Scholarships For Tourism Students
We recently told you about the Citizenship Awards, a program sponsored by the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, Honolulu Star-Advertiser and state Department of Education, that recognizes and rewards outstanding public school students who are making Hawaii a better place for all of us.
In keeping with that theme, and with the end of the school year fast approaching, there’s no better time to share information about scholarship opportunities offered by the HLTA for college students majoring in travel industry hotel/lodging management programs. The HLTA has a keen interest in developing a trained, skilled work force to lead and staff the diverse components of the visitor industry, and we believe this is one means of supporting young people who are pursuing degrees in this field.
Here’s a recap of the scholarships being offered by the association:
* Lyle & Grace Guslander Scholarship ($1,000): Student must be enrolled full time at Kaua’i Community College and majoring in travel industry hotel/lodging management programs. Two students will each be awarded $1,000. Contact the KCC scholarship office for information.
* Joe Filonis Scholarship ($1,000): Student must be enrolled full-time at Kapiolani Community College and majoring in travel industry hotel/lodging management programs. Two students will each be awarded $1,000. Contact the KCC scholarship office for information.
* Edward Hastings Scholarship ($1,000): Awarded to the outstanding senior in the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s School of Travel Industry Management. Contact the director of Internship & Career Development for information.
* R.W. Bob Holden Memorial Scholarship ($1,000): Student must be a Hawaii resident; enrolled full time at an accredited university/college in the United States, majoring in hotel/lodging management and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Three students will each be awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Deadline for applications is July 1. Written requests for scholarship applications are now being accepted by the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association. Mail requests to HLTA, 2270 Kalakaua Ave., Suite 1506, Honolulu, HI 96815.
* Clem Judd Jr. Memorial Scholarship ($1,000-$2,500): Student must be a Hawaii resident, of Hawaiian ancestry, enrolled full time at an accredited university/college in the United States majoring in hotel/lodging management and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Up to two students will be awarded scholarships. Deadline for applications is July 1. Written requests for scholarship applications are now being accepted by the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association . Mail requests to HLTA, 2270 Kalakaua Ave., Suite 1506, Honolulu, HI 96815.
* Pouhana Hokele Scholarship ($1,000-$4,000): Student must be of Hawaiian ancestry and majoring in travel industry management. This award is renewable for up to four years. This scholarship is a partnership between the Hawaii Hotel Industry Foundation and the Ke Ali’i Pauahi Foundation of Kamehameha Schools. For information and an application, see www.pauahi.org.
* Conrad N. Hilton Scholarship ($1,000): Student must be a Hawaii resident enrolled full time at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management of the University of Houston (Texas). Contact the University of Houston scholarship office for information. Application deadline was March 1, but keep this date in mind for next year.
In addition, the HLTA has continued to provide internships for college students interested in working in our industry. In past years, many of our student interns have come from the UH School of Travel Industry Management.
However, this semester, we’re tapping the talents of two students from Hawaii Pacific University: Xiaofan Cui and Linfeng Li. They are both from China, and given the huge potential of that travel market, we’re using their knowledge to gain insights into Chinese travel and helping them learn about our industry.
The cost of a college education continues to climb. It’s up to every student to search out every opportunity for financial support, and for travel industry majors, there’s no better place to start than the visitor industry and the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association.
MUFI’S VISITOR HEROES
Sissy Kahale
Position: Guest Service Agent
Location: Sheraton Kaua’i Resort
Guest service agent Sissy Kahale has been called one of the Sheraton Kaua’i Resort’s “superstars.”
Superstar, as when Sissy, who works the morning shift, immediately returned to work during last year’s tsunami warning to assist with the evacuation of guests. She’s always willing to fill in when the hotel front desk is short-staffed, accommodates and pleases even the most demanding of guests and regularly earns their compliments for her exceptional service. She’s one of the resort’s union stewards, and even in that task Sissy is reasonable, fair and professional.
Sissy Kahale takes that same attitude in her community endeavors, serving as a volunteer volleyball coach at Waimea High School, cleaning the yard at Koloa preschool and volunteering at her church. She’s keeping alive the Hawaiian tradition of salt making in Hanapepe, and helps maintain the hula platform in Polihale and Hawaiian gravesites at Pokii and Polihali.
