Thursday, November 19, 2009 is the South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year/Champion Recognition Luncheon benefitting the AOHT and sponsored by Luis Aloma, GM, at the Hyatt Regency Miami at 11:30 a.m. In addition to naming the newest Tourism Professional of the Year and recognizing the Academy’s Business and Education Champions, Arthur Hertz, CEO & Chairman, Wometco Enterprises secured Roger Dow, President & CEO of the US Travel Association to be the featured keynote speaker... click here for more information
Thursday, November 19, 2009 is the South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year/Champion Recognition Luncheon benefitting the AOHT and sponsored by Luis Aloma, GM, at the Hyatt Regency Miami at 11:30 a.m. In addition to naming the newest Tourism Professional of the Year and recognizing the Academy’s Business and Education Champions, Arthur Hertz, CEO & Chairman, Wometco Enterprises secured Roger Dow, President & CEO of the US Travel Association to be the featured keynote speaker.
Miami Beach High School Academy of Hospitality and Tourism Students “Repeat” at National Competition to Bring Home the Gold
Miami, FL -- At the Lodging Management National Competition sponsored by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA), and held on April 16-17, 2010, the team from the Miami Beach High School Academy of Hospitality and Tourism demonstrated their lodging management skills to dignitaries of the Hospitality industry including the President of the AH&LA, Joe McInerney and the President of the Educational Institute, Robert Steele who both served as judges.
During the three-day competition held at the Orlando Airport Marriott, the students completed a Hospitality Project where according to President McInerney ”students spend a full day developing a plan for a banquet to benefit the Boys & Girls Club. They must create a theme, fundraising model, marketing plan, and menu, all while staying within their allotted budget and turning a stipulated profit. This is one of my favorite parts to the competition, as the creativity and range of ideas is truly inspiring.” The Hotel Operations category included analyzing two case studies in Food and Beverage and Sales and Marketing, a night audit and a hotel room inspection. The third category is a Hospitality Knowledge Bowl, a game show-style question and answer event. The Miami Beach High School team received First Place in the Hospitality Project event and Second Place in Hotel Operations which was enough to win them 2nd place in the overall category. The members of the team are: Hanibegk Coll (team captain), Vanessa Fernandez, Karl Laxy and Isabella Mongallo. Each member of the team was awarded an $8,000 scholarship to Johnson & Wales University, $5,000 to the University of Houston, $8,000 to Widener University, $6,000 to San Diego State University and $10,000 to Paul Smith’s College in New York. Sincere thanks to our business and educational partners: Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Airport Marriott, Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association, South Florida and Treasure Coast Restaurant and Lodging Association, St. Thomas University and the Miami Beach Senior High School PTSA.
The AOHT is a Marketing program under the auspices of the Schools of Choice and Parental Options Office in partnership with the Career and Technical Education Department and a member program of the National Academy Foundation (NAF), a national network of career academies to support the development of America’s youth toward personal and professional success in high school, higher education and throughout their careers. Miami-Dade County Public Schools has eleven Academies of Hospitality and Tourism. For additional information about the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, please contact Ann Fields at 305.995.7379.
The National Academy Foundation (NAF), a network of career academies focused on developing young adults’ personal and professional success, recently presented their 2009 Academy Honoree Awards at the Institute of Staff Development in Phoenix. NAF recognized alumni, advisory board members and leaders from academies nationwide whose success in providing worthwhile opportunities for students has inspired their colleagues and strengthened schools, communities and NAF.
Advisory Board Champions The Advisory Board Champion Award was presented to Kimberly Wilson, Area General Manager of the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay and newly elected Chairperson of Miami-Dade Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT).
The winner of the Alumni Honoree Award was Samuel Gbadebo, a 1998 graduate of William Turner Technical Arts Academy of Finance (AOF) who is currently the lead teacher of the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism at American Senior High School in Hialeah.
Advisory Board Recruitment Challenge The Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT) was also the winner of a drawing for a Video Production package from Pearson Foundation valued at $20,000. The board under the leadership of Board Secretary, Shelly Fano, Miami Dade College, added three new Advisory Board members and one NAF Alumnus. Accepting the grand prize at the Institute was Ann Fields, AOHT NAF Director, Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Beginning February 10, 2009, Academies competed in the Advisory Board Recruitment Challenge (ABRC) which was open to all Academies. To qualify, Academies had to update their Advisory Board information on NAF's database, and then recruit a minimum of two new Advisory Board (AB) members during the Challenge period which ended on June 30th.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools have 39 NAF academies of which eight are Academies of Hospitality & Tourism and are offered through the School Choice & Parental Options.
