HSMAI FOUNDATION AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO FOUR HOSPITALITY DEGREE-BOUND STUDENTS

The winners of this year’s Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) Foundation scholarships are an ambitious group of individuals with impressive backgrounds and work history in the realm of hospitality and travel.

For 2005, HSMAI is awarding three Baccalaureate/Graduate Degree Scholarships to full-time students and one Scholarship to a part-time student; all are HSMAI student members. The scholarships are made possible by the support of American Express.

“Students are one of the greatest resources that we need to nurture and encourage,” states Richard Chambers, chair of the HSMAI Foundation and executive vice president, TravelCLICK. “Our industry will be in their hands one day, and we must do our part to ensure that the development process is solid and that they are excited about excelling.”

Recipient Claudine Cooper of Maple Grove, MN, is seeking a master’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Wisconsin – Stout. Following her graduation in December 2006, she will pursue a career in the industry that primarily focuses on improving service levels and quality. Previously, she earned a bachelor of arts in Hospitality Management with a focus on Quality Assurance from Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, MN. Cooper’s professional experience to date has included assistant to director/administrative quality coordinator at General Mills, Inc. International, and a f our-year period of internships at various properties in the Minneapolis area including: The Marquette Hotel as credit manager; Grand Hotel Minneapolis as concierge; catering and conference coordinator at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center; front desk/reservations agent at Comfort Inn and housekeeping at Embassy Suites.

Matthew Gomber from New City, NY, will graduate from New York University in May 2006 with a bachelor of science in Hospitality & Tourism Management. He has worked with The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park since 2003 in various posts, including concierge positions, housekeeping runner, atelier reservations, guest relations, housekeeping runner and residential concierge, which is his present position.

Gomber is an active member in the HSMAI Big Apple Chapter, and is organizing a networking event for all student members in the region to take place this fall.

Desiree Sandoval, who resides in Aurora, CO, is pursuing her studies at Johnson & Wales University and will graduate in May 2006. Since 2004, she has worked at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Denver, starting out as rooms coordinator and presently getting on-the-job experience as manager in training.

Part-time student Vanessa Fidati receives funds to be put towards her studies at Lackawanna College in Scranton, PA. At present, she works at The Inn at Nichols Village as an event coordinator, and prior to that, a server/bartender, which provided the impetus for her to focus her studies on the hospitality industry.

HSMAI issues a call for entries for student scholarships each fall.