THE AHLA FOUNDATION has introduced a scholarship application platform for U.S. hospitality students. The platform features a built-in eligibility assessment tool, ensuring students can easily access all qualifying foundation-hosted opportunities. Meanwhile, the foundation, supported by individual donors and corporations, has contributed almost $17 million to eligible students across the U.S. to date.
“The AHLA Foundation has been committed to supporting hospitality students for 70 years,” said Anna Blue, AHLA Foundation president. “Increasing access to resources and opportunities is a critical investment in the future talent of our industry.”
The new system will allow students to apply for multiple scholarship opportunities in one application, the AHLA foundation said in a statement. This new portal allows AHLA Foundation to manage eight other scholarship opportunities as well:
- Hyatt Hotels Fund for Minority Lodging Management Students
- Rama Scholarship for the American Dream Program
- American Express Scholarship Program
- Ecolab Scholarship Program
- Karl Mehlmann Scholarship
- Banks Brown Graduate Scholarship Program
- Arthur J. Packard Memorial Scholarship Program
- Stephen P. Holmes Scholarship
The foundation also manages the Incoming Freshman Scholarship, which awards PepsiCo Foundation and ALIS Scholarships, and the Opening Doors to Opportunity Scholarship, which awards the Minaz Abji Scholarship.
The AHLA Foundation Academic Scholarship Program includes funds provided by the AHLAF General Campaign, AHLA Foundation Hospitality 2000 Campaign, Americas Lodging Investment Summit, and AHLAF New Century Fund.
The foundation also receives funding from National Restaurant Association, John Clifford Memorial Fund, Cecil B. Day Memorial Fund, Handlery Hotels, Conrad N. Hilton Memorial Fund, Creighton Holden Memorial Fund, Hospitality Asset Managers Association, Steve Hymans Extended Stay Scholarship, Richard Kessler, J. Willard Marriott Memorial Fund, Joseph McInerney Scholarship, Curtis C. Nelson Fund and individual contributions to AHLA Foundation’s Annual Giving Fund.
In November, AHLA Foundation announced hospitality apprenticeships with a $505,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship. The grant supports over 400 apprentices in lodging management, hotel cooking, and maintenance. Simultaneously, Jessica Janis, director and practice leader for hospitality at Corning Optical Communications LLC, was appointed as an honorary member of the foundation's board of trustees.
