CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank has awarded $10,000 for two new scholarships for Caribbean nationals, as well as continuing to support two previous scholarship winners through its partnership with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF).
Scholarship recipients, two of whom are Bahamians, are pursuing a higher education or professional development in the hospitality and tourism industries.
“CIBC FirstCaribbean is pleased to be able to continue to be part of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Scholarship programme, lending support to the development of the hospitality and tourism industries, by providing opportunities for the growth of the very best of our region’s tourism talent,” Managing Director, Barbados, CIBC First Caribbean International Bank Donna Wellington said.
Scholarship recipients are either starting their studies or continuing their education in various specialities in the hospitality industry.
Scholarships were awarded based on prior academic achievements, previous work or internships in the Caribbean hospitality industry and economic needs.
The 2014 FirstCaribbean scholarship winners are as follows and include the courses or degrees they are pursuing along with the schools they will be attending:
Kirvez E. Ferguson (Bahamas) – CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank scholarship, Culinary Arts & Food Service Management, Johnson and Wales
Domonique Sturrup (Bahamas) CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank scholarship, BS Baking and Pastry Arts, Johnson and Wales, Providence
“We sincerely thank CIBC FirstCaribbean for their generous support of these students as they pursue their educational goals,” CHTAEF Chairman Richard Kahn said.
“Without FirstCaribbean’s continuing partnership with CHTAEF, these scholarships would not be possible. This year’s applicant pool was comprised of a talented group, all of whom deserve to receive funds towards their education so that they may help sustain the vital Caribbean hospitality industry.”
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 industry personnel and students pursuing careers in tourism.
As part of its mission, the Education Foundation provides people throughout the Caribbean region with an awareness of the industry’s varied career opportunities, as well as technical and professional development.
The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) facilitates the full potential of the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry by serving members’ needs and building partnerships in a socially responsible and sustainable manner.
CHTA is the voice of the Caribbean hospitality industry for the development of the region in the highly competitive and sophisticated environment of international tourism.
Today, tourism is widely recognized as a pivotal industry in the economy of the region – and CHTA functions as the common denominator for this industry in a region of diverse nationalities, languages and styles, identifying mutual problems and marshaling the resources of the active and allied members to devise solutions.
