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Spring 2026 Vandy in Exploration Opryland Trek

Vanderbilt Career Center
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Join the Vandy in Exploration community for an exclusive career trek to Opryland, hosted in partnership with Ryman Hospitality Properties. This immersive, half-day experience offers students a behind-the-scenes look at one of Nashville’s premier hospitality organizations.

During the Trek, participants will enjoy lunch, hear from a panel of employers, connect with Vanderbilt alumni, and take part in a guided tour of the Opryland property. This is a unique opportunity to explore career pathways, build meaningful connections, and gain real-world insight into the hospitality and entertainment industries.

The Trek will take place on March 26th. Space is limited, lunch included, and participation requires an application and review process. Apply early to be considered!

 

THIS PROGRAM IS ONLY OPEN TO CURRENT FRESHMAN, SOPHOMORES, AND TRANSFER STUDENTS.

 

**While we cannot excuse you from class, we will provide you with a faculty letter on behalf of the Career Center for proof of participation. It will be up to you to work with your professor on any accommodations for missing class.

 

Important Program Dates:

Deadline To Apply: February 9, 2026 – March 2, 2026, 11:59 p.m. CST
Final Selection Notifications  Friday, March 6, 2026 

 

Pre-Trek Workshop Option 1: Tuesday, March 17th, 2026 (12:15 pm – 12:45 pm CST) Virtual 

Pre-Trek Workshop Option 2: Wednesday, March 18th, 2026 (4:00 pm – 4:30 pm CST) Virtual

*Must only attend one out of the two workshop sessions offered. If you have conflicts with both offerings, please reach out to the contact above.

Trek: Thursday, March 26th, 2026, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. CST

This is an exciting opportunity to experience the insider look into a multi-facetted organization with peers and gain industry knowledge from alumni and professionals. All students will travel as a group to employer site to/from campus (if looking to request alternative travel, you must make the request upon your application).

  

IMPORTANT: Travel & Meals Provided 

We will be utilizing reserved transportation, so please confirm you can meet no later than 10:30am  on Thursday, March 26th for this half-day trek. All students traveling on the funded itinerary must adhere to the group travel schedule. Additionally, participants will be provided with light refreshments in the morning as well as lunch during the trek! 

 

To seize this incredible opportunity, please ensure you complete the application on Handshake by the application deadline of March 2nd, 2026. Instructions below:

 

APPLICATION 


The deadline to submit your application is 11:59 p.m. CST Monday, March 2, 2026. 

Two Step Application Process:* 

1.) Fill out the complete application form linked below and 

2.) Submit your resume in PDF format on Handshake. 

*Both elements must be submitted for the application to be considered complete. 

Application: Vandy in Exploration Opryland Trek – Spring 2026 Application Form
 

Name:  [First and Last here] 

Vanderbilt email: [Type here] 

Phone: [Type here] 

VU NetID: [Type here] 

SID (Student Identification number that can be found on YES): [Type here] 

Major/Minor: [Type here] 

Expected Graduation Date: [Type here] 

Preferred Pronouns (optional): [Type here] 

Please list any accommodations/accessibility needs (Wheelchair, Dietary Restrictions, Closed Captioning,    etc.): [Type here] 

 

Within the application, you will be asked to submit your SID (student identification number that can be found on YES) in order to check your Student Accountability records as part of the review process. Upon selection, accepted participants will be sent and asked to complete a form that will disclose your Disciplinary Records with our team.

 

Please briefly answer the following questions (word count: maximum 300 words each):  

We recommend that you write your responses to these questions in a word document and then copy/paste them into the application. 

  • Why are you interested in participating in the 2026 Vandy in Exploration Trek?
  • What do you hope to gain from participating in this immersive experience and how will you apply what you have learned to your academic or career path?
  • What would you like to do in the future? What are your professional goals? Note: At the Career Center, we recognize this may not be an exact title or industry yet, and so if you are still exploring please explain how this experience could help you gain clarity about your future.
  • What initial questions would you have for the employers we are visiting based on the description of this site visit? Please list at least 2.
  • Please share anything else you’d like the review committee to know about you that may help us in our admissions decision (background/identity, life experience, motivations, campus involvement, explanation of unique circumstances, etc.) Note: This question is not required!

 

If selected as a program participant, do you agree to attend the pre-trek virtual workshop? Students must attend only 1 out of the 2 sessions offered. (Type an “X” next to the selection) If you have conflicts with both offerings, please reach out to the contact above.

______ Yes 

______ No 

 

If you have any questions, please contact Ethan Fesperman at ethan.fesperman@vanderbilt.edu at the VU Career Center.