Senior Student Athletes Attend CHAMPS Life Skills "Hands On" Etiquette Dinner

http://www.hopkinssports.com/view.gal?id=66215

Johns Hopkins senior student-athletes were recently invited to the athletic department's first Etiquette Dinner. The event, hosted by "Mom Nonnie" from Etiquette Plus, was a night of dining and etiquette adventures all in an effort to enhance the life skills of JHU's student-athletes. The students were greeted as they checked in, had a chance to mingle with fellow student-athletes all before Nonnie Owens began to walk them through a formal dining experience.

Owens began with tips on the cocktail hour and how to manage holding a drink, naking and plate of appetizers while at the same time being able to carry on a meaningful conversation with fellow guests. Conversation turned into the serving on the first course, a salad, where seniors were taught the differences between European Continental style and American Zig Zag. Everyone struggled with the European style and were back to American Zig Zag by the end of the course. The professional servers cleared their plates once the silverware was placed properly across the plate.

Many questions and comments continued as dinner and dessert were served. Students were curious as to how to eat soup if it was served, how to eat spaghetti, where to put the napkin if you leave the table. Mom Nonnie mingled throughout the room giving advice, making corrections and casually talking with our students.

The event was made possible by the CHAMPS Life Skills program; an NCAA sponsored initiative that was created to support the student-athlete development initiatives of NCAA member institutions and to enhance the quality of the student-athlete experience within the context of higher education.

The Johns Hopkins Department of Athletics will continue to focus on additional programming for other classes and, based on feedback from the senior class, mom Nonnie will be back in 2011