Casandra Rodriguez is a sophomore in hospitality management with a minor in business from Ulysses, KS. When she gradates in 2022, she intends to go into the lodging and tourism industry, where she can serve others and inspire their sense of adventure and travel. Casandra has traveled to five different countries, including Finland and Spain, which were both part of exchange experiences, the first through 4-H and the other through Rotary. Through these travels, she found a passion for it and knew that a hospitality management degree would fit well into her life plans.
Through 4-H, she was introduced to Kansas State University. During 4-H Discovery Days, she was able to attend events in lecture halls and classrooms on-campus, as well as staying in the dorms. “These experiences helped give me a good understanding of what “college life” at K-State was like,” Rodriguez said. After learning more about Manhattan and the opportunities available at K-State, she knew it would be a good fit. She noted that, “after attending orientation and meeting faculty and staff in the hospitality department and seeing everyone’s excitement in what they do…made me even more excited to attend Kansas State.”
Rodriguez noted that her two favorite classes have been Introduction to the Hospitality Industry and the Travel and Dining Auction class. “Being a freshman and not exactly knowing all the opportunities there are in the hospitality industry, I enjoyed the introductory class because I was able to learn a little bit of everything. Aside from hotels and restaurants there is so much more that I hadn’t even really thought about!”