Miami, FL – This summer, 120 National Academy Foundation (NAF) students participated in a paid summer internship program. NAF is a network of career academies within Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DPCS) and other school across that country focused on rigorous, career-themed curricula in the areas of Finance, Hospitality & Tourism, Information Technology, and Engineering.
Juniors who have completed coursework in Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ NAF programs were eligible to apply for the program. This extension of the learning environment enables NAF students to see first-hand the connections between what they learned in school and the world of business. Students develop professional skills, gain self-confidence, and receive exposure to many different facets of the business world. This year, 61 businesses provided students a summer internship experience.
Employers, when asked what they liked best about the program replied: “The opportunity to give a young, aspiring person the chance to learn new things, meet professional people and show them some of what the real world is about” Nigel Whyte, Nova Southeastern University, Fischler School. Frankie Bravo, Carnival Cruise Lines adds that he appreciates “the ability to work with self-motivated individuals that take the initiative to work and learn; the intern pool looks very promising in the future.”
Students appreciate this opportunity afforded to them. Rafael Anare, a student at Coral Reef Senior High School who completed his internship at John Hancock Financial Services states “The internship opportunity is great in giving students a real life outlook on how businesses operate and it expands the knowledge about the intricate field of business.”
The NAF Internship program was established in 1987, with the opening of the first NAF Academy of Hospitality and Tourism (AOHT) at Miami Springs Senior High. Presently, there are 39 NAF career academies in 24 high schools, making M-DPCS number one in the nation, offering the largest number of NAF academies in a school district. NAF students receive career-focused curriculum as well as real-world work-based learning, such as paid internships with experiences tied to a career theme.
Miami Beach High School Academy of Hospitality and Tourism Students “Repeat” at National Competition to Bring Home the Gold
Miami, FL -- At the Lodging Management National Competition sponsored by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA), and held on April 16-17, 2010, the team from the Miami Beach High School Academy of Hospitality and Tourism demonstrated their lodging management skills to dignitaries of the Hospitality industry including the President of the AH&LA, Joe McInerney and the President of the Educational Institute, Robert Steele who both served as judges.
During the three-day competition held at the Orlando Airport Marriott, the students completed a Hospitality Project where according to President McInerney ”students spend a full day developing a plan for a banquet to benefit the Boys & Girls Club. They must create a theme, fundraising model, marketing plan, and menu, all while staying within their allotted budget and turning a stipulated profit. This is one of my favorite parts to the competition, as the creativity and range of ideas is truly inspiring.” The Hotel Operations category included analyzing two case studies in Food and Beverage and Sales and Marketing, a night audit and a hotel room inspection. The third category is a Hospitality Knowledge Bowl, a game show-style question and answer event. The Miami Beach High School team received First Place in the Hospitality Project event and Second Place in Hotel Operations which was enough to win them 2nd place in the overall category. The members of the team are: Hanibegk Coll (team captain), Vanessa Fernandez, Karl Laxy and Isabella Mongallo. Each member of the team was awarded an $8,000 scholarship to Johnson & Wales University, $5,000 to the University of Houston, $8,000 to Widener University, $6,000 to San Diego State University and $10,000 to Paul Smith’s College in New York. Sincere thanks to our business and educational partners: Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Airport Marriott, Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association, South Florida and Treasure Coast Restaurant and Lodging Association, St. Thomas University and the Miami Beach Senior High School PTSA.
The AOHT is a Marketing program under the auspices of the Schools of Choice and Parental Options Office in partnership with the Career and Technical Education Department and a member program of the National Academy Foundation (NAF), a national network of career academies to support the development of America’s youth toward personal and professional success in high school, higher education and throughout their careers. Miami-Dade County Public Schools has eleven Academies of Hospitality and Tourism. For additional information about the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, please contact Ann Fields at 305.995.7379.
