Cougar Woods grand opening includes ceremony, food and fun
 
 

It was four hours of food, fun and ceremony at the Cougar Woods grand opening celebration on Thursday, Oct. 25.

The dining hall was filled with balloons and display tables offering everything from information on sustainability on campus and the dining hall�s application for LEED certification, free samples and prizes, and a chance to meet the new UHDS dietitian.

Guests were also given a chance to vote between three desserts, with the winner becoming the signature dessert for the hall to be featured every Friday. Chocolate chip cookie cake was the winner, followed by white chocolate bread pudding and then bananas foster bread pudding.

Additionally, student Betty Ovuegbe won a PlayStation 3 in the grand prize raffle, and more than 200 guests received prizes ranging from T-shirts to tumblers and re-usable grocery bags on the UHDS prize wheel.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Resident District Manager for UH Dining Geoff Herbert spoke of how Cougar Woods is part of a transformation taking place on the UH campus. The progress being made in food operations, he said, �is breath-taking.�

�As we stand here today to commemorate what is truly another jewel in the crown of the University of Houston, I would like to say on behalf of the Dining Services team that we are humbled and grateful to be able to play a part in the university experience that will be woven into the fabric of the lives of the students now and for generations to come,� Herbert said.

Yesenia Chavez, a student who is the chairwoman for the Food Service Advisory Committee, said that the new hall is a �great facility� with good food that will help grow the community life of students on campus.

�I�m really excited to have this new facility,� she said. �It gives students another place to go where there are more options for eating.