Expanding Opportunities in Hospitality and Tourism for High School Students
High school is often the time when students take their first steps into the working world, with many landing part-time jobs in restaurants, fast food outlets, or retail settings. These early experiences provide useful lessons in responsibility, customer service, and teamwork — skills that form a solid foundation for a successful career in any field.
Recognizing the potential of these experiences, Oregon Charter Academy (ORCA) has introduced a new pathway in its Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, ASCEND: the Hospitality and Tourism Management pathway. This program — the first of its kind offered by an online school in Oregon — opens the door to the vast and dynamic hospitality industry, showing students that there are countless opportunities beyond the typical after-school job.
Hospitality and Tourism Management Overview
Tourism in Oregon generates more than $11.3 billion annually and supports more than 109,000 jobs. This makes it an ideal focus for students interested in pursuing a career in a vital and growing industry. What sets ORCA’s program apart is its integration of real-world experience with academic learning. Students participating in the Hospitality and Tourism Management pathway engage in 100 hours of work-based learning, allowing them to earn credits for their existing jobs in the hospitality sector.
Pathway to Certification
The Hospitality and Tourism Management pathway is structured to guide students through three critical steps, each designed to build their knowledge, skills, and credentials.
Step 1: Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism Management
In this introductory class, students explore the wide range of jobs within the hospitality industry, including roles in hotels, restaurants, airlines, catering, casinos, cruise line operations, resorts, and spas. To prepare for future opportunities, students also have the chance to take the Food Handlers test, earning a certification that is essential for working in the restaurant or food service industry.
Step 2: Hospitality Industry Knowledge and Skills
The second step offers classes that expand on specific skills needed in the hospitality industry. One key class, Principles of Marketing, includes a social media marketing certification through a work-based simulation, providing students with practical, hands-on experience. Additionally, students can earn the Oregon Employability Skills academic badge in up to 10 skill areas, once again enhancing their resumes with a recognized industry credential that employers have expressed is needed to ensure workforce development.
Within this step, students also have the opportunity to take a Hotel Management class that ties directly into the work-based learning component. Students "work" at a simulated Marriott hotel provided by the Knowledge Matters program. Through the simulation, students take on managerial roles at the hotel, making decisions about content creation, tourism product lines, and event planning, all while gaining insight into the inner workings of hotel management.
Step 3: Work-Based Learning
The final step focuses on hands-on experience. Students can either use their current jobs in the hospitality sector to count toward the required 100 hours of work-based learning or continue to engage with the provided simulations. At the end of this step, students are eligible to take the AHLEI: Hospitality & Tourism Specialist certification exam, a credential that can significantly boost their employability.
Bridging the Gap Between Education and Employment
The ASCEND Hospitality and Tourism Management pathway offers students more than just an academic experience; it provides a direct link to real-world career development. By integrating 100 hours of work-based learning into the program, students can directly apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to jobs in the hospitality sector. This hands-on approach ensures that graduates are not only prepared for the workforce, but also have a head start toward building their careers.
Clubs and Extracurricular Opportunities
To further support students' career development, ORCA offers various extracurricular clubs tied to the Hospitality and Tourism Management pathway. Students can join SkillsUSA, a national organization that helps young people develop business and leadership skills. Additionally, students can take additional classes in Spanish, French or ASL, which can be particularly beneficial in the tourism industry, where bilingual abilities are often in demand. Or, for those interested in creative pursuits, the school yearbook club offers a chance to hone graphic design skills, another valuable asset in the hospitality field.
Pathways Post-Graduation
Oregon Charter Academy’s Hospitality and Tourism Management pathway is more than just a set of classes — it’s a launchpad for students to explore, experience, and excel in a thriving global industry. With the right guidance and opportunities, today’s part-time job could become tomorrow’s dream career.
In addition to gaining valuable work experience, students in the ASCEND: Hospitality and Tourism Management pathway can transition to higher education by transferring credits earned through the program to Chemeketa Community College. This articulation offers multiple pathways for continued education, including pursuing an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, HTM certificate programs, or an Associate of Science Oregon Transfer degree in Business (ASOT-Business).
The program's alignment with several Career and College Network (CCN) approved classes ensures that students' high school coursework directly contributes to their college education. ORCA remains committed to expanding and refining these course matching options, continually creating more opportunities for student success beyond graduation.
Join Us for a Virtual Information Session
If you'd like to learn more about ORCA's ASCEND program or our approach to virtual learning, join one of our virtual information sessions to connect with ORCA staff and preview our learning platform. We hope to see you there!