More than 100 UNLV students will return home next week after planning and directing the food and beverage service for the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

Students enrolled in food and beverage management classes plan and implement catering services for corporate hospitality tents and public concession stands. Students work with celebrity chefs and local charity volunteers and direct a full range of activities, including food ordering, preparation, service, and accounting functions.

"Participation in this event provides a wonderful opportunity for our students to get first-hand experience in food and beverage management for large events," said John Stefanelli, chair of the department of food and beverage management at UNLV.

This marks the 10th year of UNLV's participation in various golf tournaments at the famed Pebble Beach. UNLV has participated in the AT&T Pro-Am tournament there each of the last 10 years and also in this year's U.S. Open. Participating students and faculty will be honored at a reception Monday (June 19) following the completion of the Open.

"Participation in the U.S. Open is one of many of the hands-on experiences students receive as majors in hotel administration and culinary arts management at UNLV," said Stuart Mann, dean of the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration. "We look at every opportunity to link our students with industry professionals to better prepare them for the workplace as hospitality managers."

Founded in 1967, the Hotel College has nearly 2,000 undergraduate students and more than 100 graduate students, making it the largest hospitality management program in the nation.