorous, heartfelt and often teary roasts were:
- Ki-Joon Back, former faculty who is associate dean for research and graduate studies and Donald H. Hubb professor at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston;
- Mary Montgomery-Shatz, director of operations at LongHorn Steakhouse for Darden Concepts in Kansas City, Missouri, and recipient of the 2014 Executive Leadership Alumni Award;
- Matt VanSchenkhof, assistant professor of hotel and restaurant administration at the University of Central Missouri whose major professor was Dr. Barrett;
- Sharon Morcos, retired human nutrition faculty;
- Chihyung Ok, former faculty who is associate professor in the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Temple University, Philadelphia;
- Carol Shanklin, HMD faculty, dean of K-State’s graduate school and long-time colleague of the trio;
- and Becca Dale, HMD graduate and current HMD adviser who helped organize the event.
The menu included wine from Nespor’s Wine & Spirits; pulled pork sliders from Wahoo Fire and Ice; bruschetta from Harry’s; hummus, chips and salsa from JP’s Sports Bar; and vegetable, cheese and cracker tray, sushi, desserts and mint julep lemonade from K-State dining services.
