Kendall College Hospitality Management Student Wins The Peninsula Chicago Scholarship
David Beemster receives $5,000 scholarship and paid internship
Chicago—October 13, 2011—David Beemster, a senior from Berwyn, Ill. at The Kendall College School of Hospitality Management, was awarded the first scholarship offered exclusively to Kendall College students by The Peninsula Chicago, one of the most prestigious hotels in the country. The award includes a $5,000 scholarship towards completion of a hospitality management degree at Kendall, a paid internship at The Peninsula Chicago, and the opportunity for an entry-level position at the hotel upon graduation.
“We are thrilled to launch The Peninsula Scholarship Program for Kendall College students this year in an effort to support and encourage academic and business excellence,” said Maria Razumich-Zec, regional vice president USA East Coast and general manager at The Peninsula Chicago. “We believe the caliber of Kendall hospitality management students are what we look for in a Peninsula employee, and we look forward to welcoming David to our team.”
The scholarship, granted through the Kendall College Charitable Trust (KCCT), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial support for students of need enrolled at Kendall College, requires candidates demonstrate leadership, a commitment to service excellence, and community engagement through volunteer activities. Candidates must also show academic achievement and financial need.
“The Kendall College Charitable Trust partnered with The Peninsula Chicago to offer Kendall College students this opportunity that can make a difference in their careers,” said Penny Brown, board president of the Kendall College Charitable Trust. “David is truly deserving of this scholarship and we look forward to watching him pursue his passion in the hospitality industry.”
Beemster, a certified executive chef and father of two, decided to attend Kendall College to earn his B.A. in Hospitality Management, with dual concentrations in hotel/lodging management and restaurant/foodservice management, after working for more than a decade as a chef in banquets, hotels and private clubs. On campus, he is a member of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) student chapter, where he serves as the director of events, and he also oversees the marketing function for ETA Sigma Delta Honor Society.
“I am so grateful and honored to be the first recipient of this scholarship,” Beemster said. “As an adult student balancing school and a family, it would not have been possible for me to complete my final year of study without this financial assistance. I thank the Kendall College Charitable Trust and The Peninsula Chicago for recognizing me for my achievements, and look forward to applying what I’ve learned at Kendall and starting the next chapter of my career.”
About The Kendall College School of Hospitality Management:
Kendall College, founded in 1934, is located in Chicago, Illinois. Kendall offers undergraduate degrees in business, culinary arts, early childhood education, foodservice management and hospitality management to a diverse and passionate community of more than 2500 students. The curriculum combines strong academics with practical experience and international educational opportunities that help give students in business, hospitality and culinary arts programs the skills and expertise to be leaders in their professions. Kendall College was ranked the number one program in Chicago for preparing students for careers in hospitality management and culinary arts in a survey of management at Chicago’s leading hotels and Michelin Guide restaurants (ORC International – 2011 Survey). The School of Hospitality Management focuses on the art of hospitality and the science of management – the European tradition of superior customer service with American managerial know-how. Kendall College, a member of the Laureate International Universities network, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), www.ncahlc.org.
About The Peninsula Chicago:
The Peninsula Chicago was named the Number One Large City Hotel in the US and Canada by Travel + Leisure’s Reader’s Survey, August 2011 and Number Two Hotel in the United States in Condé Nast Traveler’s annual Reader’s Choice Awards, November 2010. The hotel is located on the “Magnificent Mile” at 108 East Superior Street (at Michigan Avenue), within the city’s premier shopping district. The 339 guestroom hotel opened in 2001 and features three distinctive restaurants, a popular bar and a world-class spa. For information on The Peninsula Chicago, please visit www.peninsula.com/chicago or call (1-312) 337 2888.
About Kendall College Charitable Trust:
The Kendall College Charitable Trust is dedicated to providing financial support for students of need enrolled in the culinary, hospitality, business and education programs at Kendall College. Scholarships are available for students in these career programs who have completed their first year of study. The Kendall College Charitable Trust is a 501(c)(3) not-for profit corporation and all donations to the Trust are tax deductible. For more information, visit www.kendallfoundation.org.
Media Contacts:
Amber Cerda, 312-752-2472, amber.cerda@kendall.edu
Maria Alexandra Velez, 1-312-752-2088, maria.velez@kendall.edu
