National Tourism Foundation Honors 58 Students in 2004
November 8, 2004
National Tourism Foundation Honors 58 Students in 2004
LEXINGTON, Ky. –The National Tourism Foundation recognized 58 students for outstanding achievement based upon academic excellence, community involvement and professional experience in 2004.
"The National Tourism Foundation is proud to reward these deserving students," 2004 Foundation chairman Roland Kreps said. "This year’s scholars have proven their commitment to the future of the travel and tourism industry, both academically and within their respective communities. These deserving recipients ensure a positive future for this industry."
Fifteen college students from schools in the Toronto area were named recipients of the 2004 Experience the Travel Industry Award. As part of the honor, the students will attend the 2004 National Tour Association Annual Convention in Toronto, November 12 – 16.
During the five-day event, the students will learn about the tourism industry, including the packaged travel segment, NTA and the Foundation by volunteering and participating in the various activities. In addition, the students will observe delegates in the Tour & Travel Exchange®, a buying and selling arena where tour operators meet with tour suppliers and destinations for seven-minute business appointments. The students also will have an opportunity to discuss tourism issues and career opportunities and get advice and inspiration from industry veterans during Pro/Am Day.
Pro/Am Day gives these award recipients, and 12 additional students from various schools in Toronto, the chance to participate in roundtable discussions, attend seminars and tour the Convention floor to get a first-hand look at the business of packaged travel. Professors also are invited to attend.
In addition, three prestigious internships were awarded for the fall semester, and each intern was invited to the Convention. Edwige Sery, a citizen of the Ivory Coast and student at the Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, and Eduardo Becerra Pimentel, a student at Andina University of Cusco in Peru are working with the Foundation Management Team in Lexington, Ky. The 2004 Patrick Murphy Intern is Qinbo Gao of George Washington University. Gao is working in Washington, D.C. with NTA’s Legislative Counsel Jim Santini.
The Foundation also offers opportunities for grants and scholarships. The 2004 TTRA Travel Research Grant was presented to Stuart Levy, University of Calgary, for the proposal "Between-Traveler Social Interaction on Organized Tours: Drivers of Loyalty and Satisfaction." The 2004 Luray Caverns Graduate Research Grant was presented to Valerie Sheppard, Brock University, for the proposal "Measuring the Ethical Orientation of Cruise Ship Tourists: A Comparison Within and Across Alaskan and Caribbean Markets." A total of 29 scholarships also were awarded in amounts ranging from $500-$3,000.
The National Tourism Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded by the National Tour Association, an organization of nearly 4,000 travel professionals. The mission of the National Tourism Foundation is to benefit society through the support of education and research, contributing to the values of travel and the preservation of tourism resources. Since 1982, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.5 million to travel and tourism students in the form of grants, scholarships and awards. For more information, contact the Foundation at 800-682-8886 or visit http://www.ntfonline.org/.
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