Students get hospitality scholarships

Several students from western Jamaica are the beneficiaries of scholarship grants donated by the Jamaica Chapter of the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP).

The scholarships, which value $150,000, were presented during the association's ninth annual seminar hosted at the Sunset Beach Resort and Spa in Montego Bay, recently.

The scholarship awardees included Tevin Brown of Cornwall College, Ishina Lawrence of Herbert Morrison Technical High, Cecil Thompson of Hopewell High Schools, Daniellia Medley of the Montego Bay Community College, Tianna Campbell of Montego Bay High, and Leshawn Doeman of Mt Alvernia High School.

The other recipients were Serica Swaby of Muschette High, Keron Marson of St James High, Mario Pennycooke of Rusea's High, Robby Ann Williams of the University of Technology, and Shanda Wallace of the University of the West Indies, Western Campus.

President of HFTP Jamaica, Tracy Christie-Smith, charged the beneficiaries, all of whom are business students, to become ambassadors, inspiring change not only academically, but within society.

"Motivate yourselves to become involved in your community or in school and make your mark. Challenge yourselves to become global leaders for competitions and opportunities," said Christie-Smith, who added that, each year, a mix of students is selected from different parishes.

Special wing

St James High is the first to construct a wing to teach hospitality-related subjects to its students.

The seminar operated under the theme 'Digital Technology: Keeping it in Perspective' and outlined to students, hospitality workers and teachers the importance and impact of technology as well as where it is heading and the emerging trends not only in the hospitality sector, but the global village.

They were exposed to motivational speeches and awareness presentations done by The Consumer Affairs Commission, the Jamaica Cyber Crime Unit, the foreign partner and HFTP's Global President, Jerry Trieber, and with Jessica Vint, regional controller, Hotel Group Inc.