Cooking Class with HTM’s Chef David Yanisko

This past month the Global Mentor Program collaborated with the Dean’s Advisory Board of Students (DABS) and the Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) Department to bring our students an exciting opportunity to learn how to cook with HTM’s Check David Yanisko! This event was offered in two different sessions and the menu consisted of 1. Pan Roasted Chicken with Garlic Mashed Potatoes 2. Teriyaki salmon, edamame, and cucumber rice bowls, and 3. Veggie and potato samosas - equipping our students with new skills to cook healthy and simple meals at home. The students were split into groups and each group focused on their designated dish, each involving different and various culinary techniques taught by Chef Yanisko.

Since each group was broken down by meal choice, our students ended up in groups with strangers but ended up with friends. This collaboration with the Hospitality and Tourism Management Department further solidifies the joy and feeling of community that the Global Mentor Program strives to foster within Pamplin. We can’t wait to do it again!

Digital Well-Being Workshop

The Global Mentor Program welcomed Laurie Fritsch, Assistant Director of Hokie Wellness and Certified Health Education Specialist, to speak to our students about the power of Digital Well-Being. As recognized by the Digital Wellness Institute, Virginia Tech was recognized in 2023 as the first Certified Digitally Well University, and this can be attributed to transformation work such as workshops like this one! We were very excited to have Laurie speak to our students and mentors to help navigate their relationship with digital devices and platforms.

This workshop was separated into two sessions: Hang up and Hang out & the Power of Fun. In the first session, Hang up and Hang out, the students learned how to align device usage with personal college goals.  Additionally, there was a discussion surrounding digital addiction versus digital flourishing and then explored tools to identify and cultivate personal digital well-being.

In the second session, the Power of Fun, the students personalized their own “phone boxes”, a tool to help physically stow away devices during periods of work, focus, and productivity. Once the boxes were made, Laurie walked through various activities to identify everyone’s fun factors, define what “true fun” is, and continuously engaged the students to reminisce about moments of fun and how to utilize those memories in times of digital desperation.

In totality, these sessions provided a device-free space and place of education to assist our students in understanding the importance of a healthy and empowering relationship with devices, specifically our phones. A huge thank you to Laurie for the engaging sessions and her expertise!