 May 27, 2005
Anchorage, Alaska - Among the Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA) scholarship awards recently announced, four went to Southeast Alaska students. Ryan Seaver of Ketchikan will also receive a $2,500 scholarship from the Kris Geldaker Memorial. Seaver is studying at California Maritime Academy to obtain a Bachelor's degree in Marine Transportation. He notes that the sea plays a major part in a visitors Alaska experience and presents one of the challenges of the visitor industry in Alaska. The Alaska Travel Adventures Scholarship of $1,000 was awarded to Brian Vreeland of Ketchikan. This honor student will transfer this fall to Washington State University to work on a degree in business management and operations. He sees a need for tourism to give back to the community to sustain the Alaskan lifestyle. Sara Schroeder of Ketchikan received the Holland America Line Scholarship of $1,000. She will enroll at the University of Alaska Southeast to study business marketing and management this fall. Erik Anderson of Juneau was recommended to receive the Kris Geldaker Memorial Scholarship of $2,500. Anderson is studying at the University of Alaska Southeast to earn a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems. He sees Alaska with great natural attractions, but the industry must use technology to convert the Alaskan mystique into business. Jacquoi James of Yakutat was given the Princess Cruises & Tours $1,000 Scholarship. She will enter the University of Alaska Anchorage this fall to pursue strong interests in business administration and marketing. These students will share part of the $24,500 in scholarships given to twelve students pursuing careers in the visitor industry. The scholarship program offers assistance to promising students in order to help create a well-prepared tourism work force and perpetuate tourism's high resident-hire rate, currently at 78 percent. "Tourism is Alaska's second largest private-sector employer," stated Stefanie Gorder, chair of the ATIA Foundation. "By assisting these talented students today, we are helping to develop Alaska's skilled work force for the future." ATIA believes that the scholarship program is an investment in the future of the visitor industry in Alaska. "The travel industry offers many exciting career opportunities. ATIA is delighted to play a role in educating Alaska's future workers," said ATIA President, Ron Peck. The statewide, non-profit trade
association selected the students based upon a number of criteria,
including their academic achievements and tourism-oriented careers
goals. Applicants were required to submit essays detailing their
interest in the tourism industry, their career goals, and identify
current industry issues. Each provided letters of reference along
with verification of grade point averages. This year's recipients
were selected from twenty-eight applicants from across the state.
The 2005 scholarships were funded through member and chapter
contributions.
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