Mercyhurst Hospitality celebrates national Star Wars Day; announces perfect score in reaccreditation

Having just marked its 50th anniversary last fall, the Statler Department of Hospitality Management at Mercyhurst University has a new milestone to celebrate this week after learning that it received “a perfect score” on its reaccreditation.

Department Director Peter Zohos said he was advised by the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration that the fifth reaccreditation applied for by HM, spanning summer 2022 to summer 2029, earned a grade of 100 percent.

“The commission oversees around 200 accredited schools; typically, only one percent a year achieves a perfect score,” Zohos said. “We are grateful to have the value of this longstanding Mercyhurst program recognized. It proves that we deliver what the industry deems the most important skills for our students to develop.” 

Zohos intends to make the announcement publicly on Thursday, May 4, when a collaboration of multiple Hospitality classes headed by Allyson Schrimper-Minor, hosts “May the 4th be With You,” a Star Wars-inspired luncheon on national Star Wars Day.  This marks the last student-run luncheon of the 2022-2023 academic year. It begins at noon in the J.W. & Alice Marriott Café, where a sold-out crowd of over 50 guests is expected.

Zohos said Mercyhurst’s program is multi-disciplined and can lead to many different careers. “We consistently produce job-ready graduates who shine in operations like tourism, events management, visual design, and sales, to name a few,” he said.

In an aside, Zohos noted that 100 seems to have emerged as HM’s lucky number. “Besides the 100 percent score, 100 percent of our faculty have industry experience, 100 percent of our students do internships, and 100 percent of this year’s graduating seniors have placement upon graduation, either in jobs or graduate school,” he said.

Zohos credited Mercyhurst’s HM program for its innovative curriculum, which is constantly evolving to be timely. As an example, when the pandemic hit he said HM developed a course on virtual events.

He also praised the work and dedication of key faculty like Schrimper-Minor, who recently distinguished herself by earning Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) status, and Daryl Georger, who has been part of the Mercyhurst HM program for a record 40 years. Zohos said Georger is largely responsible for the enormous networking capabilities of the department, a legacy that he passes on to students year after year so that one class is always there to lift up the next.

PHOTO: Hospitality Management faculty (l-r): Pete Zohos, Allyson Schrimper-Minor, Daryl Georger.