The National Academy Foundation (NAF), a network of career academies focused on developing young adults’ personal and professional success, recently presented their 2009 Academy Honoree Awards at the Institute of Staff Development in Phoenix. NAF recognized alumni, advisory board members and leaders from academies nationwide whose success in providing worthwhile opportunities for students has inspired their colleagues and strengthened schools, communities and NAF.
Advisory Board Champions The Advisory Board Champion Award was presented to Kimberly Wilson, Area General Manager of the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay and newly elected Chairperson of Miami-Dade Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT).
The winner of the Alumni Honoree Award was Samuel Gbadebo, a 1998 graduate of William Turner Technical Arts Academy of Finance (AOF) who is currently the lead teacher of the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism at American Senior High School in Hialeah.
Advisory Board Recruitment Challenge The Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT) was also the winner of a drawing for a Video Production package from Pearson Foundation valued at $20,000. The board under the leadership of Board Secretary, Shelly Fano, Miami Dade College, added three new Advisory Board members and one NAF Alumnus. Accepting the grand prize at the Institute was Ann Fields, AOHT NAF Director, Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Beginning February 10, 2009, Academies competed in the Advisory Board Recruitment Challenge (ABRC) which was open to all Academies. To qualify, Academies had to update their Advisory Board information on NAF's database, and then recruit a minimum of two new Advisory Board (AB) members during the Challenge period which ended on June 30th.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools have 39 NAF academies of which eight are Academies of Hospitality & Tourism and are offered through the School Choice & Parental Options.
Miami, FL – This summer, 120 National Academy Foundation (NAF) students participated in a paid summer internship program. NAF is a network of career academies within Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DPCS) and other school across that country focused on rigorous, career-themed curricula in the areas of Finance, Hospitality & Tourism, Information Technology, and Engineering.
Juniors who have completed coursework in Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ NAF programs were eligible to apply for the program. This extension of the learning environment enables NAF students to see first-hand the connections between what they learned in school and the world of business. Students develop professional skills, gain self-confidence, and receive exposure to many different facets of the business world. This year, 61 businesses provided students a summer internship experience.
Employers, when asked what they liked best about the program replied: “The opportunity to give a young, aspiring person the chance to learn new things, meet professional people and show them some of what the real world is about” Nigel Whyte, Nova Southeastern University, Fischler School. Frankie Bravo, Carnival Cruise Lines adds that he appreciates “the ability to work with self-motivated individuals that take the initiative to work and learn; the intern pool looks very promising in the future.”
Students appreciate this opportunity afforded to them. Rafael Anare, a student at Coral Reef Senior High School who completed his internship at John Hancock Financial Services states “The internship opportunity is great in giving students a real life outlook on how businesses operate and it expands the knowledge about the intricate field of business.”
The NAF Internship program was established in 1987, with the opening of the first NAF Academy of Hospitality and Tourism (AOHT) at Miami Springs Senior High. Presently, there are 39 NAF career academies in 24 high schools, making M-DPCS number one in the nation, offering the largest number of NAF academies in a school district. NAF students receive career-focused curriculum as well as real-world work-based learning, such as paid internships with experiences tied to a career theme.
As a part of its annual tourism and travel scholarships, the city of Miami Beach has awarded $14,000 this year to students pursuing careers in hospitality.
Miami Beach -- Miami Beach -- an international tourism hot spot -- has doled out over more than $170,000 in tourism and hospitality scholarships to Miami Beach students since the scholarships' inception in 2003.
In partnership Along with two companies involved with running the Miami Beach Convention Center, this year the city awarded nine scholarships, ranging from $1,100 to $2,300, to students who have expressed interest in the tourism or hospitality industry.
"One of the priorities for the city commission is to support education for the students of Miami Beach, and this is just another avenue for the city and their partners to do that," said Max Sklar, director of tourism and cultural development for the city of Miami Beach.
The scholarship money is provided by Global Spectrum, which operates the center, and Centerplate, which runs the concessions.
The company's contracts with the city stipulates that they will contribute to the funds.
To be eligible for this scholarship, students must be Miami Beach city residents or graduates of Miami Beach Senior High who are enrolled or plan to enroll in post-secondary education.
The scholarships must go toward tuition costs.
Miami Beach Senior High is home to an academy of hospitality and tourism that draws in most of the scholarships' applicants and recipients.
The scholarship not only provides these students with a financial platform to pursue their careers, but also serves as a long term investment in Miami Beach's booming tourism industry.
