TOURISM CARES
Students right here in River City
AMONG THE HUNDREDS of tourism professionals attending Travel Exchange in San Antonio will be a baker’s
dozen of Tourism Cares scholarship recipients just getting a start in the industry. As part of the Bruce Beckham
Scholarship Fund/NTA Mentoring Program, these students will participate in educational sessions and
networking events, plus they’ll be paired with mentors who they shadow during business appointments. But you
don’t have to be an official mentor to welcome them into the NTA community.
Kyle Anderson Anne M. Smith
Home state: Ohio
College: University of Kentucky Pennsylvania
Howard Community College
Career aspiration:
Work in the cruise industry while making an
impact in the travel industry worldwide Career aspiration:
Foster tourism education and awareness—
locally and globally—while encouraging
diversity within the industry
Keison Arnold Annette Spencer
Georgia
Roosevelt University Texas
Tarrant County College
Career aspiration:
Change the world through better education
and recruitment in hospitality Career aspiration:
Become an event planner, own an event
center and continue to further my education
Genesea Black-Lanouette Elizabeth Ventura
California
Humboldt State University Texas
Tarrant County College
Career aspiration:
Work in special event planning and
community development Career aspiration:
Earn a bachelor’s degree in hospitality
management, then own and operate my
own restaurant business
Lewis Crary Nicole Vetti
Massachusetts
University of North Texas North Carolina
Appalachian State University
Career aspiration:
Apply coursework in sustainability toward
my career in wildlife tourism Career aspiration:
Make a significant impact as a contributing
member of the hospitality and tourism
industry
Hannah Hiler Ian Wallis
Florida
University of Central Florida New Jersey
Johnson & Wales University
Career aspiration:
Work as an entertainment executive for a
major theme park Career aspiration:
Work with Royal Caribbean Cruises in Miami
Laura Kissane Rachel Wilson
Massachusetts
University of Kentucky Texas
University of North Texas & CATIE Costa Rica
Career aspiration:
Event planning and development at a
company that has a passion for helping
others Career aspiration:
Grow my company, Las Olas Travel, in
a way that is aligned with the goals of
sustainability
Linden Pohland
Wisconsin
Rochester Institute of Technology
Career aspiration:
Enter the hotel industry in accounting or
revenue management and someday become
a college professor
14
December 2017
For more information about the Tourism Cares
scholarship programs, visit tourismcares.org/
academic-scholarships.