A professional student organization in the Conrad N. Hilton College inducted seven students and honored faculty at its 25th annual gala.
"The whole purpose of starting Par Ex was to help students gain more exposure to succeed later in life," said Allison Wen, who helped establish the organization and was a member until he graduated in 1983.Professor emeritus Clinton L. Rappole, former dean of the college, was also honored at the gala for helping create the organization in 1982. Rappole said he was already impressed with an event organized by students for James Coney Island Owner in 1981.
"By fall of 1982, it was evident it would be great to have a group of students, who were honor students that maintained a high GPA, that could run a business and hold classes to train other students," Rappole said.
Membership in Par Excellence is selective, requiring students to go through a formal application and interview process as well as maintaining a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
Par Excellence members are responsible for training new members in an eight-week curriculum that includes "shadow-serving," in which a student follows a current Par Ex member to learn how to set up an event. New members also work at "mock events" where students set up an event as a practice session, before being hired by businesses.
Once inducted, new members receive a $500 scholarship and a tuxedo jacket, which is the Par Ex standard uniform. Although not paid for their services, students are then hired by companies through Par Ex to organize events and are expected to work 50 hours per semester.
Par Ex members were responsible for the gala’s preparations, including planning the menu and layout of the ballroom
"We have a graduation function every semester where new members come in after completing their training and are honored at a small party," said hotel and restaurant senior Alida Bonifaz. "We did this on a lot bigger scale because it’s our 25th year."
This semester, seven new members, or "petite penguins," were inducted through a traditional ceremony during which their "big penguins" presented them with their tuxedo jacket. The "penguin" mentor arrangement was established to provide each new member with someone who serves as a guide throughout the training experience.
"I just like the hospitality side of things and making guests happy," said Lucas Cant’uacute;, hotel and restaurant management freshman and recent Par Ex member. "And this organization has a history and reputation, and I know it will help me in the future when I begin my career."
Relationships built within the organization have made networking easier, Par Ex members said.
Bonifaz, who served as Par Ex marketing director and gala co-chair, said Par Ex allows students to network and gain contacts as they gain work experience.
"We get to know each other well (in Par Ex)," Bonifaz said. "There is a lot of networking involved, whether at functions or through each other.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the $1 million goal for the Clinton L. Rappole Endowed Chair and will be matched 4-to-1 by both the Hilton Foundation and 1977 Hilton alumna Dorothy Nicholson, founder of private equity firm Nicholson Interests. Approximately $16,000 to $20,000 was raised from the gala. According to an April release, more than $60,000 was raised in previous efforts.
"I am proud of the students in this organization," Rappole said. "To be a stand-alone student organization for 25 years is a testament not only to the organization’s philosophy, but to the commitment of our students as well."
