The Florida Attractions Scholarship Foundation and its Board of Directors are proud to announce 3 recipients for this year’s scholarship! These recipients are hard-working, aspiring hospitality industry professionals and will receive a $2,000 scholarship to go toward their education.
Lacy Collins
Studying at: University of Central Florida Rosen College of Hospitality Management
Major: Hospitality and Tourism Management w/ a Concentration in Theme Park Management
Anticipated Graduation: May 2021
Current Position: VIP/RIP Experience Tour Guide at Universal Orlando Resort
Career Objective: “I would like to continue my progress at Universal Orlando Resort. My plan is to be in management where I can continue to support my team and the business. I want to be in a position where the people who report to me feel represented, heard, and recognized, while still acknowledging the needs of the business.”
Theresa Kieu
Studying at: University of Central Florida
Major: Hospitality Management
Anticipated Graduation: Summer 2021
Current Position: Guest Services Coordinator at Universal Orlando Resort
Career Objective: “I plan on pursuing a Master’s Degree from the University of Central Florida. My current career objective is to continue to innovate and advance the hospitality industry through ideas and framework through the pandemic. Although there is no clear end in sight, my ultimate goal is to be able to organize and lead a team by example and continue in the pillars of professionalism, leadership and service. By pursuing my passion of hospitality and remaining true to my vision and goals, I look forward to the continuous challenges lying ahead and am honored to be able to experience and contribute to the overall quality of life throughout the hospitality and tourism industry.”
Taylor Zapf
Studying at: University of Central Florida Rosen College of Hospitality Management
Major: Hospitality / Theme Park and Attraction Management
Anticipated Graduation: 2021
Current Position: Attractions Attendant – Fast & Furious: Supercharged at Universal Orlando Resort
Career Objective: “My current career objective is to be in a position of leadership at a theme park where I can use my knowledge, skills, and passion to make people happy and create great experiences for them to remember for a lifetime. I would also be interested in one day moving into the creative team of a project like a new ride, show, parade, or park. Whether my career be in a show or guest facing aspect, or making the product come together in terms of safety, organization, and operation behind the scenes, I would be honored to be involved in any way. I have taken great interests in the areas of live entertainment, rides, and guest services throughout my career in the theme park industry, and I would be happy pursuing a career in any of those. I am open to any path life will take me, as long as it is part of making the incredible experience of a theme park come together. I currently am trying to learn everything I can to prepare myself to have as much knowledge of a park’s operation as I can, so I am equipped to handle any situation as a leader. Above all else, I believe that if I am in a career that will ultimately result in bringing people happiness, I will be content.”
About the 2021 Scholarship
The Florida Attractions Association (FAA) and its Board of Directors announced the creation of the Florida Attractions Foundation in 2012 as a way to provide financial assistance to post-secondary students studying in hospitality-related fields in an effort to help secure the future of the tourism workforce in Florida’s #1 industry.
Now called the Florida Attractions Scholarship Foundation (FASF), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, FASF and its Board of Directors are proud to award up to six – $2,000 scholarships* in 2021 for students pursuing degrees in a hospitality-related field and who are employees of an FAA member business or are the dependent of an employee of an FAA member business.
*The selected applicants will receive $2,000 to apply to their education expenses and an invitation to attend a Florida Attractions Association Annual Conference.
For more information visit: https://floridaattractions.org/Foundation/About-Us
