For Immediate Release               
For more information:
Felicia Lowenstein Niven, (609) 569-1060 or Walter J. Murphy, (609) 927-1234

ACHLA Scholarship Foundation Awards
$25,000 to 22 Students

     ATLANTIC CITY, NJ, May 29, 2009-Atlantic City Hotel & Lodging Association (ACHLA) Scholarship Foundation awarded $25,000 in scholarships to 22 area hospitality and culinary students at its annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon held at the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort.
     County Executive Dennis Levinson was the keynote speaker.  “The recession won't be here forever, but the competition will be,” said Levinson.  He urged members of the Association to help create a city where tourists want to return again and again. “The future belongs to us, especially the scholarship recipients who are here today,” he said. “We want you to stay and work in Atlantic City.”
     The scholarship committee, chaired by its Executive Director, Howard Bacharach, presented scholarships to hospitality and culinary students at Atlantic Cape Community College, Atlantic County Institute of Technology, Cape May Technical School, Drexel University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Richard Stockton College, Temple University and University of Delaware.  The program, which began in the early 1980's, has now awarded in excess of $240,000 to date. This year's winners were:
Atlantic Cape Community College
Valerie Cisneros, of Williamstown, NJ
Brian Fischer of Mays Landing, NJ
Chelsea Fleming, of Galloway, NJ   
Kathleen Gibson-Singley, of Egg Harbor City, NJ
Amira Mills, ACCC, of Galloway, NJ
Alanna Musumeci, Hammonton, NJ
Kimberly Richardson, Mays Landing, NJ
Melissa Smith*, of Absecon, NJ
Javon White, of Pleasantville, NJ
*AC Police Fire Emergency Services scholarship winner

Atlantic County Institute of Technology
Edmarie Alvarado, of Galloway, NJ

Cape May County Technical School
Krystel Arana, Cape May Tech, of Villas, NJ

Drexel University
Phuc Pham, Drexel, of Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Fairleigh Dickinson University
Samuel Bekete, of Galloway, NJ
Tim Cressey, of Brigantine, NJ

The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
Jennifer Babcock, R. Stockton College, of Pleasantville, NJ
Jaime Fitzpatrick, R. Stockton College, of Northfield, NJ
Kerry O'Brien, R. Stockton College, of Barnegat, NJ
Ruth Leenstra, R. Stockton College, of Newton, NJ
Ed Soehngen, R. Stockton College, of Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Ana Then, R. Stockton College, of Galloway, NJ

Temple University
James O'Donnell, of Deptford, NJ
University of Delaware
Roger Plourde, of Ocean City, NJ

     Through close collaboration with local and regional educational institutions that offer programs in hospitality education, ACHLA actively support activities and programs that promote the hospitality/culinary industry as a desirable career alternative. The ACHLA also promotes our members as the employers of choice.
     ACHLA has created the Education/Scholarship Program, which is dedicated to offering area high school and college students a career path in the Lodging, Hospitality, Culinary and other Tourism professions. For more information, contact the ACHLA at (609) 345-8910 or visit www.achotellodging.com.
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