Hospitality Management Fundraising SMASH Dining Event March 14

news.uark.edu · Feb 27, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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Diners will experience "the pageantry of Derby season paired with Southern charm as students bring style, hospitality and timeless tradition to life" when hospitality management students host guests for SMASH: Arkansas Derby on March 14. SMASH — Students Mastering the Art of Southern Hospitality — is an annual fundraising event put on by hospitality management students in the University of Arkansas's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Science's School of Human Environmental Sciences. The event raises funds for the program while providing students with a fully immersive, real-world event management experience. The event, including this year's meal, theme and entertainment, is planned and carried out by hospitality and event management students. Committees manage every aspect of the experience — including event design and décor, logistics and venue operations, sponsorships, marketing, registration, entertainment programming, and meal coordination and service. SMASH: Arkansas Derby will be held at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences from 6-9 p.m. Tickets are available online. This year's theme draws inspiration from the tradition and excitement of the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort. Through this concept, students are incorporating Derby-style elements such as elevated Southern cuisine, race-day fashion, themed décor and curated entertainment to create an immersive guest experience that celebrates one of Arkansas' most iconic sporting traditions. Prices are $75 for the HESC Alumni & Faculty Package, reserved for Human Environmental Sciences faculty, staff and alumni; and $100 for the SMASH Patron Single Ticket. Both include the reception from 6-7 p.m., dinner, beer and wine. The Family Legacy Package is $150, reserved for parents and grandparents of hospitality management students, and the Southern Tradition Package option is $200. Both are two-ticket packages. Sponsorship options include: Mint Julep Sponsor (four guests, $550) Thoroughbred Sponsor (six guests, $1,500) Winner's Circle Sponsor (eight guests, $3,000) Triple Crown Presenting Sponsor (10 guests, $5,000) Each sponsorship tier includes varying levels of recognition, marketing visibility and VIP event benefits. The SMASH event management course is leading planning and execution under the direction of associate professor Kelly Way and assistant professor Suzanne Rhoads. Throughout the semester, students operate as a professional event management firm, managing vendor coordination, sponsorship development, budgeting, risk management, guest experience design and full event production. "The Arkansas Derby theme allows our students to design an experience rooted in tradition, celebration and Southern hospitality while connecting to one of the most recognizable events in our state," Rhoads said. "SMASH isn't just an event, it's a fully immersive, real-world learning lab. Our students are managing sponsorships, vendor contracts, risk planning, guest flow, décor design and financial performance. They leave this course having produced a large-scale event from concept to execution. That kind of hands-on experience is transformational for their careers." Tickets and sponsorships are available. Tickets will not be available at the door the day of the event. Proceeds benefit the hospitality management program through scholarships, resources, equipment upgrades and educational travel opportunities that enhance hands-on learning for students. Students coordinating the event are on committees for Event Design and Décor, Marketing & Promotions, Budget & Sponsorship, Catering & Beverage, Logistics/Ops/Production and Entertainment/Program/Hospitality. The Event & Décor committee leads the visual and experiential design of SMASH, developing the Derby-inspired aesthetic, décor installations, layout styling and branded environment that transforms the venue into an immersive guest experience. Lauren Mittelman is the chair and Katherine Anderson co-chair. Marketing & Promotions, led by chair Evey Martin and co-chair Ashley Lynch, develops the SMASH brand identity, promotional strategy and communication plan, managing digital content, ticket promotion and public outreach to drive attendance and community engagement. Budget & Sponsorship secures sponsorship support and manages financial planning for the event, overseeing fundraising efforts, sponsor partnerships and overall budget performance, and is led by chair Lainey Sims and co-chair Sabrina Bledsoe. Catering & Beverage coordinates menu development, food and beverage planning and service execution, ensuring the dining experience reflects the sophistication and Southern influence of the Arkansas Derby theme. Amy Mandrell is the chair and Lydiah Belue co-chair. Logistics/Operations/Production manages event operations, including venue coordination, production timelines, vendor logistics, floor plans, safety planning and overall event flow to ensure seamless execution. Kelsie Constable is the chair and Evan Seay co-chair. Entertainment/Program/Hospitality, led by chair Emma McClure and co-chair Melodie Blanc, curates the event program, reception experience and guest engagement elements, designing moments throughout the evening that reflect Derby tradition and elevate the overall atmosphere. Graduate assistants Ally Sanford and Kylie Gargiulo are supporting each group with additional support from Way, Rhoads, assistant professor Nick Johnston and senior instructor Lobat Siahmakoun. About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege. About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.