Two students from Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM) have been chosen as the 2016 recipients of the Marie Baker Brown Scholarship.
Baker Brown, who died in 2006 following a battle with breast cancer, was a champion of Philadelphia tourism. She joined the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) in 1985 and her production credits include the opening of the Pennsylvania Convention Center in 1993 and the Republican National Convention in 2000.
The scholarship is open to juniors and seniors at STHM who are majoring in Tourism and Hospitality Management, or Sport and Recreation Management majors with a concentration in Event Leadership, who share Baker Brown’s spirit and passion for the tourism industry.
This year’s recipients are Erica Rudy and Renata Cavalieri.
Erica Rudy, a Philadelphia native, is a senior majoring in Tourism and Hospitality Management and Spanish. Upon graduation in May 2018, she will pursue a career within the Hyatt Hotels Corporation through its Corporate Management Training Program.
Rudy has completed two internships – as a housekeeping supervisor at the Chestnut Hill Hotel, in Philadelphia and as a corporate food and beverage intern at the Hyatt Hotels Hill Country Resort & Spa, in San Antonio, Texas. Upon completion of her internship with Hyatt, Rudy received an offer to promote the company on Temple’s campus as a Hyatt Corporate Campus Ambassador.
In her time at Temple, Rudy has studied abroad, in Oviedo, Spain and has worked as a STHM Ambassador and for Temple Campus Recreation.
“Earning the Marie Baker Brown Scholarship, I personally feel that it proves I chose the right industry to pursue,” Rudy said. “I am honored to have been chosen as one of the recipients this year and to further my education with this scholarship.”
Renata Cavalieri, a Philadelphia native, is a junior Tourism and Hospitality Management major. Upon graduation in September 2018, she hopes to pursue a career in event coordination.
Cavalieri has achieved professional experience with the Independence Visitor Center of Philadelphia, for which she served as an events management intern. In this role, she communicated with clientele, caterers and vendors and drafted proposals and event plans. She also has worked as a hospitality assistant with Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
Outside of her academic commitments, Cavalieri maintains active involvement in her community. She has supported fundraising efforts with local businesses for three years to support The Miracle on South 13th Street, a popular holiday lights display between Tasker and Morris streets in South Philadelphia.
“This scholarship is the result of the time and energy that students are willing to put into their education,” said Cavalieri. “Receiving this scholarship is such a great honor.”