Two Niagara University Students Receive Prestigious Hospitality Award

Two Niagara University students were recognized for their commitment to the club industry with the coveted Joe Perdue Scholarship, which is awarded annually by The Club Foundation of the Club Management Association of America.

Althea Simmons, a junior from Syracuse, N.Y., majoring in tourism/event and meeting management, was one of the 10 students selected for the honor. She serves as NU's CMMA student chapter vice president and is an outstanding scholar, with a 4.0 GPA. She is currently interning at the Country Club of Buffalo and completed an internship with Courtyard by Marriott in Niagara Falls, N.Y. She also serves asvice president of the NU women's club basketball team and a tour guide for the admissions office.

Simmons is focusing on two different career options-as a general manager within the private club industry or as a hotel loan originator. She notes that, although these are very different professions, they are both relationship-based, which appeals to her.

"My goal within my future career is to positively impact those around me and to be that source of hospitality wherever one may go," she said. The Joe Perdue Scholarship will help her achieve this goal, she adds, because it will enable her to "better focus on perfecting my skills and networking abilities to lead me to my career goals."

"The Joe Perdue scholarship will allow me to confidently speak with managers within the hospitality industry, which will help foster relationships now and carry them with me in my future endeavors," she said.

NU CMAA student chapter president Molly Passow, a senior from Cleveland, Ohio, who is pursuing a dual major in tourism and event management and marketing, was also selected for the scholarship. This is the second consecutive year that Passow has been chosen for this award.

Passow plans to pursue a career in private clubs as an event manager, a passion she discovered through her internship at The Country Club in Pepper Pike, Ohio, one of Cleveland's most prestigious country clubs. She also interned as a game presentation intern with the Buffalo Sabres.

On campus, Passow, who is also minoring in American Sign Language and Deaf studies, is a Vincentian Scholar, one of a select group of students who work with local service providers to promote social justice and advocate for marginalized populations as they develop leadership skills in the Vincentian tradition. In addition to her role as president of CMAA, she also is a member of the Campus Programming Board and served as Class of 2023 programming chair for the NU Student Government Association.

The Joe Perdue Scholarship provides tuition support to students who are pursuing careers in club management. It was established in 1988 to honor Joe Perdue, CCM, CHE, the club industry's leading hospitality educator. From 1986 to 2015, Joe Perdue served as academic advisor for the Club Management Association of America and was responsible for the initial development of CMAA's Business Management Institute (BMI). He coordinated more than 300 weeklong BMI programs for more than 10,000 professionals. Beyond the US, he developed education programs in China, South Africa, Europe, and Canada.

"The Club Foundation recognizes the hard work and dedication these students have for furthering their hospitality education, with a focus on pursuing a career in the club industry," said The Club Foundation's and CMAA's president and CEO Jeff Morgan, FASAE, CAE. "The Club Foundation is honored to provide these scholarships made possible through the generosity of our donors, the members of CMAA, chapters, and industry partners."