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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:

THE AHLA FOUNDATION awarded nearly $1 million, approximately $944,000, in scholarships to 369 students enrolled in hospitality programs at 88 colleges and universities nationwide. The foundation has disbursed more than $16 million in scholarships to date, supporting thousands of future industry leaders. It offers two types of scholarships: self-nominated, allowing students from any school to compete for one of eight scholarships, and school-nominated, requiring attendance at one of the foundation's 67 affiliated schools. "Scholarships are an integral part of the foundation's commitment to elevating, educating, and empowering individuals as they pursue careers in the hotel industry," said Anna Blue, AHLA Foundation's president. "These scholarships make it possible for the next generation of leaders to find their place in hospitality." The AHLA Foundation also awarded more than $30,000 to more than 20 students in a pilot freshman scholarship program. Three community colleges-Frederick Community College, Northampton Community College and Valencia College-participated to boost interest and enrollment in their hospitality programs.

THE AHLA FOUNDATION recently expanded its travel scholarship program with historically Black colleges and universities supported by a 2023 grant from the Nareit Foundation's Dividends Through Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Giving Campaign. The foundation also announced its 2024 officers and board of trustees, further diversifying the board's representation of industry segments, AHLA Foundation said in a statement. "HBCUs are an incredible, yet underestimated, resource for talent" said AHLA Foundation President Anna Blue. "Travel scholarships are an important tool for fostering inclusion at the earliest stages and help to increase exposure to the different parts of industry, including hotel and lodging REITs." The $85,000 grant from the Nareit Foundation, Nareit's philanthropic arm, will facilitate HBCU students' attendance at REIT- and investment-focused events, including the Hunter: Hotel Investment Conference in March and the NYU International Hospitality Industry Conference in June, the statement said.