"Usually someone who starts in this field stays in the field -- they have a passion for tourism and hospitality," Sklar said.
"We would hope that they would not just go onto study, but come back to this community and serve it and make it a wonderful destination."
The 2009 scholarship recipients are Aysha Mowshumi, Maydel Almaguer, Melissa Tatta, Guiherme Cunha, Colby Goncalves, Elizabeth Galvis, Christine Archilla, Noelia Gonzalez and Katie Goncalves.
Students interested in applying for the 2010 scholarship should visit the City of Miami Beach's website, www.miamibeachfl.gov, for application details.
Miami Beach High School Academy of Hospitality and Tourism Students “Smash the Box” at National Competition
Miami Beach, FL -- At the Lodging Management National Competition sponsored by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA), the team from the Miami Beach High School Academy of Hospitality and Tourism demonstrated their lodging management skills in front of the President of the AH&LA, Joe McInerney and the President of the Educational Institute, Robert Steele who both served as judges.
During the three-day competition held at the Orlando Airport Marriott, the students completed a Hospitality Project (an event plan) that included coordinating everything from its theme, invitation, menu, budget and floor plan based on a scenario given to them upon registration. The Hotel Operations category included analyzing two case studies in Food and Beverage and Sales and Marketing, a night audit and a hotel room inspection. The third category is a Hospitality Knowledge Bowl, a game show-style question and answer event. The Miami Beach High School team received First Place in the Hospitality Project event and First Place in Hotel Operations which was enough to win them 2nd place in the overall category. The members of the team are: Melissa Tatta (team captain), Hanibegk Coll, Vanessa Fernandez and Karl Laxy. Each member of the team was awarded an $8,000 scholarship to Johnson & Wales University, $5,000 to the University of Houston, $8,000 to Widener University, $6,000 to San Diego State University and $10,000 to Paul Smith’s College in New York. Sincere thanks to our business and educational partners: Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Biscayne Bay Marriott, Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association, South Florida and Treasure Coast Restaurant and Lodging Association, and St. Thomas University.
The AOHT is a Marketing program under the auspices of the Career and Technical Education Department and a member program of the National Academy Foundation (NAF), a national network of career academies to support the development of America’s youth toward personal and professional success in high school, higher education and throughout their careers. Miami-Dade County Public Schools has eight Academies of Hospitality and Tourism. For additional information on the Miami Beach High School Academy program, contact the Career and Technical Education Chairperson, Dr. Lupe Ferran Diaz.
HOSPITALITY CONFERENCE TO WELCOME MORE THAN 600 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
MIAMI (March 31, 2008) -- More than 600 students seeking careers in the hospitality and tourism industry will join in the 17th Annual Student Industry Conference April 24, 2008, presented by the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism. Hosted by the Miami Beach Convention Center, an SMG Managed Facility, the conference -- themed "AOHT: Celebrating the Past and Developing Leaders for the Future" -- will provide high school students who are part of the academy's program the chance to interview with prominent local companies for summer internships.
"The conference celebrates the Academy's 20 years of success and reflects the importance of industry and post-secondary leaders joining together to provide workforce development opportunities for today's students who are tomorrow's industry leaders," said Orlando Velazquez, Jr., CHA, CAM, chair of the event and area general manager for Ian Schrager Company.
A highlight of the conference will be keynote speaker Stuart L. Blumberg, president and CEO of Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association and one of the Academy's founders. Industry partners also will participate in a college/careerfair and interview eligible juniors for the summer internship program.
Two concurrent breakout sessions will be presented to the students by a variety of industry leaders: Conrad Miami, Florida National College, Four Seasons Hotel, Holiday Inn Miami International Airport, Hyatt Regency Miami, Ian Schraeger Company of Hotels, Johnson and Wales University, Loews Miami Beach Resort, Miami Seaquarium, Marriott Miami Airport, Miami-Dade Aviation Department, Miami-Dade College, Miami Beach Convention Center, an SMG Managed Facility, Park One, St. Thomas University and the Visitor Industry Council.
