CVC offers hospitality scholarships
Special to the American
Fourteen students from several St. Louis city schools recently received some valuable financial advice from Citi St. Louis. For a month, these students attended courses twice a week on topics ranging from basic banking services to money management.
“We spend a lot of volunteer time in the St. Louis community, but perhaps one of the most important things we can do is offer financial education to those who need it the most,” said Melanie Dileo, director of community affairs for Citi St. Louis.
“These kids had the chance to learn things that they will take with them and use throughout their lifetime.”
“I learned that it’s important to have a checking and a savings account for the money I earned, instead of having it at home where I am tempted to spend it on junk food or unnecessary items,” said Serwa Tumpe, one of the students who participated in the program.
The classes were taught by six volunteers from Citi who are part of the Management Associate Program. This program is a rotational development program designed to provide management associates with an accelerated cross-functional experience that will ultimately develop them as the next generation of Citi leaders.
During the program, students received “Citi money” for arriving on time, paying attention, participating and respecting others.
“At the end of the program, we held a graduation celebration that included pizza and a prize auction for the kids to use the Citi money the earned,” said Justin Raley, a management associate for Citi and volunteer for this program.
“As the kids went around the room discussing topics they had learned, it was obvious we had made an impact.”
CVC offers hospitality scholarships
High school seniors who are interested in pursuing careers in hospitality or the culinary arts have a new opportunity for financial assistance. The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission (CVC) will provide two monetary scholarships to the Clyde C. Miller Career Academy, an academic school with a technical focus. The facility currently has 720 students in grades 9-12, and offers an expanded curriculum that includes hospitality studies, culinary arts, biotechnology, database management and manufacturing.
In addition to having achieved senior status, applicants for the scholarship must have at least a 2.5 GPA and been accepted to a four- or two-year college or trade school with an accredited hospitality or culinary arts program. Students must also submit a 500-word essay detailing their personal career goals and objectives.
The application deadline is set for March 7, and a CVC scholarship selection committee will determine recipients on March 24.
