Washington – The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF), the not-for-profit affiliate of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) awarded 226 scholarships totaling $298,825 through three of its core programs – the Annual Scholarship Grant, Incoming Freshman, and Graduate scholarship programs. In total, AH&LEF awarded more than $400,000 to 292 hospitality management students through its 10 academic scholarship programs this year.

The Annual Scholarship Grant Program, its biggest program, is co-administered with 85 universities and colleges. In 2010, 210 students nominated by AH&LEF-affiliated schools received $243,825 in funds. The program is funded from proceeds of the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS); the Foundation’s Annual Giving Campaign; previous AH&LEF capital campaigns, including the New Century Campaign; as well as annual special events, including the Big Apple Auction, Golf Classic, and Hospitality Heritage Dinner Tribute, as well as the following scholarship funds:

AH&LA Allied Members
Steve Belmonte
Melinda Bush
Carlson Family Foundation
John Clifford Memorial
Cecil B. Day Memorial
Handler Foundation
Conrad N. Hilton Memorial
Creighton Holden Memorial
Steve Hymans Memorial
Richard Kelley
Richard Kessler
J. Willard Marriott Memorial
Curtis C. Nelson
Steve Whiteside Memorial

This is the third year for two new AH&LEF scholarships – one for incoming hospitality management freshmen and another for graduate students. Eight incoming freshmen received scholarships totaling $15,000, and eight graduate students received $5,000 scholarships. Funding for the freshman scholarships is provided by monies set aside from AH&LEF’s last major capital fundraising initiative, the New Century Campaign, and the graduate program is funded from a portion of the ALIS proceeds.

For more information about AH&LEF scholarships and other programs, contact Christa Boatman, manager of foundation programs, at (202) 289-3139 or [email protected] or visit .

AH&LEF is the charitable fund-raising and endowed fund-management subsidiary of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Founded in 1953, AH&LEF is the premier organization for scholarships, professional certification, and instructional material as well as funding for hospitality industry research. For more information, visit .

Serving the hospitality industry for a century, AH&LA is the sole national association representing all sectors and stakeholders in the lodging industry, including individual hotel property members, hotel companies, student and faculty members, and industry suppliers. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AH&LA provides members with national advocacy on Capitol Hill, public relations and image management, education, research and information, and other value-added services to provide bottom line savings and ensure a positive business climate for the lodging industry. Partner state associations provide local representation and additional cost-saving benefits to members.

Kathyryn Potter
AH&LA