Hall Co. schools, UGA partnership

GAINESVILLE - Hall County School System's Hospitality High program is partnering with the Marketing Education program of the University of Georgia in an effort to help impact students across Georgia.

Students from Hall County and UGA will work together over the next few weeks, seeking to raise money for a needs-based scholarship to be used to help students from all over the state attend an international level competition in California for DECA (or Distributive Education ) students.

Program Coordinator Rachel McClain says applications are already being accepted and that the goal is to raise enough money for three $500 scholarships.

Hospitality High is a new hands-on learning opportunity for students of Hall County that allows students from all area county high schools to participate in a unique classroom and internship experience. Students work in internship placements in the hospitality industry including Lake Lanier Islands Resort, the Lake Lanier Conventions & Visitors Bureau, and the Quinlan Art Center.

McClain said by offering students expanded learning opportunities, skills are developed at the high school level which better prepare the junior and seniors for college and career success.

DECA is a co-curricular student organization which provides high school students with the opportunity to compete in real-life scenarios at the local, state, and international level. The Georgia DECA Foundation works to support students involved with DECA by providing funds for travel and educational scholarships. The needs-based scholarship program is a new opportunity the Georgia DECA Foundation will be providing students this year.

Danielle Miller, a junior at Flowery Branch High School, is the chairperson for the joint program between Hospitality High and the University of Georgia.

The opportunity to partner with the marketing education program at UGA, in order to raise funds for deserving students, is a great option for both students as well as the businesses which will be involved, says Miller.

McClain said high school students are not the only ones to benefit from the joint partnership. UGA students will not only gain the opportunity to develop hands-on marketing skills, but many of the students in the program intend to work with teenagers in high school marketing education programs in the future.

"By having the opportunity to become involved with high school students now, the University of Georgia's students will develop skills for their future career choices," McClain said.