Four students pursuing careers in hospitality sales and marketing have been awarded scholarships from the Foundation of the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI). Sponsored by…
Four students pursuing careers in hospitality sales and marketing have been awarded scholarships from the Foundation of the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI). Sponsored by American Express, two merit scholarships have been awarded to full-time students in the Baccalaureate or Graduate Degree Candidate category and two merit scholarships went to part-time students pursuing Associate, Baccalaureate, or Graduate Degrees.
“Awarding annual scholarships to deserving and committed students has been a greatly rewarding initiative,” states Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. “We take great pride in providing assistance and encouragement to the next generation of our workforce.”
The 2006 recipients of the full-time scholarships are Warren T. Jahn, Jr. and Mariasol Diaz.
Warren T. Jahn, Jr., attending the University of Tennessee, will graduate in May 2007 with a doctor of philosophy, majoring in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism management. He presently holds a Master of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism management from the University of South Carolina. Jahn has been honored as Graduate Student of the Year, recognized for outstanding research and teaching, and has authored numerous research papers on the industry.
A high school job at Burger King caught his interest, and he discovered “my passion for guest service and found a new application for teamwork.” Upon completing his education, he hopes to work in a hotel firm’s revenue management department, and his long-term goal is “to one day have the opportunity to be a business executive and maybe own my own hotel firm.” Jahn believes his personal characteristics of being goal-oriented, assertive, a good planner, and being able to work well with others will enable him to reach his goals.
Also receiving a full-time scholarship is Mariasol Diaz from Walnut, CA, who is studying at The Collins School of Hospitality Management (CSHM) at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona to receive a Bachelor of Science degree. She has been an HSMAI student president and a mentor in the CSHM. Her professional experience to date has included sales and catering assistant, front desk agent, and land security agent for international flights.
As a young adult in her country of Ecuador, she became interested in the hospitality industry and took a tourism course, which then led her to various positions in the industry, such as front office, reservations, sales, and catering, and positions with American Airlines and Copa Airlines.
“The industry is particularly appealing to me because of my love for the people and places in the world, as well as the challenge and experience that comes from encountering them. My experience in working with the hospitality industry has exposed me to many different people and situations that have challenged me to think differently about this field and my role within it.”
Now in her final year of university, upon graduation she hopes to be one step closer to her goal of becoming a marketing director of a major hotel. She equates her passion and ability to overcome challenges with her journey as an immigrant to the U.S. at the late age of 23 and assimilating to a new way of life with a drive to succeed.
Receiving part-time scholarships are Shirley Monnette Russo and Claudine Cooper.
Shirley Monnette Russo of Longwood, FL, is studying at the University of Central Florida in the Master’s Degree Program at the Rosen College of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Interested in the hospitality industry since she was 22 and employed at Walt Disney World as a tram operator, and then-systems analyst assistant says, “Every day was a new experience meeting people from all over the world.”
Her second endeavor in the industry was as a research database manager at the Educational Institute of Hotel and Lodging Association. Other work experience includes database campaign manager at Cendant Timeshare Resort Group/Fairfield Resorts in Orlando and circulation list manager at World Publications in Winter Park, FL.
After taking time off for family reasons, she returned to school to pursue her career objective of earning a Ph.D, and become a hospitality professor and researcher, which she will accomplish upon graduation in May 2007.
Also receiving a part-time scholarship is Claudine Cooper of Menominie, WI, studying at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Leading up to her present pursuit of a M.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management, she has worked for 22 years in customer service, business administration and accounting in international banking, hotels, airlines and tourism. Having visited 40 countries and lived in Australia, London and the Island of Jersey, she ultimately settled in the U.S. to pursue a degree. In 2002, she graduated with honors from Normandale Community College with a degree in Hospitality Management and was keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony, and in May 2004 she received an individualized Bachelor of Arts Degree with a focus in Quality Assurance Management.
Her goal is to pursue a career in the industry that primarily focuses on improving service levels and to teach, while her long-term dream is to “be a successful hospitality professional rated in the Top 500 in Fortune magazine within 10 years, and be a role model to young women.”
The funds have been forwarded to the colleges of the scholarship recipients to be applied directly to their tuition for the following semester. For eligibility, students must be enrolled in a hospitality management or related curriculum and pursuing a degree, have demonstrated hospitality work experience, possess an interest in a career in hospitality sales and marketing, and be in good academic standing.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
