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WHI Proud
June Clarke form A Hotel Cook to Now a Doctoral Student.
Says thanks to WHI
June
Clarke Dip, ASc(Hon) ASc (Hon) BSc (Hon) MBA, CHE, PhD.
(pending)
June
Clarke a graduate of Western Hospitality Institute, is urging persons to make the best of the hotel
related academic programmes offered at the Western
Hospitality Institute, citing that while other Jamaican
institutions offers hotel related courses,
persons who opt to pursue courses at WHI in
collaboration with Hocking College and the many other
internationally recognized colleges and universities,
would received the necessary qualifications at accredited and both
internationally and locally recognized institutions.
Speaking with the Western Mirror
recently, Clarke made is clear that students who opt to
pursue studies at WHI should not play around but
instead, make the best of the opportunity. She say
persons who pursue joint courses between WHI and Hocking
College could in a year time transfer to the Hocking
College in the US where they will have the privilege of
not only being certified by the world leading College in
area of culinary studies and hotel related courses but
will interact with persons from varied cultural
backgrounds.
In her own words, “WHI has a good
foundation that serves as a framework for excellent
education and the continuance of a rich history of
academic excellence. But let me warn that persons should
not go to WHI to waste time. WHI has a high standard and
the school supports its students up to the PhD.”
A former student of WHI, Clarke
began a food and beverage course at WHI and graduated as
an outstanding student. She explains, “I had to travel
at the time from Trelawney because I was working at the
(Trelawney Beach Hotel) at the time (now Star Fish). I
was a range cook there. And I pursued the programme and
graduated as the academic student of the year and
president. I was awarded academic student for the food
and beverage. And as a result I was offered a
scholarship to pursue further studies at WHI. We had
lots of fun there we went on an excursion where we
visited hotels and get a chance to interact with
tourists as well as talk with managers.”
Having completed her tenure at WHI,
she automatically continued her studies in the US at
Hocking College. There, she read degrees in culinary
arts Technology, and Hotel and Restaurant Management.
“First time I went there I was
culture shock but I later got used to the learning
environment and the diverse cultures that I was exposed
to. We were treated well and were welcome by both the
school and the US citizens in the surrounding area,” she
recalled.
And in terms of her studies, Clarke
points out that she pays attention to her academics and
worked hard and this has paid off for her.
“I had problems with accounts at
the time and a student at WHI said that I should go back
to ABC school. I was hurt but I took it in good faith
and went home and do my ‘homework’. I was so sad that I
was motivated to do my work and it paid off for me. I
would practice accounts and I came out on top of the
class. And when I went to Hocking College a youngster
said that he heard that I am good at accounts and
challenge me that he would complete with me. I beat him
in the end though,” informed
Over time, Clarke pursued a MBA at
the Nova South University as the Hocking College at the
time did not offer MBA, and now enrolled in a PhD
program at Oklahoma State University- USA. However, she was helped
base on her outstanding performance at Hocking College
and was given the opportunity to study at the Florida
International University where she got a BSc.
Upon returning to her home land she
worked at the Wyndham Rose Hall hotel where she was
manager for the cafeteria. While in the US, she worked
at the Dixie Landing Resort.
Clarke who is a trained teacher,
points out that her mother could not afford her
education and this serve as a hiccup. But according to
her, she had a dream and she was determined to achieve
that end. In addition, Clarke says that WHI had paved
the way for her and put her on the road to achieve an
education which is largely responsible for her
achievements to date.
Ian Croll |
