WASHINGTON, August 8, 2001 - The American Hotel
& Lodging Foundation (AH&LF) has awarded a record $23,100 from
the American Express Scholarship Program. Eleven students are to
receive academic scholarships totaling $20,000 for undergraduate, hospitality
management degrees. Fourteen hotel employees have been selected to receive
professional certification scholarships, to-date this year totaling $3,100,
for distance learning and certification programs offered through the
Educational Institute (EI) of American Hotel
& Lodging Association (AH&LA).
This represents an increase in recipients for academic scholarships
from a total of nine last year and four for the professional certification
scholarships.
Administered by AH&LF, the scholarships are awarded from the American
Express Scholarship Program. The Program, targeted specifically for AH&LA-member
hotel employees and their dependents, was established in 1993 with a $250,000
gift from American Express. A total of 22 applicants competed in
the national academic scholarship competition. Students were judged
for the awards based on hospitality work experience, academic record, a
personal essay, and financial need.
Qualifying for a $2,000 award for the 2001-2002 full academic year are:
-
George Babineau, Johnson & Wales University (Providence, RI);
-
Bradley Blodgett, Johnson & Wales University (Providence);
-
Jason DeVries, Johnson & Wales University (Providence);
-
Melody Hirschorn, New York University (New York City);
-
Megan Holland, Michigan State University (East Lansing);
-
Yanan Liu, National University (La Jolla, CA);
-
James Mbugua, California State Polytechnic University (Pomona);
-
Anthony Pupillo, Roosevelt University (Chicago, IL); and
Stephen Sasso, New Hampshire College (Manchester, NH).
|
| The purpose of the American Hotel & Lodging
Foundation (AH&LF) scholarship programs is
to support the educational development of students pursuing an undergraduate
degree in hospitality management. All eligible students must be enrolled
in hospitality management programs.
The Foundation distributed a total of $309,000 to
253 students for the 2000/2001 academic year through the following scholarship
programs:
1. Annual Scholarship Grant Program
2. Arthur J. Packard Memorial Scholarship Competition
3. Hyatt Hotels Fund for Minority Lodging Management
Students
4. The Rama Scholarship for the American Dream
5. American Express Scholarship Competition
6. Ecolab Scholarship Competition
Many of the Foundation's scholarships require school nominations
before the student can be considered for an award.
The Annual Scholarship Grant Program and the Rama Scholarships
require the schools to select the recipients. The Packard and Hyatt scholarship
competitions require the students to be nominated by their respective schools
to compete in the competitions.
Applications for these programs must be obtained through
the student's dean's office.
Individual students can apply directly to the American
Express and Ecolab scholarship programs without nomination from their dean's
office. Applicants do not have to attend an AH&LF-affiliated hospitality
management program but must be enrolled in a program leading to a degree
in hospitality management. Applications for these two competitions are
available through AH&LF. |
|
Receiving $1,000 awards for their final semester before graduation in 2001
are:
-
Ryan Cupps, Johnson & Wales University (Providence, RI); and
-
Paul Tomasetti, Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ).
Paul Tomasetti, a student at Northern Arizona University, said about his
desire to be a part of the hospitality industry, �The feeling of camaraderie,
dedication, and service to guests is why the hotel industry intrigues me
and gives me the feeling of excitement and ambition. I desire to inspire,
teach and learn throughout my career in the hospitality industry and to
succeed in the challenges that I encounter by being committed to excellence.�
All of this year�s American Express Scholars showed a similar strength
of commitment to the hospitality industry.
The professional development scholarships are reviewed on a quarterly
basis. The following ten employees at the Hilton Waikoloa Village in Hawaii
received scholarships for the Certified Hospitality Supervisor program:
Gary Montgomery, Yarraow Diamond, Terra Jenkins, Warrene Ching, Patricia
Eli, John Walker, Darlene Araki, Saul Resendiz Reynoso, Florence Figurres,
and Irene Tabor. Also benefiting from the program were two employees
from the La Casa Del Zoro in Borrengo Springs, CA � Yanan Liu for
the Certified Rooms Division Executive and Fernanda Pastore for the Certified
Rooms Division Executive and the Challenge to the Hospitality Management
Diploma. In addition, Angela Mahn from the Hampton Inn in Batesville,
MS received a scholarship for enrollment in five distance learning courses.
Elizabeth Cohen, vice president of lodging industries for the American
Express Company, announced the gifts saying, � We are delighted to assist
individuals who have already made such a strong commitment to the hospitality
industry. This year�s scholarship recipients show a strong work ethic
and a passion for our industry. We are proud that AH&LF and American
Express can assist these exemplary recipients in their career paths.�
 AH&LF
President Douglas Viehland responded, �American Express has always been
a valued partner of the hospitality industry. We are pleased to have
their support of this scholarship program that helps so many students begin
rewarding careers. The scholarships create results for our industry
that grow exponentially � the gift keeps giving back.�
Through the scholarship programs administered by AH&LF, a total
of $408,000 will be awarded to 300 students for the 2001-2002 academic
year. AH&LF Scholarships Programs are primarily funded with endowments.
AH&LF is a not-for-profit affiliate of AH&LA. Currently,
it is the only educational dollar-dispensing organization of AH&LA.
Over the last 48 years, it has provided funding for industry research,
granted scholarships to hospitality management students, and assisted in
enhancing public awareness of the lodging industry.
AH&LA, founded in 1910, is a federation of state lodging associations
throughout the United States, with some 11,000 property members worldwide,
representing more than 1.4 million rooms. AH&LA provides operations,
technical, educational, marketing, and communications services plus governmental
affairs representation to the lodging industry.
|
