Candace Wallace,  Major: Hospitality Management
A Note of Thanks …
“I am ecstatic to receive the news that I have been granted the AHLA Hospitality Management Scholarship. Thank you for your support during my journey to be the first college graduate of my family. I am headed into my final year at ACC and I maintain a 4.0 GPA while working full time at the Hilton Garden Inn. I strive hard in everything that I do. So, I appreciate that someone out there recognizes my efforts. I look forward to one day contributing more to different areas in the world by creating jobs and stable lives for families. Once again thank you for your help in advancing my knowledge and helping me pursue my goals to have a Master Degree in Hospitality Management.”
In Her Own Words …
“I was born in Texas and raised in Detroit, Ml. My major is Hospitality Management and I am attending ACC in preparation for a transfer to a four year university. Nothing has prepared me for the hospitality industry more than my life experience. I started my career in culinary and I used it to expand my knowledge in BOH and FOH operational procedures for around 10 years. Growing up in Detroit gave me a thick skin and taught me that you can never let your struggle define who you become. So, I decided to go back to school full time and have since maintained a 4.0 GPA while working full time. My passion is people and I have recently moved into a different area of hospitality, working at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel. I started as the Sales Coordinator and have just recently received a promotion to the Express Sales Manager. All of this understanding of the hotel industry will help me in my future endeavors of building my own boutique hotel focused on a lifestyle and one day teaching my own course in college. “

Darrell Randolph

“I am so humbled and honored to receive the AHLA Scholarship. This award helps me not only financially but academically as well as I forge ahead to a December graduation. My experiences in the Hospitality Management program have been the best times of my professional and personal career. The connections that I have made with colleagues in the industry as well as guests at the locations I have worked will serve me well for years to come. I am so thankful for my professors and department chair for helping me create a solid career path that I know I’m destined for. I look forward to using the skills and techniques I have gained from this program to provide the best level of service and create memorable experiences for my guests. Thank you to the Austin Hotel and Lodging Association for being such a valuable part of my journey.”

Asma Naz

“Hi, I am an International student at Austin Community College. My major is Hotel and Restaurant Specialization. I decided to move to the United States and study in the hospitality field because of my passion for customer service. I am really thankful to my college and instructors for helping and encouraging me since I came here. I was working at the college and holding two part-time positions: at Learning Lab as a front desk assistant and at Child Care Center as a kitchen assistant from February 2016 to August 2017. Now, I am have started my internship at Intercontinental Stephen F. Austin. I am very excited about my future career in the hospitality industry. I would like to share few personal things also about myself. I am from Pakistan and I will be the first female in my family to graduate from college in the United States. It was a long journey, but I worked hard to make my dream come true and achieve my goal. Previously, I have earned a master’s in Library and Information Science from University of Karachi, Pakistan. I worked as a librarian in different educational institutions for almost twelve years. I saved money to achieve my goal to study abroad and start new career in the hospitality industry. I left my home, family, previous work and scarified many things to make my dream come true. Now, I am excited about my future career in the hospitality industry where I can explore my skills of communication and guest service. I love music, traveling and adventure.”

Marta Lopez

“I feel sincerely honored to have been selected as the recipient of the Austin Hotel and Lodging Association Hospitality Management Scholarship. I am completing an associate’s degree in Meeting and Event Planning in conjunction with a certificate in Travel and Tourism. Upon graduation, my career goal is to work for an International Destination Management Company (DMC) where I aspire to foster mutual understanding among peoples of different countries and diverse cultures while specializing in the design and full implementation of events, activities, tours, transportation and program logistics. This very generous donation will allow me to defray the cost of my education so that I can continue my diligent efforts toward on-time graduation with honors from Austin Community College (ACC). As I complete my education at ACC, I will forever be grateful for receiving this thoughtful gift.”

Shelby Dewit

“Winning the AHLA Scholarship has been a wonderful opportunity.  Shortly after, I was invited to the AHLA Holiday Party.  At this event I was able to network and make amazing connections.  By the end of the event I walked away with several job opportunities and people that I could turn to as mentors.”

Lindsey Heaney

“Choosing Austin Community College to advance my career has been the best decision I have ever made. The professors and staff in the hospitality department have given me the tools, knowledge, inspiration and industry connections needed to be successful in the hospitality industry.”

Rachel Stroik

“As a Meeting and Event Planning student I am an active member of ISES where I was able to be awarded this full scholarship to annual ISES Eventworld conference in Dallas, TX. I gained invaluable experience from many general sessions and networking events with event professionals from around the world. Being involved with ISES and as a student of ACC I have had the opportunity to work on many different types of events around Austin from weddings to corporate functions with some of the best players in the event industry.”