2026 - 2027 IHLAEF Scholarship Recipients
Meet Our 2026–2027 Scholarship Recipients
The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association Educational Foundation proudly celebrates our 2026–2027 scholarship recipients. Through these awards, we support students pursuing their educational goals, hotel employees advancing their careers, and the children and dependents of hotel employees.
Meet this year’s recipients and learn about their aspirations in their own words.
Named Scholarship Recipients
Nina Mwanga Howard University | Finance
“I aspire to build a career in hospitality asset management, blending my finance and real estate background with my passion for hotels.”
Scholarship gifted by: Marriott Business Council Scholarship
Sonja Miller Kendall College | Hospitality Management
Employer: The Publishing House Bed and Breakfast
“My dream has always been to open a bed & breakfast in the Chicagoland area.”
Scholarship gifted by: Sonesta Hotels of Chicago Scholarship
Kalyani Franklin DePaul University | Hospitality Leadership
“My dream role is to be the Director of Event Management or Cultural Programming within boutique lodging. Because of your support, I know that one day I’ll be in a position to pay it forward by investing in a student just like me, giving back and believing in their aspirations, just as you believed in mine.”
Scholarship gifted by: The Arnie & Pat Karr Celebration Scholarship Fund
Trinity Simmons Temple University | Hospitality
“At Temple University, I plan to continue engaging in outreach, using hospitality to strengthen the communities I serve.”
Scholarship gifted by: Sage Hospitality Scholarship
Alexa Vander Luitgaren University of Kentucky | Hospitality and Tourism
“Overall, this scholarship will help me continue progressing toward my long-term goal of working in hotel event planning, where I hope to contribute to creating well-executed, meaningful guest experiences and eventually grow into a leadership role within the hospitality industry.”
Scholarship gifted by: Constellation Scholarship
Supporting Hotel Employee Families
These recipients are children or dependents of hotel employees. Their scholarships support educational opportunities for the families who help make our industry thrive.
Eileen Chen New York University | Liberal Studies
“Receiving this scholarship would mean less financial burden on my family and myself, and the enhanced ability for me to make the change I want in this world.”
Parent’s hotel: Omni Chicago Hotel
Jaretsy Espinosa University of Illinois Chicago | Biological Sciences
“As a future dentist, I want to open my own private practice, help people become more confident in their smiles, and provide accessible care to low-income communities.”
Parent’s hotel: Omni Chicago Hotel
Natalie Keene University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Marketing and Information Systems
“I aspire to become a lawyer who fights for the creative rights of artists, particularly those in the performing arts.”
Parent’s hotel: Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel
Seyenna Patel University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Business
“My long-term goal is to pursue corporate law, where I can specialize in contracts and negotiations to help organizations make ethical and informed decisions in today’s economy.”
Parent’s hotel: Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Hoffman Estates
Winta Girmai University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Undecided
“With this support, I can actively engage in campus life, join community initiatives and clubs, gain hands-on experience, and pursue my goal of providing quality care to patients, creating opportunities my mother never had while honoring her dedication and sacrifice.”
Parent’s hotel: Four Seasons Chicago
Additional Scholarship Recipients
Jason Mascarenhas University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Business
“My goal is to be the kind of leader who can sit in a budget meeting and understand the numbers, then walk onto the property and translate those decisions into tools and training that make sense to the staff using them.”
Khang Tran DePaul University | Business
“My long-term goal is to advance within Lettuce Entertain You, moving from my current role into management and eventually operations.”
LaTasha Scott Roosevelt University | MBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management
“My primary goal in earning this MBA is to enhance my effectiveness as an educator and to better prepare my students for success in an evolving and highly competitive industry.”
Michelle Valencia University of St. Francis | Science of Management
Employer: Omni Chicago Hotel
“I enjoy being of service to others because it makes me feel fulfilled; I find meaning in my daily tasks knowing they will benefit someone.”
Maggie Stacey Southern Illinois University Carbondale | Master’s in Communications - Previously studied hospitality
“Receiving this scholarship would allow me to be more financially independent and focus on my education, give back to my community, and continue working toward my career goals.”
Paige Putnam DePaul University | Entrepreneurship and Event Management
“To me, hospitality is not just about providing a service, but about creating meaningful experiences that leave a lasting, positive impact.”
