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Tourism industry leaders award $5,000 in scholarship funds to the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management

By: Courtney Kubitza
First Published: December 4, 2014
Topics: In the News, STHM School

The School of Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM) at Temple University has been awarded $5,000 to finance a scholarship.

The funds were provided by Fred Tibbitts and Associates; Ross Kellman, Vice President of Hospitality and Leisure for Foodbuy; and Stephen Blackburne, Senior Vice President of Operations for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts.

As an invited guest, STHM Associate Dean Dr. Elizabeth Barber attended a Nov. 11 event hosted by Tibbitts in New York City, at which she was presented a $2,500 contribution funded by Kellman and in honor of Blackburne, the 2014 recipient of the Fred Tibbitts and Associates Hospitality Award for Excellence as an Operator. Blackburne vowed to Barber to match Kellman’s $2,500 donation, resulting in the $5,000 scholarship for STHM.

Blackburne joins the many generous sponsors from Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. The company is a longtime STHM partner and, in addition to funding scholarships, recruits and trains students for placement within the company upon graduation.

Barber said the need-based scholarship will be awarded to a junior or senior who is experiencing financial hardship. Barber commended the partnership STHM has maintained with Hyatt Hotels and its affiliates, highlighting the generosity exhibited by Kellman, Tibbitts and Blackburne as leaders in the leisure industry.

“These three men are very genuine, and their enthusiasm to help students is very unique,” Barber said. “Their support of the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management will reduce the financial hardships of one of our deserving, talented students, and I could not be more grateful for their generosity.”