Wofford students bring new energy, themed events to Burwell Dining Hall

Jenna Huser and Amelia Jones want Burwell to be more than a place students visit out of necessity.
“We want to make Burwell the place to be, not just the only option on weekends,” said Huser, who, along with Jones, has organized several themed dinners this semester as an AVI Foodsystems intern. “It’s our main dining hall, so we want people to be excited to eat there.”
Huser, a business economics major from Charleston, South Carolina, and Jones, an undeclared major from Columbia, South Carolina, learned about the opportunity through a classmate involved in student government efforts to improve Burwell. After meeting with Keith Tyger, director of culinary services, they learned AVI was seeking a social media and marketing intern and decided to apply.
The events the pair planned during the fall semester drew strong student turnout. One themed evening, dubbed TikTok Night, featured menu items inspired by viral food trends, including “marry me chicken,” mug cakes and focaccia bread art. Weeks later, Burwell hosted a dinner celebrating the final season of Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” complete with 1980s-style TV dinners, chicken and waffles, upside-down burgers and themed décor.
Huser and Jones said student feedback collected through polls and comments on AVI Serves Wofford’s Instagram account, @avis erves_wofford, has been overwhelmingly positive. They aim to use social media as a way to track student interest and shape future events.
“People come to Wofford looking for a strong sense of community,” Jones said. “The polls help everyone feel involved. Students like having a voice in what’s served.”
Tyger said student engagement on social media has increased this semester, helping promote special events.
“We are always looking for input from students, faculty and staff,” Tyger said. “The increased interaction on Instagram has helped spread the word.”
Planned spring semester events include a Greek-themed dinner during sorority and fraternity recruitment, celebrations for Chinese New Year and Mardi Gras, and a spring break-inspired series featuring international cuisine.
“We want these dinners to reach the same level of excitement as late-night breakfast,” Huser said. “We want events people look forward to and talk about.”
Tyger said AVI values collaborating with students to develop new ideas.
“We have a team that’s passionate about what they do,” he said. “We do everything we can to keep it fun.”