Ka Young Bae considered Hong Kong and Anyang home for most of her life, but she was eager to experience American college life when considering higher education. UNLV’s city scene mixed with the globally ranked hospitality program was enough to convince Ka Young to pack her bags and head west to Las Vegas. The senior has since embraced her new home by getting involved with as many organizations as possible and meeting great mentors along the way. 

How have you benefited from the Las Vegas location?

There’s many things I benefited from being part of the UNLV community. I volunteered multiple times with the Hospitality catering team, which also led me to an official cook assistant position for the Fertitta catering team. I moved onto a position with the admissions office as a Rebel recruiter. I also involved myself in numerous hospitality clubs. I am the current vice president of Epicurean Society and their previous secretary. I am also the Head of Marketing & Recruitment and also the previous secretary for Hospitality Financial & Technological Professionals (HFTP) club. Being part of HFTP also led me to create a connection with Dr. Robert Rippee (executive director of UNLV's Black Fire Innovation Hub), who I plan to shadow more during the upcoming semester.

Have you been mentored and/or inspired by a faculty member? Who were they and how did they make an impact?

I have definitely been inspired by one of my favorite professors- Dr. Finley Cotrone. She is not only an amazing professor but she always gives our class personal life lessons in the hospitality industry and how she grew her career with Four Seasons. Outside of school & work, she also works with NSMH and Dress for Success.

What is your favorite memory or experience at UNLV? 

My favorite experiences has to be Epicurean Society events and working as a Rebel Recruiter. By joining the respective teams, I have made countless memories, lifelong friends, and it also led me to make even more connections beyond the club/work.

What is the number one reason a future student should consider UNLV?

For the hospitality program! This is the best school for this kind of study and I have made so many connections through work, club activities and just making friends in classes.

What student organizations, activities, or resources have you been involved with outside the classroom?

I am involved with the Epicurean Society (current VP and precious secretary) and Hospitality Financial & Technological Professionals (current head of marketing & recruitment and previous secretary). I also worked as a cook assistant for the Fertitta catering team and volunteered multiple times for the Hospitality catering team. I currently work as a Rebel Recruiter for Admissions.

What else should we know? 

As an international student, I felt very welcomed by other local students and am very thankful for my experiences, scholarship, and connections I made at UNLV.