HTM faculty member Pitparnee Stompor earns 2025 Purdue Focus Award
Pitparnee Stompor, center, clincial professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management, receives the 2025 Purdue Focus Award. Also pictured are Kwangsoo Park, left, associate dean of the College of Business and director of the White Lodging School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Christina Wright, associate vice president for Institutional Equity at Purdue West Lafayette.
Pitparnee Stompor, clinical professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM), was selected to receive Purdue University’s 2025 Focus Award in recognition for outstanding contributions to furthering Purdue’s commitment to disability accessibility.
“I am incredibly honored to be recognized by the Purdue system and represent Purdue Northwest in receiving this recognition,” said Stompor. “I am thankful for the collective support from our PNW students, my colleagues and our partners at TradeWinds who have all helped make this collaboration possible.”
Stompor was recognized for her innovative approach to teaching in the HTM 29100 course, a food service lab section. In partnership with TradeWinds Services Inc., Stompor invited clients with disabilities to participate in a series of lunches at PNW. TradeWinds is a comprehensive organization that provides services for individuals of all abilities and special needs, empowering them to realize their full potential.
I am incredibly honored to be recognized by the Purdue system and represent Purdue Northwest in receiving this recognition. I am thankful for the collective support from our PNW students, my colleagues and our partners at TradeWinds who have all helped make this collaboration possible.
Pitparnee Stompor, Clinical Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management
Through the partnership, TradeWinds clients received hands-on experience in the Restaurant at Purdue Northwest in the White Lodging School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. They participated in different tasks, including hosting, preparing for dining room guests and bussing tables. PNW HTM students both assisted TradeWinds clients and developed essential skills in addressing different abilities and fostering an inclusive workspace.
“Professor Stompor’s leadership and the collective efforts of the HTM 29100 course team have created a model of accessibility and inclusion that aligns perfectly with Purdue University’s values,” said Kwangsoo Park, associate dean of the College of Business and director of the White Lodging School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, and the 2024 Purdue Focus Award recipient.
“This experience has had a profound impact on the students, teaching assistants, and kitchen manager involved, fostering a culture of empathy, respect, and inclusivity,” Park said. “Their teamwork exemplifies the spirit of the Focus Awards, making them highly deserving of this recognition.”