UW Team Wins 2025 Pulte Gateway to Hospitality Innovation Challenge

Winners have been announced for the 2025 Pulte Gateway to Hospitality Innovation Challenge, a premier case competition supported by the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation.

Competing for $20,000 in cash prizes, students from across the state showcased innovative strategies for the Hilton Garden Inn Laramie.

This semester-long challenge brought together four teams of students -- from the University of Wyoming, Central Wyoming College and Laramie High School -- to develop forward-thinking and actionable solutions for a real-world hospitality case study. The competition placed a special emphasis on community engagement and strategic innovation at the Hilton Garden Inn Laramie, a property owned by the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation as part of its “Humanitarian Hotels” initiative.

Participants pitched their ideas to a panel of expert judges during a culminating event attended by more than 40 students, faculty and community members. The winning team proposed a suite of strategies which includes a new collaboration with hospitality classes that leverages the hotel as an experiential learning space -- and innovative uses of the hotel’s shuttle service, including community outreach programs to support those in need in Albany County.

Members of the first-place team from UW, listed by hometown and with quotes about their experience, are:

Armagh, Pa. -- Elisabeth Ressler.

“This class was an amazing opportunity. I’m so thankful to the Pulte Foundation, Hilton Garden Inn and Dr. (Sara) Ghezzi. I’m proud of our team -- our hard work paid off!”

Gail, Texas -- Savannah Avey.

“Winning meant a lot because of how hard we worked to earn first place. I’m proud of our group and grateful I got to be part of this class.”

Gothenburg, Neb. -- Kara Waskowiak.

“The challenge taught me to think critically and creatively about real issues in hospitality. I’m thankful to Hilton Garden Inn, the Pulte Foundation and Dr. Ghezzi for the opportunity and support. It was an incredible experience that confirmed my passion for this industry.”

Scottsdale, Ariz. -- Brielle Fitzgibbon.

“Taking part in this course was one of the best decisions I’ve made. From real-world hospitality experience to creating a presentation we were proud of; it was a class like no other -- and winning was the perfect reward after a semester of hard work.”

The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation partners with nearly 200 nonprofits worldwide to address the basic human needs of underserved populations, including disadvantaged youth, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and those with limited material resources. The foundation’s “Humanitarian Hotels” reinvest 100 percent of net profits into charitable initiatives and serve as platforms for education, service and social innovation.

Judges for the competition were Morgan Seyle, vice president of investment and strategic initiatives, Pulte Family Charitable Foundation; Brandon Glen, regional director of sales, Schulte Hospitality Group; Morgan Holland, senior research economist, UW’s Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute; Marty Schafer, general manager, Hilton Garden Inn Laramie; and Colton Irene, director of sales, Hilton Garden Inn Laramie.