On Oct. 7, University of New Haven’s business students hosted an event as a tribute to Jeffrey Hazell and his student-run cafe, Hazelnut Cafe. The Charger community was present at the event such as President Jens Frederiksen and Dean Brian Kench who also spoke at the event.
First established in Maxcy Hall at main campus, Hazelnut Cafe’s intended purpose was to give students majoring in business and hospitality and tourism a chance to work in a restaurant-like environment, to teach important values of leadership, managing and customer service.
“We have some very important, very influential people coming and we want to make them feel welcome,” said Anthony Zambri-Moran, a student majoring in Hospitality and Tourism. “Our program is to host events that make people happy and entertained, and we wanted to show our appreciation and honor Jeffrey Hazel for his incredible support of the university.”
“There were certainly challenges and changes that we had to make to the event,” said Zambri-Moran. “We’re working through the entire course of planning to make it a success with this incredible team.”
Frederiksen also mentioned plans to move Hazelnut cafe back to the main campus, bringing the College of Business with it. “Hopefully this location on Orange Campus isn’t permanent, eventually in the not-so-distant future we will be heading back to the main campus,” said Frederickson. “I think it will be a validation of all the extraordinary work being done here at the College of Business.”
“I think we as a university pride ourselves upon being a transformative engine that instills how to be successful and to recognize what may be successful and certain,” said Frederiksen. “It’s about getting there and being thrilled about what it is that we are embarking on.”
After the speeches from the officials, the business students shared a short presentation with the audience, showcasing images of the many opportunities that the students had taken advantage of in their tenure at the university such as the annual business pitchings at Mohegan Sun.
Hazelnut Cafe shared a signature mocha latte named the “Jeffrey Mocha” and a honorary ribbon cutting was done outside of the cafe.
“I am extremely fortunate for being able to give back to all of you,” said Hazel, owner of Hazelnut Cafe. “Someday all of you can have entrepreneurs in your background as well, and dedicate to the industry as well.”
Hazel also mentioned plans to continue the program for as “long as it can, because it’s surely helping all you folks.” Hazel hopes that all students in the future can look back and say how happy they were to go to the university.
For more information on HazelNut Cafe, the owner Jeffrey Hazel, and the history of HazelNut, you can go to: https://www.newhaven.edu/news/blog/2019/hazell-nut-cafe or https://newhaven.sodexomyway.com/en-us/locations/hazelnut-cafe
