A record number of West Virginia University students are spending the summer at Nemacolin Resort in Farmington, gaining firsthand experience at the nationally recognized luxury resort through a partnership that is preparing future hospitality leaders with immersive, real-world learning opportunities.
Hands-On Learning
The 21 interns represent nearly two-thirds of Nemacolin’s 33-member summer intern class, continuing a partnership that has tripled the number of WVU interns at the resort since 2022. The collaboration between the WVU Hardy Family Hospitality and Tourism Management Program and Nemacolin combines classroom instruction with executive mentorship, experiential learning, and internships that prepare students for careers across the hospitality industry.
For Elkins native Bradan Andrews, a rising senior and hospitality and tourism management major in the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics, the internship has reshaped the career path he envisioned when he first arrived at WVU. Entering college, Andrews, who also serves as a Nemacolin Ambassador in the Nemacolin Hospitality Innovation and Technology Lab, planned to pursue a career in hotel operations. But after spending the summer supporting the resort’s entertainment efforts, he discovered interests he hadn’t considered before.
Working independently for much of the week, Andrews coordinates poolside activities ranging from children’s games to trivia and bingo, often making quick decisions without detailed instructions. He said the experience has helped him develop confidence, adaptability, and leadership skills while giving him a clearer picture of where his talents fit best.
Real-World Applications
Like Andrews, Gretchen Nichols found her way to Nemacolin by following an unexpected path. The Fredericksburg, Virginia, native graduated from the WVU Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources in May with a degree in earth and environmental science, but it was a hospitality and tourism course during her senior year that shifted her perspective. Guest speakers introduced her to careers she had never considered, and when the opportunity arose to shadow a recreation leader at the renowned resort, she decided to take a chance.
The internship expanded Nichols’ career ambitions. Already a whitewater rafting guide in Ohiopyle State Park, she said she now hopes to lead outdoor recreation programs around the world while exploring how destinations connect people with nature. She said the experience at Nemacolin has fundamentally broadened her vision of what’s possible.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
