Liberty University Dining Surprises Students with Bubble Tea Pop-Up

In a Valentine's Day surprise, Liberty University Dining by Sodexo organized a special bubble tea pop-up at the Reber-Thomas Dining Center. The event, custom-designed for the occasion by Sodexo's Culinary Innovation Team, featured unique strawberry milk bubble tea with heart-shaped strawberry bobas.

Led by Jennifer DiFrancesco, Director of Culinary Innovation, and Rob Morasco, Vice President of Culinary Innovation, the team served over 100 gallons of bubble tea to approximately 2.2k cups, making the event a sweet success. The pop-up coincided with the lunch rush, as students poured in from Convocation at the nearby Vines Center, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere.

Christina LeMin, Director of Marketing, and Sherie Sheran, Director of Offer Experience, along with members of the Liberty Dining Senior Management and Culinary teams, collaborated to ensure the success of the event. The Liberty University bake shop team contributed assorted cupcakes and cookies to complement the bubble tea, adding to the festive Valentine's Day spirit.

The pop-up was strategically timed from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on February 14th, aligning with the Convocation schedule, which sees around 3000 students flocking to the Reber-Thomas Dining Center.

Jennifer DiFrancesco expressed her delight at seeing the students' faces light up, emphasizing the joy brought by the Valentine's Day-themed bubble tea and treats. She shared, "It was so delightful seeing the students' faces light up when they saw the Strawberry Bubble Tea with the Heart-Shaped Bobas and the delicious Valentine’s treats our talented bakery whipped up for our students. It honestly made my Valentine’s Day!"

Rob Morasco shared his excitement at surprising the students and noted the positive reactions from the crowd. He said, "It was amazing to see the number of students coming from convocation, walking in the door and saying 'wow, what is this?' over and over again! I love surprising our guests with a tasty treat."

Attendees were treated to delicious bubble tea and also received carnations, heart stickers, and an overall festive experience.

Looking ahead, the Culinary Innovation Team hinted at future pop-ups and expressed their eagerness to continue surprising and delighting students across various campuses.

Liberty University's commitment to creating unique and enjoyable experiences for its students remains a focal point for the dining team.