2. As a young girl, I was fascinated with people. I loved making them feel good. I loved
watching them smile. As I grew older this became my passion; this could someday even be a
career. One of my first memories at Grand Valley was the 2012 HTM Club Open House. My
young freshman eyes admired the HTM Club e-board before the meeting started. They were so
professional and intimidating, yet friendly and inviting. I wondered who they were, how they
got there, and how I could be like them someday. The meeting hadn’t even begun and I was
hooked.
I have been an enthusiastic member of HTM Club since the fall of 2012, my entire
undergraduate career. As a freshman I participated in everything the HTM Club offered; saying
yes to every opportunity placed in my lap. I figured this was an excellent way to gain the e-
board’s trust, and work my way up to where they were. I waited tables at the Gordon Food
Service Christmas Party, completed 12 hour volunteer shifts with the West Michigan Wedding
Association, stood outside DeVos Convention Center greeting middle school musicians, checked
credentials at the NCAA Final Four Men’s Basketball Tournament in Atlanta, and counted tickets
at the Food, Beer, and Wine Show two years in a row. Saying “yes” turned out to be the perfect
way to learn the industry as a freshman, and gain respect within HTM Club.
As I advanced through my undergraduate career at Grand Valley, I became more and
more involved within HTM Clubs. In the winter of 2013 I joined AHLA’s e-board as a Fundraising
chair. I also became a founding member of the MPI chapter. During this year I worked closely
with MPI’s President and Vice President. I learned a lot, and still maintain a strong relationship
with each of them today. In June following this school year I was honored with becoming
MMPI’s Hospitality Student of the Year. I am very proud of this accomplishment, as I was
selected from a group of qualified hospitality students from schools across Michigan.
My sophomore year I became Marketing & Social Media Chair of MPI. I dedicated most
of my time to continuing the growth of our MPI Chapter and enjoying my new leadership
position. This year MPI’s e-board became CAT Footwear ambassadors to Grand Valley’s
student body. I was at the helm of a group of three, in which we planned and executed an
event on campus to promote the brand. This was challenging, but greatly beneficial as I learned
so much from leading this exciting project. I became more confident in myself during this year. I
soon realized club members would look to me for advice, and I took this role on with pride! MPI
helped me grow into the young professional I am today.
My last two years at Grand Valley have been as co-President and Marketing Chair with
PCMA. My first goal as Marketing Chair was to establish a PCMA Twitter. I have explored
different tactics over the last few years on how to gain new followers for our club. It’s been
exciting for me, seeing how much we could grow PCMA each year. I’ve produced the club
schedule each year, advertised for every event we’ve created, maintained communication
between the e-board and our faculty advisor, and recently I even produced a successful guest
speaker event for all HTM Clubs.
3. I believe I have most definitely met the qualifications for this award for a number of
reasons. First off, I have been on the e-board of an HTM Club since my freshman year. I have
learned from some of the best young professionals that have graduated from Grand Valley. I
eagerly watched them lead our clubs as I prepared to do the same. Secondly, I have a true
passion for watching our HTM Clubs grow. As I started with MPI the year of its inception at
Grand Valley, I have learned what it truly takes to grow in this industry. It has been a whirlwind
of hardships and great successes, but it is satisfying to see the powerhouse of a club they are
today. Thirdly, I have created and maintained many lifelong friendships through these clubs. I
have been everywhere from the NCAA Men’s Final Four Championship in Atlanta, to selling
glow sticks at Cedar Point in Ohio. I have learned once you congregate a group of people with
like goals, magical things happen. Lastly, I have been many “firsts” for HTM Clubs at Grand
Valley. I have shown initiative by being a part of the first MPI e-board as a freshman, becoming
one of the first ambassadors for a brand on Grand Valley’s campus, and becoming one of
AHLA’s first e-board members my freshman year as well. I have put an immense amount of
time, patience, growth, and love into every club I’ve had the honor of serving during all four
years of my undergraduate career.
If I were to receive this scholarship I would utilize it to help with the burden of student
loans. Now more than ever, being a student is expensive. As I finish with a Bachelor’s degree, I
will be stricken with the large price tag of this accomplishment. I would like to use this
scholarship money to help with this expense. I will then be able to move to Texas and begin
working at the JW Marriott in downtown Houston. Ever since I have started working at the JW
Marriott in Grand Rapids I have fallen for the company. I would be privileged to work at the JW
Houston, but can only do so if I can relieve some of the burden that I have with student loans.
