June 30, 2021

HSMAI Foundation Announces Mike Dimond 2021 Scholarship Program Recipients

The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International Foundation (HSMAIF) is proud to announce this year’s recipients of the Mike Dimond Scholarship. This prestigious program supports degree-seeking students who plan to pursue careers in hospitality. Awardees are Madeline Lalomia and Julia Weinberger.

Meet the 2021 Mike Dimond Scholarship Program recipients:

Madeline LaLomia                                      

Madeline is a student at Pennsylvania State University. She expects to graduate in May 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Management. She studied for a year in Chile through the Rotary Youth Exchange, and while at Penn State volunteers with THON, the student-run philanthropy organization working to enhance the lives of children and families impacted by cancer. She has been an intern with Most People Don’t LLC, working on website development and its weekly newsletter.

Julia Weinberger

Julia graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Commerce and expects to graduate from New York University in May 2022 with a Master of Science in Hospitality Industry Studies. She has worked as a coordinator of communications and tour operations with a travel and leisure company and as a marketing intern with a multi-residential real estate investment trust. She volunteers as co-director of communications and marketing with the Hospitality-Tourism and Events Society in New York City, and while at McGill volunteered with McGill Save a Child’s Heart in Montreal.

The competition for scholarships is challenging. Criteria for applications includes industry work experience, submission of a personal essay, professional recommendations, and maintaining a steady grade point average. Scholarship funds for awardees are designated for the 2021-2022 academic school year.

“We are thrilled to help the bright futures of three promising hospitality students through the Mike Dimond Scholarship Program,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, executive director of the HSMAI Foundation and president and CEO of HSMAI. “The Mike Dimond 2021 Scholarship Program will give these students the chance to achieve their dreams and be an instrumental part of our industry’s future.”

Mike Dimond was widely recognized as one of the top hotel marketing executives in the United States. This scholarship program was created by his family and friends to expand and enhance the educational opportunities available to hospitality students interested in following in his footsteps.

Each year, two $1,500 scholarships will be awarded to deserving degree-seeking students with the intention of pursuing careers in hospitality sales, marketing, or revenue optimization. To learn more, visit the
HSMAI Mike Dimond 2021 Scholarship Program online.