Host sponsors are the Miami Beach Convention Center, Centerplate and Smart Source. Contributing sponsors include Arazoza & Fernandez-Fraga, PA, Beach Towing, Inc. BGW Design Limited, Joseph T. Comras, Conrad Miami, Delano Hotel, Don Shulas Hotel & Golf Club, EMF & Associates, Inc., Four Seasons Hotel, Gerson, Preston, Robinson & Company, PA, Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association, Hyatt Regency Miami, Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant, Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Miami Beach Golf Club, Sea View Hotel, Inc., Sofitel Miami and The Biltmore Hotel.
Academy of Hospitality and Tourism programs are member programs of the National Academy Foundation (NAF), an industry-supported nonprofit, which seek out and support partnerships between business and public schools to create career academies.
Locally, an industry advisory board provides career-connecting activities and guides the programs. Miami-Dade County academies are located at John A. Ferguson Senior High School, Homestead Senior High School, Miami Beach Senior High School, Miami Norland Senior High School, Miami Springs Senior High School and Robert Morgan Educational Center.
Companies interested in college/career fair space or interviewing academy members at the conference are asked to contact Ann Fields at 305-885-8127.
Media Contact: Stuart Newman Associates, (305) 461-3300
Conference Contact: Ann Fields, 305-885-8127 or Eric Eimstad, (305) 365-2512
Miami Beach High Academy of Hospitality and Tourism
Wins at State Lodging Management Championship
Miami Beach, FL—January 31, 2008. The four-member student team of Odin Porras, Katherine Rubio, Melissa Tatta and Dilia Tabora proved that study and hard work does pay off! As a result, these Miami Beach High School students won several awards at the state championship of the Lodging Management Program student competition sponsored by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association under the auspices of The Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Special thanks to industry partners who helped the students prepare for the competition: Loews Miami Beach Hotel and Professor Paul Michael Klein, St. Thomas University.
The championship took place at the Amelia Island Plantation in conjunction with the Board of Directors meeting of the Florida Restaurant and Hotel Association. This exciting, two-day competition allowed competitors to demonstrate their hospitality knowledge by competing in a knowledge bowl, complete room inspections, night audit tasks, analyze two case studies (one in Food and Beverage and the other in Sales and Marketing) as well as demonstrate their knowledge, skills and abilities in planning an event, to include the invitation, BEO (Banquet Event Order), menu and floor plan. Miami Beach High School placed first in Hospitality Project; second place in Hotel Operations and a 2nd place overall winner. Each team member received a $750 scholarship, renewable for four years, to Johnson & Wales University.
Miami Beach Senior High School is a member program of the National Academy Foundation (NAF), a national network of career academies to support the development of America’s youth toward personal and professional success in high school, higher education and throughout their careers. Locally, through the School Choice and Parental Options Office, Miami-Dade County Public Schools has six Academies of Hospitality and Tourism. For additional information on the Miami Beach High School Academy program, contact the Lead Teacher, Dr. Lupe Ferran Diaz.
(MIAMI) Jan. 15, 2008 -- The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism and Johnson and Wales University are gearing up for the 2008 Around the World Dinner and Auction Feb. 2, 2008. To boost donations for the Academy program, the organization is hosting an online auction prior to the event. The items can be accessed at www.aoht.cmarket.com.
The online auction will run through Jan. 30 at 6 p.m., and the bidding will resume in a live-auction format at the event. Online bidders do not have to attend the event to collect on a successful bid.
More than 50 items are up for grabs, including vacation packages, cruises, precious jewelry, tickets to local sporting events and attractions, hotel stays and dining opportunities. Below is just a sample of the items up for auction:
• The owner's penthouse suite on a Carnival Cruise Lines cruise; a transatlantic crossing on Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and a Caribbean cruise with Royal Caribbean International. • Vacation packages to Cancun, Mexico; San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St. Kitts and St. Thomas in the Caribbean. • A Miami Heat sneaker autographed by basketball star Alonzo Mourning • A two-night stay at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Miami, including a three-hour limousine ride. • An Andrea Candela Diamante Collection gold and diamond bracelet. • Miami International Boat Show VIP Day Package with a two-night stay at the Marriott South Beach Hotel. • Two tickets to the musical "Footloose" and a one-night stay at the Hyatt Regency in Coral Gables. • A Deluxe Executive Suite for 12-15 people for the Florida Marlins opening-day game on April 1, 2008, at Dolphin Stadium.
