College of Education and Human Development
Students Win Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association Scholarship
October 4, 2013
Congratulations to Linda Tran Koontz and Nhu Nguyen, winners of the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association scholarship.
Nominated by Maggie Daniels, associate professor in the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism, the two students received a $2,000 award for their high GPA and excellent work ethic. While both knew they had been nominated and selected to receive the award, the amount was kept secret until a reception at Buffalo Wing University on Sept. 19.
Photo (left to right) Dr. Russ Brayley, Director, Division of Sport, Recreation, and Tourism; Nhu Nguyen (student recipient); Kristen Karrfealt (VHTA); Linda Tran Koontz (student recipient); and Kelly Kuhn (VHTA).
For both students, the money means a great deal. Koontz pays for classes out of her own pocket, and the scholarship gives her, as she says, “a sense of relief.”
Nguyen will graduate debt-free, and the VHTA scholarship is a big part of that. But she also mentions that the Tourism and Events Management program, housed in George Mason’s College of Education and Human Development, has been a great help for her from the outset. She has worked, thanks in part to help and connections from the program, as a film assistant, conference manager, ambassador and front desk agent, and even wedding coordinator.
Overall, $6,000 has been given to hospitality students at Mason and Northern Virginia Community College this year with money raised by the VHTA Northern Virginia Hotel Council and matched by the National Restaurant Educational Foundation.
Koontz says the award was a great show of confidence in her from the program and faculty. “I feel that my professors and the VHTA have faith and believe that I will be successful as a representative of George Mason University.”
Nguyen concurs. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their support. Changing my major to tourism and events management is one of the best decisions I ever made.”
The two students are the first recipients of the award from Mason. “We had many excellent submissions for this award,” said Dr. Daniels. “We are greatly appreciative to VHTA for reaching out to George Mason University with this opportunity.”
(Original article from Mason News).
About CEHD
George Mason University's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) includes two schools: the Graduate School of Education, one of the largest teacher preparation and education schools in Virginia, and the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism. CEHD offers a comprehensive range of degrees, certificates, courses, and licensure programs on campus, online, and on site. The college is distinguished by faculty who encourage new ways of thinking and pioneering research supported by more than $75 million in funding over the past five years.
For additional information:
- CEHD Communications: cehdnews@gmu.edu
- School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism: rht.gmu.edu
- Tourism and Events Management program: rht.gmu.edu/tem
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