Hardworking Student Wins a Scholarship and Trip to Hawaii

Seven students from The Collins College of Hospitality Management were awarded scholarships at the annual California Lodging Industry Association (CLIA) fall conference on Oct. 21. 

Among those seven students was Olivia Isidro.  

After receiving her scholarship, Isidro was overjoyed to learn she was named the grand prize winner for a one-room suite for five nights for two people at the Royal Kona resort in Hawaii. 

But the surprises didn’t stop there. 

Isidro works at the Holiday Inn in Diamond Bar, which is managed by Brighton Management. Earlier in the evening, Isidro met the President of Brighton Management, Joseph Fan, and shared her connection with the company. When Isidro won her hotel stay in Hawaii, Fan immediately offered to pay for her entire family’s airfare.  

Nearby was the VP of Business Development of Hogan Hospitality, Geoff Graf. He overheard Fan’s offer and told Isidro he would upgrade her prize to two ocean view rooms and help with activities so that her whole family could join the trip. 

Isidro was over the moon to take a family vacation that she felt her family deserved.  

“It feels good to know that my hard work does pay off,” Isidro said.  

“That night was amazing,” said Ann Lara, The Collins College career services coordinator and adjunct faculty member. “Our students were so thrilled with the generosity and support of the CLIA and its board, enabling them to reach their educational goals. Olivia is in awe of what happened, and I am sure that her trip to Hawaii will be the highlight of her college life.” 

Isidro is a third-year hospitality management student, Pineapple Club Peer Advisor and CMAA Secretary. 

Isidro wants to thank the President of CLIA, David Bowman, and Executive Director of CLIA, Bobby Allen, for her CLIA academic scholarship, and Fan and Graf for her family’s trip of a lifetime. CLIA awards annual academic scholarships to worthy California college students pursuing an education in the lodging and hospitality fields. Scholarship recipients are selected based on a combination of their academic performance, lodging or hospitality work experience, extracurricular activities, personal attributes, and future goals.   

Other CLIA Academic scholarship recipients were Jacob Alcala, Jacob Fry, Selene Gonzalez, Hayley Ho, Heena Sikand and Allen Heng.