Virgin Holidays Scholarship Awarded to Jovari Hagley
The Grenada Hotel & Tourism Association is proud to announce that Grenada’s sole applicant, Jovari Hagley, submitted a strong application to the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) Education Foundation. This application excited the selectors as to his future within the tourism industry, and he was therefore awarded the Virgin Holidays Scholarship, which is the most important and only full scholarship, awarded on an annual basis by the Foundation.
This year, sixty seven persons from thirteen Caribbean countries applied to the CHTA Education Foundation for scholarships to further their education.
The committee responsible for reviewing applications and selecting award recipients met in April 2013 and twenty four persons were favored.
The GHTA is especially proud of the fact that for the third time in five years the one of recipients of this scholarship is a citizen of Grenada.
About Jovari Hadley
Jovari is currently in his final year as a student at the University of the West Indies St. Augustine where he is pursuing a Bachelors of Science Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management.
Prior to attending UWI Jovari studied at the Trinidad & Tobago Hospitality & Tourism Institute for a Diploma in Front Office & Travel Agency. In 2007 he graduated on the Executive Director’s List with an overall GPA of 3.67 on a scale of 4.0 and received an award for Best Overall Front Office Student and also gained the Spirit of the Industry Award.
Jovari’s next step was to pursue an Associate Degree, again at the Trinidad & Tobago Hospitality & Tourism Institute, in his chosen field, and graduated on the Executive Director’s List having increased his GPA to 3.80. Upon his graduation in 2011 he was presented with awards for Best Overall Student, Best Project in Tourism Management and Most Outstanding Overall Student.
While studying at this prestigious establishment Jovari received a Certificate of Academic Excellence in the years 2007, 2010 and 2011.
Jovari is thankful to be receiving this much sort after Virgin Holidays Scholarship awarded by the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Education Foundation which will help to ease the burden of financing his education while he continues to study to achieve his career goal. He feels strongly that he is headed in the right direction toward helping himself, his family, and ultimately his country and the wider Caribbean region.
Jovari looks forward to the completion of his studies at the end of which, he plans to return to Grenada to continue his contribution to the development of the island’s tourism sector by maintaining his working relationship with Adventure Tours. He is of the opinion that Grenada’s natural resources must be well managed in order to develop a sustainable tourism product, while creating opportunities for employment, and will be working within his community to this goal.
In his desire to contribute significantly toward the development of the tourism product Jovari plans to teach and train, on a part time basis, at the T A Marryshow Community College, knowing that the knowledge, skills, and experience he will have acquired throughout his years of study must be put to good use for the benefit of all Grenadians.
Ultimately however, his goal is to become a tourism entrepreneur, owning a small eco-tourism hotel, which will assist with sustainable tourism management and provide sustainable livelihoods.
Previous Awarded Scholars
Shanelle Rodney
Shanelle was the winner of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Education Foundation Annual Virgin Holidays Scholarship recipient in 2011. In addition she received a matching scholarship from the Foundation in order to complete two years study at Johnson & Wales University in the US.
Shanelle graduated with a BSc in Sports/Entertainment/Event Management (Summa Cum Laude) with honours, for successfully completing the university’s Honour’s Society requirements. In addition, for attaining such an outstanding GPA, Shanelle was inducted into the Alpha Beta Kappa National Society
She is also a member of Eta Sigma Delta, an hospitality honours society.
Presently Shanelle is in the process of gaining work experience in Miami and is therefore unable to be with us today. She has thus far secured a part time job as an event staff member at the Sun Life Stadium and is looking into full time employment.
Upon returning home to Grenada, Shanelle would ideally like to put her acquired knowledge to use within the public service. She holds the view that, Grenada has many events and festivals that with proper execution can be developed into an industry that both locals and visitors can enjoy and from which the country as a whole could benefit.
Maxine Pierre
Maxine was awarded the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Education Foundation Annual Virgin Holidays Scholarship in 2008. She studied at Florida International University graduating with a BSc in Hospitality Management and a minor in Travel and Tourism in December of 2010. She considers herself fortunate to have done an internship and job training at the Canyon Ranch Miami Beach Hotel & Spa following her graduation.
Since returning to Grenada she has used her passion for education and interest in the Hospitality Industry to take up a position in the teaching profession.
Maxine is currently employed as a high school teacher where she teaches Business Studies, Hospitality Management, Food & Nutrition, and Mathematics. She considers it an honour to impart her knowledge from the Florida International University on young minds, steering them in the right direction for continued growth and development in Grenada.
In the near future Maxine would like to launch her career fully as a professional in the hospitality field. She plans also to further her education in either Sustainable tourism Management or International Hospitality & Tourism Management.
She is proud of her affiliation with Virgin Holidays and the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Education Foundation and is grateful that the Grenada Hotel & Tourism Association’s membership of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association makes it possible for Grenadian students to benefit from the scholarships awarded by the Education Foundation.