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| Cindy Van der Wal & Anthony Ursino |
Southern Cross University Chief Marketing Officer, Dean Gould welcomed the scholarships as an important step toward closing the education gap.
“This collaboration will be transformative for scholarship recipients who can immerse themselves in university life and embark on an exciting career, without financial hardship,” Dean said.
“It will also prepare more students to be innovators in the tourism and hotel sector, and allow the industry to benefit from fresh talent.”
In addition to financial assistance, a Pro-invest Group RISE Hotel Management Scholarship will offer recipients access to paid internships, mentorships, and potential employment opportunities within Pro-invest Group. A minimum of two scholarships will be awarded annually, with three scholarships already being issued as part of the RISE Hotel Management Scholarship launch by Pro-invest Group. Each scholarship is valued at $5,000.
Pro-invest Group General Counsel, Anthony Ursino expressed his immense pride in the steps taken by the firm to open the doors of opportunity into the hospitality sector.
“The RISE program – Reaching for Inclusion through Scholarships and Experiences – is at the heart of our mission to showcase hospitality as a vibrant, rewarding career filled with endless opportunities,” Anthony said.
“Our partnership with Southern Cross University aims to support aspiring professionals, guiding them towards fulfilling careers. Through scholarships and internships, we're committed to not just educating, but empowering individuals with the skills and experiences to thrive in this dynamic industry.”
A driving force behind the RISE program is Southern Cross alumnus, Cindy Van der Wal who earned a Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management with Honours and Bachelor of Business in Hotel Management, and is now Pro-invest Group's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Manager, after more than seven years with the firm.
“When developing the RISE program as part of our One Earth, Countless Experiences strategy together with Anthony Ursino, General Counsel at Pro-invest Group, I instantly thought back to my own experience at Southern Cross University and what an incredible time I had as a student embarking on my own career within the hotel sector,” Cindy said.
The scholarship program brings together social and environmental aspects of Cindy's role, as it is partly funded by the state governments' 10-cent container refund scheme, operating within the company's many hotels.
Our hotel operation teams are very excited about the initiative, because we're not only helping people gain access to their chosen career, we're also supporting waste recycling efforts. It is encouraging to know that 100 percent of the scholarship funding is going directly to the students,” she said.
Pro-invest Group corporate donations and an annual staff 'RISE' raffle will continue to support the scholarship program.
“Our RISE program is set to enrich the sector by introducing diverse talents and perspectives,” Anthony said. “It's designed to bring people together, nurture their potential, and guide them towards becoming the leaders of tomorrow."
For Cindy, RISE is a chance to give back to the University that set her on a path to success.
“I love seeing the scholarship program come to life by providing students passionate about the industry an opportunity to propel their careers and become the next generation of hotel leaders,” Cindy said.
“It will be a wonderful opportunity to track the careers of the RISE scholarship graduates and learn what rewarding career paths within our industry they pursue. The opportunities are endless once you start on this career path.”
Interested in a career in the hotel or tourism sector? Find out more about the Pro-invest Group RISE Hotel Management Scholarship program.
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