John Nagy, School of Hospitality instructor at Pittsburgh Technical Institute, is the 2014 recipient of the Lamp of Knowledge Award for Outstanding U.S. Educator. Nagy is one of three worldwide to receive the Outstanding Educator award and shares the prestigious recognition with educators in Nassau and Pakistan.
The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI) presented the awards to individuals who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to advancing the quality of professionalism and education in the hospitality industry during its Stars of the Industry Awards event held in Washington D.C. this month.
The EI award honors champions of hospitality, education, and training.
Nagy began his involvement with the hospitality industry in 1972 and served hotel and restaurant industries in management at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, the University Club, and the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh and the Sonesta Beach Hotel and Resort in Miami.
Moving from hospitality management to hospitality education, he was appointed to faculty at Pittsburgh Technical Institute in 1999 where he teaches in the Hospitality Management Administration program. He has developed special projects including a resort management project that has been included in The Educational Institute’s World of Resorts textbook. He networks extensively with industry professionals to enrich the college’s hospitality program’s advisory board, arranges site tours, secures internships and part-time job opportunities, and brings fresh industry references experiences and approaches to into the classroom. In addition, he prepares graduates, instructors, and industry professionals for professional certification exams.
“John Nagy is a gifted educator and the students of PTI’s Hospitality Management Administration Program are fortunate to benefit from his commitment to creating extraordinary education,” said Greg DeFeo, President of Pittsburgh Technical Institute. “He loves the hospitality industry and is devoted to it and his students. Students in John Nagy’s classroom are inspired by follow his enthusiasm careers paths that help them and motivated to explore the world as they go to work in hotels and resorts, convention services, casinos, travel services, real estate development projects, entertainment complexes and restaurants.”
Nagy and his colleagues at PTI developed an immersive learning environment by mixing hands-on learning, role playing, and interactive group activities in a hospitality simulation lab for hands-on instruction skill-based education and training in front office procedures, dining room procedures, and wines and mixology.
Nagy shares the award with his students and colleagues and feels it is listening and learning that sets him apart as an educator and professional. “At my age, I have gained wisdom through listening and learning from everyone I interact with,” said Nagy. “Whether in industry or in the classroom, I’ve found we have so much to learn from one another.”
PTI’s School of Hospitality offers an associate in science degree in Hospitality Management Administration with concentrations in Hotel and Casino Management, Restaurant Management, and Travel and Tourism Management.