The Around the World Dinner is an annual event held to raise funds to benefit Academy programs at local Miami-Dade County high schools. At the event, a variety of food stations will be set up to allow attendees to sample diverse dishes from around the world prepared by Johnson & Wales chefs and apprentice chefs. Tickets for the event are $175 per person.
Academy of Hospitality and Tourism is a member of the nonprofit National Academy Foundation (NAF), a national network of career academies to support the development of America's youth toward personal and professional success in high school, higher education and throughout their careers. Locally, an industry advisory board provides career-connecting activities and guides academy programs. Miami-Dade County academies are located at Homestead Senior High School, Ferguson Senior High School, Robert Morgan Educational Center, Miami Beach Senior High School, Miami Norland Senior High School and Miami Springs Senior High School.
Johnson and Wales is a world-class career university providing its students the opportunity to combine traditional academics with real-world experiences.
For more information or to purchase a ticket, call Ann Fields at (305) 885-8127 or afields@dadeschools.net.
Miami Beach High Senior, Maydel Almaguer, Receives the Top Lodging and Management Student of the Year Award.
Maydel Almaguer has received the top Lodging Management Student of the Year Award and will receive a $5,000 scholarship to be used toward her college education. She is currently a senior at Miami Beach Senior High School and President of the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism (AOHT). This is the first time in the history of the program that a scholarship was awarded to a current senior. Maydel will have the opportunity to speak to over 1,000 attendees at the Florida Restaurant and Hospitality Awards Luncheon to be held in Orlando on September 8. In addition, one of Beach High’s June of 2007 graduates, Oliver Layfield, who is currently attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Hospitality Management, has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship. Both scholarships were awarded through the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Educational Foundation, the educational arm of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.
At this prestigious event to be held in Orlando on September 8, two Beach High AOHT graduates, Roseline and Roselaine Bien Aime, class of ’01, will be speaking to the Board of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association about what the Academy program has done for them. Both of these ladies were recognized by the National Academy Foundation (NAF) last year and are currently working at the Loews Hotel in management. In addition, another graduate, Alan Alvarez, c/o ’05 and currently attending the University of Florida and majoring in Hospitality Management, will be recognized with the “Hospitality Excellence Award”.
Miami Beach Senior High School is a member program of the National Academy Foundation (NAF), a national network of career academies to support the development of America’s youth toward personal and professional success in high school, higher education and throughout their careers. Locally, through the School Choice and Parental Options Office, Miami-Dade County Public Schools has six Academies of Hospitality and Tourism.
Academy of Hospitality & Tourism Students from Miami-Dade County Public Schools off to the Big Apple as Winners of the Hispanic Heritance Essay Contest
Miami , FL – Students from the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT) in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, traveled to New York City May 6-9, 2007 as winners of the Hispanic Heritage Essay sponsored by the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SFHCC), Southwest Airlines and Cingular Wireless. Winners from Miami Beach Senior High School were Jessica Gonzalez, Melanie Brown, Jason Rodriguez and Lilian Lopez. Winners from Miami Norland Senior High School are Daniel Marin, Karla Vizcarrendo, Ruth James, and Noel Sampson. Winners from Miami Springs Senior High School are Ysanet Batista and Billy Juste.
The contest's objective was to urge young Americans to reflect on the Latino heritage and to celebrate their rich, bicultural background while emphasizing the importance of travel and tourism. The topic of the essay was “Hispanics – A Wealth of Contributions to the American Economy.” In addition to having a trip to New York trip sponsored by the SFLHCC, their airfare and accommodations are sponsored by Southwest Airlines. Cingular Wireless has also provided each winner with a “Go” cellular phone with a $100 credit to keep in touch with friends and families on their trip. The itinerary included a tour of New York Life Insurance Company, El Museo del Barrio, the United Nations, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building , NBC Studios, and a Broadway play.
The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism is locally a program of Specialized Programs – Schools of Choice and the National Academy Foundation (NAF)., a national network of career academies to support the development of America's youth toward personal and professional success in high school, higher education and throughout their careers. NAF targets high-need urban school districts and serves over 45,000 students in over 500 academies. Established in 1987 by a grant from the American Express Foundation, the academy continues to prepare a diverse community of high school students for college and careers in the industry.
