A Clear Advantage The power of experiential learning by SCOTT CASON
photography by BRECKEN PREITAUER
T
he term “experiential learning” means learning by doing. Thanks to the faculty of the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship, students at Fort Hays State University enjoy a wealth of opportunities to participate in hands-on and real-world relevant learning experiences outside the classroom.
The internship experience
The most easily recognizable form of experiential learning available to college students is an internship experience. Led by a strong faculty professional network, students in the Department of Applied Business Studies have long enjoyed access to a range of challenging and diverse internship experiences. As a tourism and hospitality major, and after completing an industry internship in the summer of 2020, FHSU senior Haley Reiter spent the summer of 2021 in the mountains of northern New Mexico. She interned at the Vermejo Park Ranch, a luxury resort dedicated to sustainability and creating memorable nature-inspired experiences, including hiking,
horseback riding, shooting sports, and mountain biking. Haley quickly became an instrumental member of the guest relations team, immersed in the continuous effort to create a superior guest experience. This past semester she served as an operations intern at a local day spa in Hays to further her knowledge of the industry. Dr. Stacey Smith, associate professor of tourism and hospitality and chair of the department, said, “These experiential opportunities allow students to put the content they learn in the classroom into context within in their desired industry. It allows them to apply their learning, grow their professional network, and be career ready when they leave FHSU.” Later this summer, Haley will head back to New Mexico and Vermejo Park Ranch, where she will begin her professional career, in a managerial role, as a ranch ambassador.
An entrepreneurship challenge
The Faulkner Challenge is a business plan competition designed to develop entrepreneurial imagination and fuel innovation among students, ROAR
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regardless of major or interests. The challenge is open to any new venture in the conceptual, seed, or startup stages. Teams are evaluated on their ability to identify a market opportunity, create a value proposition, and craft a sustainable competitive advantage. FHSU alum Kevin Faulkner established an endowed fund for what was formerly the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship Business Plan Challenge. The challenge now bears Faulkner’s name, and he supports it in many ways, including serving as a judge for the competition. “When I was a student, there was no competition like this, but I did participate in Model United Nations, debate, and forensics,” Faulkner said. “As a result, I learned that hands-on experience bridges education to the real world.” The Faulkner Challenge is executed in three stages: submission and evaluation of a written business plan, a 10-minute oral presentation semifinal round, and a “money” round comprised of the final three teams. Each team provides a more elaborate, 15-minute presentation for the finals and is subject
SPRING/SUMMER 2022
