the board
the board 
The Board
What makes Black Tie Dinner so special is that every aspect is student ran. The board members work for almost an entire year to get every detail perfected. Even though each team specializes in their own area, all members work together and provide assistance when needed. This year, the board has put together a very talented group of students. These 15 students will lead approximately 80 other students throughout the year. The Board's goal is to inspire all to strive to reach their dreams.
leaders 
President. Ben Hebbe
Year: Senior
Hometown: Shelbyville, IN
Favorite BTD Memory: "Walking out of the kitchen as a server freshman year and receiving a standing ovation from the guests."
Furture Career Aspirations: running a luxury ski resort in Colorado
Favorite Quote: "Do the best you can"
Favorite Ice Cream: cotton candy flavor from Ritter's
Vice President. Joe Folta
Year: Senior
Hometown: West Lafayette, IN
Favorit BTD Memory: "Serving as a freshman. I was hooked!"
Future Career Aspirations: Events Director for the White House
Favorite Quote: "Not all who wander are lost." - J.R.R. Tolkien
Favorite Ice Cream: Moose Tracks
culinary team 
Co-Director. Grace O'Rourke
Year: Senior
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Favorite BTD Memory: "Watching the volunteers talk with the guests after the dinner and seeing their reaction to the students hard work."
Future Career Aspirations: Food and Beverage Director of an International 5 star hotel
Favorite Quote: "Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions.”- Albert Einstein
Favorite Ice Cream: Cookie Dough Chocolate Chip
Co-Director. Chris Pappas
Year: Senior
Hometown: Crown Point, IN
Favorite BTD Memory: ": Every year my favorite moment is seeing the last course of food go out to the guests. You reflect on the countless days of work put towards the dinner and how everything coms together in a matter of hours."
Future Career Aspirations : Restaurant Entrepreneur
Favorite Quote: "Find something you love to do and you'll never have to work a day in your life"
Assistant Director. Andrew Marris
Favorite Quote: "yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision, but today, well lived, Makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope" -Sanskrit Proverb
Favorite Ice Cream : Butter Pecan
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Carmel, IN
Future Career Aspirations: general manage or own a restaurant.
service team 
Service. Jessica Franklin
Year: Junior
Hometown: Neenah, WI
Favorite BTD Memory: "The night of the dinner when everything comes together."
Future Career Aspirations: pursuing a career in high end event planning
Favorite Quote: "Success comes before work only in the dictionary!"
Favorite Ice Cream: Blue Moon
Service. Nadine Hamoudi
Year: Sophomre
Hometown: Amman, Jordan
Favorite BTD Memory: "Being my team's leader and serving the President."
Future Career Aspirations: owning my own event management company throughout the Middle East.
Favorite Quote: "Knowing what you stand for, limits what yoy fall for."
Favorite Ice Cream: Tiramisu Ice Cream
wine team 
Wine. Carly Stern
Year: Senior
Hometown: Highland Park, IL
Favorite BTD Memory: "Looking at the impressed guests' faces when everyone comes out for an applause
Future Career Aspirations: Sport Event Planning or managing a winery
Favorite Quote: "Winners never quit, and quitters never win."
Favorite Ice Cream: Cookies and Cream
Wine. Amanda Wilk
Year: Senior
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Favorite BTD Memory: "putting on a men's tux as a Black Tie server
Future Career Aspirations: Start my own restaurant
Favorite Quote: "Turns out, not where you are, but you are with there really matters."
Favorite Ice Cream: Strawberry
decoration 
Decoration. Lindsey Rhea
Year: Junior
Hometown: Elhurst, IL
Favorite BTD Memory : " Watching both rooms go through complete chaos before the dinner, and eventually come together for the entrance of the guests. I love the transformation!"
Future Career Aspirations : I hope to own a destination-wedding venue with a small hotel on the property.
Favorite Quote : " “All great changes are preceded by chaos”."
