Students From Dining Services at Eagle’s Trace Take Honors at Competition

By Sunny McKinnon
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

In late March, students who work as waitstaff at Eagle’s Trace took top honors in the citywide HEAT (Hospitality Education Association of Texas) competition.

According to Monica Depaz, staff development manager for Eagle’s Trace, the students participated in several categories, taking two awards in plating, and three in the tray-carrying obstacle course.

“I was very proud to see our students participating in this event,” says Depaz, who along with building manager Franklin Ayala helped judge the event. “They work hard here at Eagle’s Trace, and we applaud them as they enhance their skills, and further their education in the culinary field.”

As part of Erickson’s community outreach program, Eagle’s Trace began to recruit students before the first building was completed. Working with area high schools through their hospitality/ culinary and travel programs, Depaz pulled together a coterie of students from Alief.

Currently, there are seven students from Alief, and Depaz is working with Elsik and Hastings to recruit even more. The students work both in the front of the house as servers, and in the kitchen, or back of the house.

Diners at Eagle’s Trace enjoy the opportunity to interact with and get to know the students. “We have the most wonderful group of servers,” says Jerry LaRose. “They are high school students and they are really fantastic. It’s great to have bright young people around.”

Keith McCoy concurs: “It has been fun to watch them grow as they have gotten more familiar with us. The first day, many of them were nervous. Now, they’ve matured and developed. Even though I’m glad they are graduating; I hate to see them leave. They’re always so friendly and outgoing, always smiling.”