| MVHS Seniors Host Visit From Bellagio Mentors | |||
| By Vernon Robison Moapa Valley Progress Published February 3, 2010 Seniors at Moapa Valley High School received a visit from twelve high ranking employees of the Bellagio Hotel in a special assembly held on Tuesday, January 26. The assembly was part of a school site visit made by the group in an ongoing mentorship program between the local high school and the MGM/Mirage company. MGM/Mirage stepped up to become a corporate sponsor for the Moapa Valley High School when the school received empowerment status in 2008. |
 Members of the Bellagio management team visited the Moapa Valley High School this week as part of an ongoing mentorship program. Pictured l to r Sales Manager Marcus Cade; Maitre d’ Tony Carlson; Executive Chef Edmund Wong (standing); and Assistant Chef Room Service Frank Rodriguez. |
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| On a basic level, this partnership meant that additional private funding from the company was granted to augment the operating budget of the school. But it also has resulted in a deeper involvement from the staff at the Bellagio Hotel, a MGM/Mirage property.
Earlier this year, 22 MVHS seniors were selected to participate in the mentorship program. Each one was assigned a mentor from the Bellagio management team. Over recent months, these students have traveled into Las Vegas to meet with their mentors in the workplace and observe the work that they do. To reciprocate, the school invited the mentors to Moapa Valley for a visit last week. A group of the Bellagio mentors arrived on Tuesday morning and met with their students. They were guided on a tour of the school facilities. Many of the group were impressed by the school’s facilities and the openness of the campus. “You have a wonderful campus here, I hope that you appreciate it,” Bellagio Executive Chef Edmund Wang told MVHS seniors in the assembly held after the tour. “This is nothing like the experience that I remember in my high school.” The assembly was in the format of a panel discussion. The mentors in attendance included executive and assistant chefs, sales managers, a food safety/santitation manager, a valet supervisor and other important managerial roles at the hotel/casino. Students had submitted questions in writing to be asked the mentors. Members of the panel were given the opportunity to respond to these questions. Panel members told the senior class to set their sites high and to work hard. But they were also encouraged to have a good time on their journey. “Work hard and study hard,” said Bellagio National Sales manager, Marcus Cade. “But don’t forget to have fun along the way.” After the assembly, the mentors and their students had lunch that was prepared by the MVHS Culinary students. MVHS Principal Grant Hanevold was happy with the visit. “It was a very valuable experience for the students, I think,” said MVHS principal Grant Hanevold. “Even though we live fairly close to Las Vegas, I don’t think that a lot of the kids who grow up here in the valley really know what goes on out there in the big world of the workplace. This was a good way to get them some exposure to that.” |
