By Lauren McClusick

Last month students from Great Valley High School held their annual Student Achievers banquet at the Desmond Hotel in Malvern, Pa.

This was the 22nd event the students of Great Valley have held at The Desmond Hotel. The Desmond Project, as it is known to students, is a unique partnership between the GVHS and the hotel that offers students an educational experience inside a true business environment.  The students learn sales, marketing, collaboration, cooking, serving, cleaning, and teamwork. 

This is the only program of its kind in the nation.

The Desmond hosts the banquet and celebration dinner for the student achievers who are chosen through the school departments based on work ethic, character, academics and involvement in the community.

The project, which is offered as an elective course, teams the teachers and students at Great Valley High School with professionals from The Desmond Hotel. Students learn to work as a team to accomplish goals, identify challenges, and formulate solutions in sophisticated business plans.

The project, which was started by Michael Chain Senior, has awarded approximately $300,000 in scholarships. This year, under the direction of current General Manager Michael Chain Junior, a scholarship amount of $17,500 was presented, this is the first time for an amount this high.

“This is an opportunity for us to do good for the community and help out,” said Chain, Junior. “Our staff looks forward to working with the students every year.

The students had many good things to say about the Desmond Project. Students praised the Project for the real-world experience it provides them with and the Project’s inclusive nature to break down cliques as students are picked from different grades but all work together to pull off the event.