Washington, September 25, 2012 — The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF), the not-for-profit affiliate of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), is awarding 343 scholarships totaling $514,500 this year – of which more than 30% will be to minority hospitality management students.

Of its 10 scholarship programs, two are dedicated specifically for minority students. Click on the scholarship name to view 2012 winners and comments from the donors:

• The Hyatt Hotels Fund for Minority Lodging Management Students awarded $38,000 in scholarships to 19 minority hospitality management students.  Since its inception in 1988, this program has awarded 294 students with $2,000 scholarships totaling $588,000.
• JHM Hotels awarded 21 scholarships totaling $26,000 through the Rama Scholarship for the American Dream Program.  The fund, established with a $1,000,001 endowment on the 25th anniversary of the Rama brothers’ first hotel purchase, provides the financial support to help others create their own “American Dream.”  To date, the fund has awarded $631,300 in scholarships to 385 recipients

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 gave $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.

“Both scholarships address the need to ensure a strong and diverse lodging workforce,” said Joori Jeon, CPA, CAE, AH&LEF president/COO.  “The foresight of these two companies helps connect future minority lodging professionals with the financial means they need for success in their professional development.”

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.