Washington, September 19, 2012 — The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF), the not-for-profit affiliate of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), administers three scholarships on behalf of American Express, Ecolab, and PepsiCo.  These scholarship programs, totaling $44,000, contribute to AH&LEF’s total of $514,500 in academic scholarships awarded annually.

Click on each scholarship’s name in the following descriptions to view 2012 winners:

• The American Express Scholarship Program awarded six academic scholarships totaling $11,000.  Founded in 1994 by American Express, it is designed specifically for current hotel employees and their dependents. The fund has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships to 267 students and hotel employees.  The program also offers professional development scholarships for distance learning and certification offered through the Educational Institute (EI). To date, nine hotel employees have been awarded professional development scholarships totaling more than $3,500 this year.
• The Ecolab Scholarship Program  awarded 14 scholarships totaling $26,000. Established by Ecolab in 1997, the program has awarded more than $330,000 to 226 hospitality management students and hotel professionals.  The program also supports scholarships for professional certification offered through EI. To date, one hotel general manager was awarded a scholarship to achieve the industry’s highest designation – Certified Hotel Administrator.
• The Pepsi Scholarship awarded four alumni of the Hospitality High School in Washington D.C., a total of $8,000 to continue their hospitality management studies in college.  The PepsiCo Foundation established this fund with a $250,000 gift to provide perpetual scholarships to the school’s graduates.

Scholarships are awarded based on academic performance, hospitality work experience, financial need, and other requirements based on specific criteria of the scholarship.  Last year, AH&LEF distributed $886,000 to prepare promising college students for a career in hospitality, attract and retain quality industry professionals, and fund valuable research for lodging properties.

“These scholarships ensure that the lodging industry has the talent to fuel its future growth with a strong pipeline of future employees,” said Joori Jeon, CPA, CAE, AH&LEF president/COO.  “Funded solely by contributions from the hospitality sector, the Foundation’s mission for preparing hospitality future leaders would not be possible without the financial support of these great industry partners.”

For more information about AH&LEF scholarships and other programs, contact Michelle Poinelli, senior vice president of foundation programs, at (202) 289-3181 or [email protected] or visit www.ahlef.org.

About the AH&LEF
AH&LEF is the charitable fund-raising and endowed fund-management subsidiary of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Founded in 1953, AH&LEF is the premier organization for scholarships, as well as funding for hospitality industry research. For more information, visit www.ahlef.org.

About the AH&LA
Serving the hospitality industry for a century, AH&LA is the sole national association representing all sectors and stakeholders in the lodging industry, including individual hotel property members, hotel companies, student and faculty members, and industry suppliers. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AH&LA provides members with national advocacy on Capitol Hill, public relations and image management, education, research and information, and other value-added services to provide bottom-line savings and ensure a positive business climate for the lodging industry. Partner state associations provide local representation and additional cost-saving benefits to members.