Julia Weeks, a 2015 Ben Lippen alumna, went on to graduate from the University of South Carolina in 2019 with B.S. in Hospitality Management. Since then, Julia has been working at Graduate Columbia, a boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Columbia. It is part of the Graduate Hotels Collection; each hotel reflects the culture and charm of the nearby university. She is now working in sales having also spent some time in accounting and operations.

Outside of a busy career, Julia is also active in her church: "I am deeply rooted at Dream Church and spend most of my time outside of work there. I lead worship with a few others, and it's been so sweet getting anchored in a family that is there for the One thing!"

Almost eight years beyond Ben Lippen, Julia is very content to still be doing life in her hometown. She says, "Overall, it is just super sweet to have remained in Columbia-- to have had all these pivotal moments in one place. Not everyone can say that!"

If you are looking for a lovely, unique place to stay or planning an event downtown, consider the Graduate Columbia, and be sure to stop by to say hello to Julia!