Emily Evants captured first place in a tablescape competition for Arkansas Tech University hospitality administration students at the close of the spring 2023 semester.
Cass Capen-Housley, instructor and event coordinator of parks, recreation and hospitality administration, taught the Event Management class and set the parameters for the competition.
“Students in the course had to design a tablescape for two,” said Capen-Housley. “Requirements for the tablescape were to select a theme, create a four-course menu based on that theme, formal place setting and dishes that went with the menu. This tablescape idea is based on a CBS story that featured an annual competition at the Los Angeles County Fair. I thought it would be a great competition to launch and use as their final.”
Evants’ tablescape, “Christmas at the Evants,” was selected as the first-place winner by a panel of judges that included Danielle Housenick, executive director of Main Street Russellville; Cannon Cobb, administrative asssitant for Main Street Russellville; Crystal Malloy, owner of Gateley Hill Gardens and Celosia Floral Boutique; and Susan West, associate professor of hospitality in the ATU Department of Agriculture and Tourism.
Tory Kauffman earned second place with a tablescape entitled “Dinner with Dracula (No Garlic)” and Aarah Shannon collected third place with a tablescape entitled “Victorian.”
Learn more about the hospitality administration program at ATU by visiting www.atu.edu/prha/programs_hospi.php.
