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A decades long dream came true for the University of Wisconsin-Stout chapter of the Club Managers Association of America this month.

The student organization was named the Chapter of the Year, largest chapter, at the World Club Managers Conference in San Francisco, Calif., March 2-6, earning $1,000 and a trophy. The ���Ͽ� chapter also won the Club of the Future contest by coming up with innovative ideas for a country club.

The Club Managers Association of America, headquartered in Alexandria, Va., is the professional association for managers of members clubs and has about 6,700 members. Members operate more than 2,500 country, golf, athletic, faculty, military, town and yacht clubs. The world conference is the largest networking and educational gathering of industry professionals.

School of Hospitality Leadership Professor Phil McGuirk, who is also ���Ͽ� chapter’s adviser, credited the students for earning chapter of the year award.

“It’s the hardworking students, especially the executive board,” McGuirk said, when asked about winning the award. “They just don’t give up. I am very proud of them. They have put in many long hours.”

The chapter of the year is awarded through an application process, based in part on membership and annual activities.

Nicole TenHaken, vice president of the ���Ͽ� club managers chapter, said a goal of the group for about 10 years was to win Chapter of the Year and get the organization the credit it deserved.

“I think membership is what really put it over the edge,” said TenHaken, 21, a junior hotel, restaurant and tourism management major from Watertown, noting in one week the group signed up 10 new members. “The passion was there too.”

President Missy Dahl, 21, a junior in hotel, restaurant and tourism management, said she was surprised the club won.

“As soon as they said Wisconsin, my jaw dropped,” said Dahl from Drummond, I was so proud of everything our chapter has done to win the award and the long hours I spent putting together the application were all worth it.”

Emma Leverich, an executive board member and a senior majoring in hotel, restaurant and tourism management major from Lester Prairie, Minn., said the chapter has given her so many opportunities.

“It’s a way to be a part of the campus and do things as well,” Leverich, 21, said. “All of the members are my great friends. We tour a lot of clubs. It allows us to see the opportunities out there for us. They are really educational.”

Kendra Cummins, a member of the executive board and event coordinator, said winning chapter of the year has been a long time coming.

“We got it because we have a dedicated membership,” said Cummins, a junior hotel, restaurant, tourism management major from Owatonna, Minn. “Everybody want to participate, which is phenomenal.”

For the Club of the Future contest, ���Ͽ� students developed a concept of retail and merchandising within a country club. Their idea was to have subscription mailings of logo merchandise from the country club, including such items as shirts, golf balls or caps.

���Ͽ�’s club managers chapter started in 1975 by a small group of students, including McGuirk and in 1978 was recognized by the National Club Managers Association of Americas as the first student chapter. Now there are about 50 student chapters across the U.S.

The School of Hospitality Leadership at University of Wisconsin-Stout has been named No. 8 in top hospitality programs for 2017, according to CEOWorld magazine of New York, up two places from 2016, when ���Ͽ� was No. 10. Among U.S. institutions, ���Ͽ� was No. 6.

The School of Hospitality Leadership offers majors in hotel, restaurant and tourism management; golf enterprise management; and real estate property management.

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Photos

Phil McGuirk

Members of ���Ͽ� chapter of the Club Managers Association of America who won the Chapter of the Year. Contributed photo.

School of Hospitality Leadership students cooking.