Favorite Ice Cream : Chocolate with peanut butter
Decoration. Tanya Djuric
Year: Junior
Hometown: Munster, IN
Favorite BTD Memory: "Seeing the guests' faces as the first course was set on the table."
F uture Career Aspirations: Attend Pastry School after Purdue
Favorite Quote: "If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it."
Favorite Ice Cream: Cookie Dough
marketing 
Marketing. Sena Mortensen
Year: Senior
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
Favorite BTD Memory: "Showcasing a year's work in a three hour event."
Future Career Aspirations: Area Direction of a major hotel chain
Favorite Quote: " You are never too old to set another goal, or to dream a new dream." - C.S. Lewis
Favorite Ice Cream: Mint Chocolate Chip
Marketing. Emily VanDyck
Year: Junior
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IN
Favorite BTD Memory: "helping set up the rooms for the dinner and seeing the guests' faces when they walked in."
Future Career Aspirations: Build and run my own Bed and Breakfast
Favorite Quote: "live well, laugh often, love much."
Favorite Ice Cream: Moose Tracks. YUM!
exec. assistance Treasurer. Rachael Durbin
Y ear: Senior
Hometown: Carmel, IN
Favorite BTD Memory: "When the first plate goes out the kitchen doors and the night is underway."
Future Career Aspirations: Special Events promotions
Favorite Quote: "The future depends on what we do in the present."
Executive Assistant. Jen Coduto
Year: Senior
Hometown: Wheaton, IL
Favorite BTD Memory: "Learning how to cook more intense meals with classmates and friends."
Future Career Aspirations: start in Food and Beverage and work up to corporate HR
Favorite Quote: " Nothing ever worth it, is easy."
HTM Society President. Vicki Crawford
Year: Senior
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Favorite BTD Memory: "My first black tie dinner. Walking in after plating over 150 meals, and hearing the applause of the guests was so overwhelming."
Future Career Aspirations: meeting and events coordinator at a resort.
Favorite Quote: “I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so you can learn to let go. Things go wrong so you can appreciate them when they’re right. You believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself. And sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.”- Marilyn Monroe
- the board
- leaders
- culinary team
- service team
- wine team
- decoration
- marketing
- exec. assistance
the board
Inspire.
tickets If you would like to purchase tickets for the 14th Annual Black Tie Dinner, please click here .
For assistance with registration, contact Stephanie M. Botkin in the Conferences Department at Purdue University:
Phone: 765-494-3253
Fax: 765-494-0567
Ticket Prices: Table Purchase:
Before March 1st, $150 per person 10 seats/$1,500
After March 1st, $175 per person Ad in this year's program
Friday, March 3oth Saturday, March 31st
Marriott Hall Showcase, 6:00-8:00pm Reception at 6:30pm, South Ballroom of Union
*Business Attire is Encouraged Dinner at 7:15pm, North Ballroom of Union
*Formal/Black Tie Attire is Encouraged
Marriott Hall Purdue Memorial Union
900 W. State St. 101 N. Grant St.
West Lafayette, IN 47906 West Lafayette, IN 47906
Inspire.
tickets
student involvement student involvement
Culinary Team
Service Team
Wine Team
The heart and soul of the dinner is created in the back of house. There are approximately 35 students who are members of the culinary team. No previous experience is required. Our culinary directors will select team leaders to help teach proper techniques. Along with our guest chef's help, our students prepare a five star meal.If you would like to be a member of the culinary team, please send an email to Grace, Chris, and Andrew at purdueblacktie_gmail.com.
Approximately 30 students will employ 24-Karat Synchronous Service. The Front of House team will meet and train for about 8 weeks to prepare for the dinner.If you would like to be a member of the service team, please send an email to Jessica and Nadine at purdueblacktie_gmail.com.
To accompany great food, requires great wine. Our wine directors are selecting the finest wines to pair perfectly with each course. There are approximately 15 students who help with wine service.If you would like to learn more about wine and be a member of the wine team, please email Amanda and Carly at purdueblacktie_gmail.com.
Inspire.
