St Lucian wins CHTA scholarship

Joanne Felix 23, daughter of Luestar Felix and Marcus Leon has earned herself the one year 2013 scholarship award from Virgin Holidays. Felix, an innovative, productive and highly-motivated individual, is currently completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management at the Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD. Felix who has earned herself a string of accomplishments ranging from Business Management Student of the Year graduating 2008 class from Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, continuously being placed on the President’s and Dean’s Lists at Grambling State University and Morgan State University, Inductee, Golden Key Honor Society (MSU), and Inductee, Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society (MSU), has a proven dedication to professionalism, achievement and discipline in the service industry and a focus on sustainable development practices.

This year the CHTA Education Foundation received 48 completed applications from 13 Caribbean countries, with two being from St. Lucia.  The application involves the writing of a 400 word essay that depicts specifically where and how the applicant wishes to use their knowledge and talent within the hospitality and tourism industry. Felix’s winning essay surrounded the concept of sustainability becoming an important differentiator among hospitality ventures.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF) was established in 1987 as a stand-alone non-profit / tax-exempt organization, through which scholarships and special assistance would be made available for the education of Caribbean hotel and tourism industry personnel and students pursuing careers in the field. The members, Board of Directors, managers and staff of the SLHTA applaud Felix on this esteemed accomplishment and wish her the very best in her future endeavours.  The Association encourages students, human resource managers and general managers to promote this CHTAEF scholarship internally within their establishments to ensure that there is an increase of applicants from St Lucia for the year 2014.