A Golden Ticket: CINY and SHM Celebrate Students Who Show Up and Stand Out

Perfect attendance earns students at Monroe University’s Culinary Institute of New York (CINY) and the School of Hospitality Management (SHM) more than just pride – it earns them a pass to an exclusive dinner cooked for them by some special chefs – their professors.

Held every semester, the Golden Ticket dinner is prepared and served by CINY and SHM Dean Frank Costantino and faculty members, reversing their typical roles and giving them the opportunity to celebrate their hardworking students.

The tradition began after Costantino joined Monroe in 2008 and noticed that student attendance had room to improve. So he offered an incentive to his students: if they maintained perfect attendance for the semester, he would cook for them – a Golden Ticket to the dinner, just like in Roald Dahl’s classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
 

“I always believe as an educator it is on us to communicate what is important to our students,” Costantino said. “If you can do that well, most students will rise to the occasion, whatever that may be.”

During the first semester the celebration was offered, 171 students qualified for the Golden Ticket. Every semester, the Golden Ticket grew, and soon more faculty and staff began contributing, transforming the event into both a celebration of students and a faculty team-building tradition.

For the Spring 2026 semester, 190 students across Monroe’s hospitality programs qualified, including students studying across Monroe’s four campuses in New Rochelle, the Bronx, St. Lucia, and online. The 80 students that attended were treated to an Americana dinner, including barbecue, Tex-Mex cuisine, Santa Fe tacos and a New Orleans-style shrimp boil, recognizing the United States' 250th anniversary as an independent nation.

The Golden Ticket celebration also includes an awards ceremony for members of the Monroe community and hospitality industry who exemplify three qualities Costantino regularly emphasizes to students: pride, passion and professionalism.

The Pride Award recognizes a student who goes above and beyond. This semester’s recipient was Shavonne Maynard, president of Monroe’s National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH) Club. She recently completed her bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management with a concentration in Tourism and Destination Management in June.

Maynard started getting involved with NSMH after Professor Dr. Thompson invited her to attend. She joined soon after as a regular member, before becoming an executive board member and later its president.

“During my presidency, I have been thankful for the opportunity to help our club grow and create meaningful experiences for our members,” Maynard said.

Under her leadership, the club helped organize the Golden Ticket celebration, cultural food events, the NSMH Club Awards Ceremony, and much more. Maynard also represented Monroe as a member of the team that won the inaugural NSMH Team Challenge Competition at a regional conference in Orlando. At this year’s national conference, Monroe’s club was recognized for achieving the most significant membership growth.

The number of people she has served is what she is most proud of.

"The most significant measure of my impact has not been the events or accomplishments, but the relationships I have built along the way,” she said. “Witnessing how much the club meant to our members, especially during the emotional moment when I announced my transition away from my role, reminded me that true leadership is about serving the people.”

Receiving the Pride Award came as a surprise to Maynard.

“Through this club, I have been able to travel, attend conferences, network with hospitality professionals, improve my interview skills, receive internship opportunities, and develop my leadership, teamwork, and communication skills,” she said. “It has also helped me overcome one of my biggest challenges, which was becoming more comfortable with public speaking.”

Newly graduated, she hopes to bring her experience and skills back to her home country of St. Kitts and Nevis, with the ultimate goal of becoming the marketing director on the Nevis Tourism Authority Board.

The Passion Award recognizes a member of the broader Monroe community whose work makes a meaningful difference for CINY and SHM. This year’s award was presented to Paul Stout, who manages transportation and helps ensure students and faculty have buses available for travel between campuses, industry visits and special events.

The Professionalism Award is awarded to a hospitality leader from outside of Monroe. This year, organizers recognized Lorenzo Dowe, assistant general manager of Hyatt Place Yonkers.

Pride, passion and professionalism are the ingredients of a truly great chef and exceptional hospitality practitioner – traits that Golden Ticket recipients embody and will carry into their professional careers.