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AHLEF AWARDS $1.3 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO HOSPITALITY STUDENTS

Recipients Span Over 30 States; Nearly 75% of Recipients are Female

Washington, D.C. (May 14, 2019) — The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AHLEF), the charitable giving arm of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), today announced that it is awarding $1.3 million in scholarships to 344 students in 33 states and Washington, D.C. This year more than 45 percent of the total recipients are minority students and nearly 75 percent of the total recipients are female.

Each year, AHLEF administers nine scholarship programs, which award scholarships valued up to $7,500, for students enrolled in hospitality-related bachelor or graduate degree programs at colleges and universities across the country. AHLEF received and evaluated over 1,200 applications based on academics, financial need, relevant work experience, extracurricular activities, personal attributes and a passion to pursue a career in the hotel and lodging industry. Since its founding, AHLEF has distributed more than $15 million in scholarship funds to promising hospitality management students across the nation.

“As students navigate a highly competitive job market, we’re honored to provide pathways to a lifelong career in hospitality. There’s enormous opportunity for people to excel in our industry, and it’s our job to open those doors,” said Rosanna Maietta, AHLEF President. “Providing scholarships for interested and deserving students, particularly those who might not otherwise have access to a necessary education, is a core part of our mission as we develop the next generation of hospitality leaders.”

Every student receiving an AHLEF scholarship for the 2019/2020 year is on a unique journey, and AHLEF is proud to play a small part in their stories. A few of their stories are highlighted below:

AHLEF’s scholarships are funded due to generous support from individual donors and corporations. The AHLEF Annual Scholarship Grant Program, the Foundation’s largest scholarship program, includes funds provided by the AHLEF General Campaign, AHLEF Hospitality 2000 Campaign, Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), AHLEF New Century Fund, the National Restaurant Association, Melinda Bush Mentors, John Clifford Memorial, Cecil B. Day Memorial, Handlery Hotels, Conrad N. Hilton Memorial, Creighton Holden Memorial, Hospitality Asset Managers Association, Steve Hymans Extended Stay Scholarship, Richard Kessler, J. Willard Marriott Memorial, Joseph McInerney Scholarship, Curtis C. Nelson and AHLEF's Annual Giving Program.

Additional scholarship programs include: The Hyatt Hotels Fund for Minority Lodging Management Students; the Rama Scholarship for the American Dream Program; the American Express Scholarship Program; the Ecolab Scholarship Program; the Karl Mehlmann Scholarship; the Graduate Scholarship Program; the Arthur J. Packard Memorial Scholarship Program; the Stephen P. Holmes Scholarship; the Incoming Freshman Scholarship, which awards PepsiCo Foundation and ALIS Scholarships; and the Opening Doors to Opportunity Scholarship, which awards the Minaz Abji Scholarships.

AHLEF will begin accepting applications for the 2019/2020 scholarship season in Fall 2019. For more information about AHLEF scholarships and other programs, visit www.ahlef.org.

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About AHLEF

The American Hotel and Lodging Educational Foundation (AHLEF) is the industry’s philanthropic organization, dedicated to helping people build careers that improve their lives and strengthen the lodging industry. Created in 1953, AHLEF initially focused on providing scholarships to a small group of promising hospitality students. Since that time, the Foundation has taken on a much greater mandate: ensuring a strong and viable future for the entire lodging industry. Underscoring the industry’s stories of opportunity, growth, and success, AHLEF priorities include scholarships, research and career development programs.