Washington, September 14, 2012 — The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF), the not-for-profit affiliate of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, awarded three scholarships via its Arthur J. Packard Memorial Scholarship Program, the Foundation’s most prominent and oldest scholarship award.

Winning first-place and a $5,000 scholarship is Catherine Blankenship, a senior at Missouri State University.  Daniella Nillen, a senior at Johnson & Wales University-Denver, received $3,000 as second-place winner, and Ellisa Thompson, a junior at East Carolina University, was the third-place winner with a $2,000 scholarship.

The Arthur J. Packard Memorial Scholarship Program, which began in 1974 to honor third-generation hotelier Packard’s numerous accomplishments in the lodging industry, awards three students at AH&LEF-affiliated four-year educational institutions a total of $10,000.  Each school nominates their top students to compete.  Recipients are selected based on a combination of hospitality work experience, academic performance, activities, and financial need.  In 2012, AH&LEF will award 343 scholarships to hospitality management students totaling $514,500.

“This year’s competition was a tough one as many qualified students were nominated,” said Joori Jeon, CPA, CAE, AH&LEF president/COO.  “First place winner Catherine ‘Cat’ Blankenship grew up in the hospitality business, helping her parents run a 12-room inn.  Her submission was particularly noteworthy as maintained the highest GPA in her program at Missouri State, while working two part-time hotel jobs and serving as co-president of the student organization, Hospitality Leaders of Tomorrow. Congratulations to Cat and all of this year’s winners.”

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.