The University of Houston Dining Services closed out the spring semester at the Moody Towers Dining Commons with a celebration dubbed the ‘Graditude Lunch’, to thank graduates for their patronage during their time at the University of Houston. 

“It's a pivotal time in their life,” said Alexcis Mendoza, district marketing manager, UH Dining Services. “And we didn't want it to pass by without us having the opportunity to say thank you.” 

UH Dining Services decorated the dining hall with balloons and brought in a resident deejay, who’s a UH student, to play tunes that filled the commons. An interactive station with a large wall banner was at the front for graduates to post a thank you to the person, professors, family members, and friends who helped them succeed academically. 

“It was an opportunity for our graduates to reflect on the year, on their journey, who helped them get there, and who were their support systems,” said Mendoza. 

UH departments joined in the fanfare at a tabling area that had been set up to the side near the entrance. There to meet with graduates were: 

• UH Spirit Cords, the alumni association, to offer graduates merchandise and membership information and to remind them to continue to support the University. 

• Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) counselors to help graduates with their emotions due to graduation and to wish them well on their new beginning. 

• UH Wellness representatives to promote some ideas on summer self-care goals that would be beneficial to their mind and body. 

• Dining Services team members to pass out carnations to all the graduates. 

UH Dining Services also added some nostalgia to the Graditude Lunch by bringing back some fan favorites to the station menus. The special entrees included country-fried steak sandwich with pepper gravy, chicken curry, beef and broccoli stir fry, chicken alfredo calzone, sushi rice, chicken tinga, and a mac n’ cheese bar with smoked pork. 

“We put all the data together and really brought back some things that we knew they loved,” said Mendoza. 

With the first Graditude in the books, UH Dining Services looks forward to replicating the event next semester.