Missouri State University student Alexander Schaeffer, a hospitality and restaurant administration major, received a scholarship from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF), the not-for-profit affiliate of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Schaeffer received one of three Arthur J. Packard Memorial Scholarships, AH&LEF’s most prominent and oldest scholarship award.

As the second place winner, Schaeffer received $3,000. First place and $5,000 was awarded to Sagine Delly, a senior at Florida International University, and third place was awarded to Jacquelyn Goodman, a senior at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte. In addition to scholarship money, the recipients received commemorative plaques.

The Arthur J. Packard Memorial Scholarship Program began in 1974 to honor the numerous accomplishments in the lodging industry of Packard, a third-generation hotelier. Each year, the scholarship program awards three students at AH&LEF-affiliated four-year educational institutions a total of $10,000 of scholarship money. Each school nominates their top students to compete. In 2010, AH&LEF will award 292 scholarships to hospitality management students totaling more than $400,000.

“This year’s competition was a tough one as many students exemplified excellence in all categories. Our scholarships are ensuring the hospitality industry will one day employ some of the brightest and most noteworthy future leaders,” said Joori Jeon, CPA, CAE, AH&LEF president/COO.

For more information about the award, contact Melissa Dallas, head of the department of hospitality and restaurant administration, at 836-4223 or MelissaDallas@missouristate.edu. For more information about AH&LEF scholarships and other programs, contact Christa Boatman, manager of foundation programs, at (202) 289-3139 or cboatman@ahlef.org or visit www.ahlef.org.