Meet Yashoda Gurung: NOVA Hospitality Grad, Winner of $15K Scholarship
Congratulations to Yashoda Gurung, a NOVA graduate and current student in University of Maryland, Eastern Shore’s B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management Program located at The Universities at Shady Grove. Gurung recently won a $15,000 scholarship from the Washington, D.C. chapter of NEWH, Inc., (the Network of Executive Women in Hospitality).
Gurung completed her degree at NOVA in May 2020 in Hospitality Administration/ Management. She hopes to work in the hotel industry and will definitely achieve her dreams.
What made you want to pursue this career?
I have always wanted to pursue a career in hospitality because I grew up in India. There, my family worked at a guest house that was owned by a British couple who took care of me as well. I was always hospitable, and so I was always interested in this program.”
How would you feel getting into your first hospitality management position?
I want to be able to express my ideas. Even at NOVA, there was a whole class on menu planning, and I enjoyed it so much. Knowing recipes and food; putting those plans into words and ideas; building a menu and managing others–even the accounting parts were enjoyable.
How did you feel about winning this award?
This scholarship is really going to take me far. I have always heard about NEWH, the Hospitality Industry Network, and I was humbled to get this award.
What are your goals after graduation?
My next goal is to look for an internship or to work at a hotel. I really want to experience working in a hotel.
What was your experience like at NOVA?
Initially, when I first came to the U.S., I enrolled at Florida International University, but it got expensive. And so, I moved to Northern Virginia because I had some family here and so that cut out living costs. My uncle told me about NOVA.
The professors like; Mark Stillions (Annandale) were really great. He would always cheer me on. I would always share with him the universities I would apply to, and he was helpful.
Dr. Jill [Guindon-Nasir] (Annandale), she’s a super fun professor, especially with her stories—her teaching ways–she would always share her own experiences. Knowing her experience, knowing that she worked for Ritz Carlton, inspires me. I want to do the same. I want to be where she is.
It really inspires me to achieve the same, a similar path to my professors. I want to be as goal oriented as possible. I want to be where they are. Especially Dr. Jill, it would be a dream to work at a boutique hotel or a brand like the Ritz. Before, I wouldn’t think that high. I thought I would just work in a hotel and work my way up until I became a GM. After NOVA, I want to go even higher–even to become an owner one day and own a franchise restaurant. I want to have really big dreams—I loved my experience at NOVA.
Think you might be interested in Hospitality Management at NOVA? Visit, https://www.nvcc.edu/annandale/mstb/hri.html.
