Melissa Fady, a student at the School of Tourism and Hotel Management (THM) at the University of Balamand (UOB), received the Boecker ‘Best Hygiene and Food Safety’ award at the LAU UniChef’s Challenge held on May 16, 2025. The event brought together talented students from eight universities and institutes across Lebanon.

Melissa’s success was made possible with guidance from THM executive chef Georges Soueid and Mrs. Maryjoe Youssef, THM food safety and hygiene instructor. Support was also shown by the Faculty of Business and Management Dean Prof. Karim Rebeiz and THM Director Dr. Jihane Adeimi, who attended the competition.

The UniChef’s Challenge is a competition that showcases the skills and creativity of Lebanon’s top hospitality and culinary students. It encourages innovation, stimulates creative thinking and bridges the gap between education and the hospitality industry.

Winning this award highlights UOB’s strong focus on food safety and hygiene, reflecting the quality of its hospitality program. The event also provided a great chance for our hospitality student to connect with industry leaders and chefs, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between universities in advancing Lebanon’s hospitality sector.