KTEC students in global contest

A team of students from the Kootenai Technical Education Campus (KTEC) placed third in a recent international hospitality contest.

The team represented KTEC's two-year hospitality and tourism program at the Hospitality, Tourism and Management international contest held last weekend in Orlando, Fla.

"My students would not have been able to compete at the caliber expected without the training and support from our industry partner, The Coeur d'Alene Resort," Teacher Teira Youngdell said. "I couldn't be more proud of my students, The Coeur d'Alene Resort and Lakeland High School."

Competitors at the contest included: Arden Erickson, Hailey Hendry and Kieley Nielsen, all Lakeland High seniors; and Sierra Larson, a Timberlake High junior.

Each girl receives a $6,000 scholarship to Sullivan University in Louisville, a $5,000 scholarship to San Diego State University or a $1,500 scholarship to Johnson & Wales University in Miami.

The alternate for The Resort Academy was Samantha Sherlock, a Lakeland High junior.

Twelve teams competed in Orlando, including squads from Grand Bahama Island, Florida, Hawaii, Ohio, Texas, New Hampshire and California.

The two-day contest challenged participants with events based on real-world job scenarios in the hospitality industry.

The three categories are: Hotel Operations, including a room inspection, night audit and solutions to case study scenarios; Hospitality Project, which tests abilities in event planning; and Knowledge Bowl.

The event also offers the opportunity to network with representatives from colleges, hotels and hospitality associations.

The Resort Academy is open to juniors and seniors in the Lakeland, Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene school districts through KTEC.

Students compete each month from September through December to see who will represent The Resort Academy in Florida.