Scholarships worth at least $2,500 will be awarded to hospitality students this summer through the Monterey County Hospitality Association (MCHA). Applications close March 15, and recipients will be announced in May.
The scholarship is open to undergraduate students majoring in hospitality or related fields. Preference is given to California residents – particularly those in Monterey County, including Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB) students.
“Our hope is to keep the funds local – for the future leaders of our hospitality industry,” said Kirsten Horton, executive director of the MCHA, in a prepared statement.
The MCHA has offered the scholarship annually since 1995 as part of its partnership with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. The foundation, whose scholarships webpage declares that “you have the passion, we have the cash,” funds the MCHA program through an endowment that grows annually. They’ve awarded hospitality students over $27 million total since 1987, including $80,000 through the MCHA scholarship alone.
Hospitality is a diverse industry that includes hotels, restaurants and visitor attractions like aquariums and theme parks. Among its strengths, Horton says, is the career flexibility the field offers.
“The wonderful thing about the hospitality industry is that there is great opportunity for career growth, and the ability to shift based on needs and interest. Many current general managers in our local industry have been involved in various areas of hospitality over the years,” said Horton.
The scholarship is far from the only opportunity the MCHA offers students looking to start a career in hospitality. “We welcome volunteers at our events and have several students that are currently involved,” said Horton. “It is a wonderful way to network and get a better understanding of the type of work and people in the industry.”
According to Horton, the MCHA’s student volunteers are overseen by Paige Viren, executive director of the sustainable hospitality management program at CSUMB. The two also collaborate to offer internships, training and development opportunities. Horton encourages students interested in MCHA programs to contact Viren.
“MCHA hosts a spring Hospitality Job Fair and partners with CSUMB on a Fall Hospitality Career Fair. Both are open to students and a great way to get in front of employers.”
Some opportunities, like the scholarship, are competitive and may not be available to every student. Overall, MCHA’s main goal seems to be enabling especially motivated students to achieve excellence. An article published on their website last year demonstrated this by highlighting the achievements of Carson Meachim, a 2023 CSUMB alum now working in management at the Sanctuary Beach Resort.
“Carson’s story is a great example of how CSUMB prepares students to lead with purpose. He’s now applying what he learned in class directly to his role at one of Monterey’s top hotels—and showing future students what’s possible when you combine education with passion and community engagement,” said Enya Koo, the MCHA intern and CSUMB hospitality student who wrote the article. “His journey proves that local schools like CSUMB are essential for developing skilled professionals who care about sustainability and their communities.”