Epicurean Charitable Foundation of Las Vegas Announces 2015 Scholarship Recipients
Epicurean Charitable Foundation of Las Vegas (ECF) has selected four outstanding Clark County high school students as scholarship recipients for the 2015 class to attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, this fall (Pictured: Anna Tymoshevska, Sarah Figueroa, Benjamin Sison and Mia Salomon – Photo credit: Cashman Photo).
“We are excited to provide these gifted students with scholarships and to actively play a role in shaping their futures,” said Sean DiCicco, ECF president and vice president of food and beverage for Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. “I was honored to participate in the announcement to each of the students, along with the rest of the ECF board. The overwhelming emotion shared during the whole process reaffirms the importance of our mission.”
The 2015 scholarship class is made up of four deserving young students including: Sarah Figueroa, Mia Salomon, Benjamin Sison, and Anna Tymoshevska.
- Boasting an impressive 3.60 GPA from Northwest Career and Technical Academy (NWCTA), Figueroa plans to pursue a degree in hospitality management, with a focus on event planning. Her upbringing as part of an Army family has allowed her to do a lot of traveling, both in and out of the country, as well as helped to fuel her hard work ethic. Figueroa’s goal is to become a professional manager in the hospitality industry. In addition to participating in the hospitality program at NWCTA, she is a member of DECA and has volunteered at a number of events around the city, including the Bridal Spectacular Convention at Cashman Convention Center.
- Salomon is a multi-talented student with a 3.97 GPA from Southwest Career and Technical Academy (SWCTA) who plans to pursue a degree in hotel management. She is an active member of DECA, as well as a regular volunteer with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Three Square Food Bank. Salomon intends to join MGM Grand’s H.I.P. (Hospitality Internship Program) while attending school, and enroll in M.A.P. (Management Associate Program) after graduation. Her biggest goal is to become one of the top female executives at a resort in Las Vegas.
- Well on his way to a successful future, Sison currently holds a 3.69 GPA from SWTCA and plans to study hospitality management. In addition to playing on his school’s basketball team, he is also a Sunday School volunteer for first through fifth graders. His father is an entertainer, playing with the likes of Steven Tyler and James Brown, and allowed Sison to become exposed to the entertainment and hospitality industry at a young age, where his passion is rooted and propelled him to pursue the path he is on today.
- Tymoshevska holds a 3.95 GPA and ranks No. 20 out of 534 students in her class at Basic High School, where she is also a member of DECA and WeRCommunity. Without knowing English, she moved from the Ukraine two years ago and through the multicultural society she participates in, was able to find her passion in hospitality. Tymoshevska will study hospitality management in the fall and hopes to one day take her education and international background into a senior management position with a well-known global corporation.
ECF is comprised of more than 25 of the top food and beverage and hospitality executives in the city who are dedicated to ensuring scholarships and unique one-on-one mentorship opportunities to deserving local students interested in pursuing a career in a related field. Scholarship recipients must display remarkable academic and extra-curricular prowess, show strong professional potential and demonstrate the need for financial assistance.
Along with scholarship monies, all ECF students benefit from the Future Leaders of Hospitality Program, pairing each with a mentor from the board for the duration of their education. The mentor provides academic assistance, personal and professional guidance and invaluable job and internship leads throughout school and after graduation.
More information may be found by calling 702.932.5098, visiting www.ecflv.org.