The premier annual event in The School of Hospitality Business is Les Gourmets. Founded as a student organization in 1951, students in Les Gourmets produced their first dinner in 1955. Starting as a simple buffet and dinner dance, the event has since evolved into a formal world-class reception and dinner showcasing the talents of hundreds of student volunteers and all they have learned from their professors and work experiences. With the guidance of faculty members and guest chefs, the students work in all areas – management, sales, marketing, purchasing, finance, culinary management, bartending, and serving – creating a night to remember each spring for hundreds of proud parents, alumni, and faculty.