FHSU University Communications
In February, five FHSU tourism and hospitality management students received awards at the 2025 Eta Sigma Delta (ESD) Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla.
All FHSU student participants received Meritorious Paper Awards for their projects.
ESD, the international honor society for high-performing tourism and hospitality students, organized the symposium to foster an interest in undergraduate research.
Students shared their findings, received feedback, and explored the potential industry implications of their findings, connecting academic research with real-world applications.
The five FHSU students, divided into two groups, presented two separate research projects. Cally Anderson, Topeka, and Delanee Bedore, Stockton, presented “The New Space Race: Gen Z’s Perception with Emerging Space Tourism.”
Katie Hale, Hays; Marisol Banda, Salina; and Cory Cimaglia, Plainville, presented “Hidden in Plain Sight: Exploring the Role of Hotels in Human Trafficking Networks.”
Dr. Stacey Smith, Professor of Tourism & Hospitality Management and faculty advisor for the students’ project, emphasized the importance of undergraduate research.
“Research allows students to step beyond the classroom and engage in the process of discovery,” she said. “It fosters critical thinking and problem-solving while empowering the students to explore ideas and topics related to the tourism industry. They were able to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and see how data can be used to inform decisions.
“I am very proud of their hard work and effort on these projects and congratulate them on their success."