A Third Consecutive Victory for the Miami Beach High Academy of Hospitality and Tourism State Lodging Management Championship
Miami Beach, FL—January 25, 2007. The four-member student team of Michael David, Nina Arias, Katherine Rubio and Odin Porras proved that study and hard work does pay off! As a result, these Miami Beach High School students won the state championship of the Lodging Management Program student competition sponsored by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation under the auspices of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. This accomplishment is the third consecutive victory for Miami Beach High School. Special thanks to our industry partners who helped the students prepare for the competition – Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association, Surfcomber Hotel, Biscayne Bay Marriott, and the Hyatt Regency Miami.
The championship took place at the Best Western Resort in Lake Buena Vista. The team’s skills in hotel operations, which included case studies in food and beverage, sales/marketing, a night audit, room inspection, banquet and events as well as a knowledge bowl demonstrating their skills and knowledge in Lodging Management were tested. These students will represent the state of Florida at the national championship to be held in April at the Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando.
Miami Beach Senior High School is a member program of the National Academy Foundation (NAF), a national network of career academies to support the development of America’s youth toward personal and professional success in high school, higher education and throughout their careers. Locally, through the School Choice and Parental Options Office, Miami-Dade County Public Schools has six Academies of Hospitality and Tourism. For additional information on the Miami Beach High School Academy program, contact the Business Chairperson, Dr. Lupe Ferran Diaz.
The Academy of Hospitality & Tourism career academy located at Miami Beach Senior High Schools was selected by the National Academy Foundation in partnership with American Express as the Southeastern Regional winner of the annual Aldo Papone Award for Leadership in Academy Performance.
The award recognizes excellence among NAF Academies that are on the leading edge of high school reform. One award of $5000 was presented to programs in each of NAF’s five regions. The money is targeted for use for student scholarships/awards and programmatic support. Award winning schoools may be invited to host a NAF Design Studios to showcase promising practices within the NAF Network. The Miami Beach AOHT was established in 1990 and serves as a local and national model for career academy development.
Academy of Hospitality & Tourism Students from Miami-Dade County Public Schools off to the Big Apple as Winners of the Hispanic Heritance Essay Contest
Miami, FL – October 21, 2006 - Ten students from the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT) in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools were recently announced as winners of the Hispanic Heritage Essay sponsored by the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SFHCC), Southwest Airlines and Cingular Wireless. Winners from Miami Beach Senior High School are Jessica Gonzalez, Melanie Brown, Jason Rodriguez and Lilian Lopez. Winners from Miami Norland Senior High School are Daniel Marin, Karla Vizcarrendo, Ruth James, and Noel Sampson. Winners from Miami Springs Senior High School are Ysanet Batista and Billy Juste.
The contest’s objective was to urge young Americans to reflect on the Latino heritage and to celebrate their rich, bicultural background while emphasizing the importance of travel and tourism. The topic of the essay was “Hispanics – A Wealth of Contributions to the American Economy.” In addition to having a trip to New York trip sponsored by the SFLHCC, their airfare and accommodations are sponsored by Southwest Airlines. Cingular Wireless has also provided each winner with a “Go” cellular phone with a $100 credit to keep in touch with friends and families on their trip. The itinerary includes cultural museums and sites such as El Museo del Barrio, the United Nations, Hispanic Society of America, the Ellis Island Museum of Immigration and the New York Stock Exchange.
The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism is locally a program of Specialized Programs – Schools of Choice and the National Academy Foundation (NAF)., a national network of career academies to support the development of America’s youth toward personal and professional success in high school, higher education and throughout their careers. NAF targets high-need urban school districts and serves over 45,000 students in over 500 academies. For additional information on the Miami-Dade County academy program, contact Ann Fields, NAF Director.
Calendar of Events 
2010-04-20
Miami , FL – Students from the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT) in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, traveled to New York City May 6-9, 2007 as winners of the Hispanic Heritage Essay sponsored by the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SFHCC), Southwest Airlines and Cingular Wireless. Winners from Miami Beach Senior High School were Jessica Gonzalez, Melanie Brown, Jason Rodriguez and Lilian Lopez. Winners from Miami Norland Senior High School are Daniel Marin, Karla Vizcarrendo, Ruth James, and Noel Sampson. Winners from Miami Springs Senior High School are Ysanet Batista and Billy Juste.
