FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:

Isaac Reichman, ireichman@choosechicago.com, (312) 805-9586
Stephen Crano, scrano@choosechicago.com, (312) 567-8505

CHOOSE CHICAGO FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES LARGEST-EVER CLASS OF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Ten students awarded grants of $5,000 each to support education in preparation for careers in tourism and hospitality

Chicago, IL (May 20, 2025) – The Choose Chicago Foundation, the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit arm of Chicago’s official destination marketing organization, announced today a record-breaking class of scholarship recipients. For the first time ever, the Foundation is awarding ten scholarships totaling $50,000 to support the post-secondary education and professional development of young residents interested in pursuing careers in the tourism and hospitality industry. The student recipients, who will each receive a $5,000 scholarship, were honored at the Choose Chicago Annual Meeting last Thursday, May 15th.

“The Choose Chicago Foundation is focused on building equitable pathways into our industry,” said Roz Stuttley, Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Choose Chicago and the Choose Chicago Foundation. “Through our three scholarship programs, we are investing in a more diverse, inclusive, and inspired future for Chicago’s tourism and hospitality community.”

The Choose Chicago Foundation offers three distinct scholarship programs to help remove barriers to access for the next generation of hospitality workers: the Future Leader Awards, the Jim Reilly Reformer Scholarships, and the W. Bill Williams Trailblazer Scholarships. Thanks in part to a generous charitable donation from the Chicago 2024 Host Committee of the DNC, the total scholarship recipients expanded from six to ten this year.

“I am proud to play a part in this initiative to invest in the next generation of Chicago’s hospitality and tourism professionals,” said Juan Leyva, Senior Vice President of Operations with Oxford Hotels & Resorts and Board Chair of the Choose Chicago Foundation. “These scholarships represent more than financial support—they’re a commitment to developing young leaders who will shape our city and our industry for decades to come.”

2025 Choose Chicago Foundation Scholarship Recipients

  • Choose Chicago Future Leader Awards: The Future Leader Awards are a merit-based opportunity that recognizes undergraduate or graduate students who demonstrate their commitment and passion for the hospitality and tourism industries. Recipients receive a $5,000 award to apply to their educational costs.

2025 recipients:

  • Lisa Green, Kennedy-King College – Bar Management
  • Christopher Williams, Kennedy-King College/Washburne Culinary Institute & Johnson & Wales University – Culinary Arts
  • Hoang “Cece” Nguyen, Roosevelt University – Hospitality & Tourism Management
  • Sammy Giordano, DePaul University – Marketing (Events & Tourism)
  • Jim Reilly Reformer Scholarships: Named after Jim Reilly, former CEO of Choose Chicago and MPEA, this $5,000 scholarship is awarded to current college students and is eligible for renewal for up to four years. Recipients also receive access to a life coach, mentorship opportunities, and paid internships.

2025 recipients:

  • Ozivell “Oz” Eckford, Northwestern University – Learning Sciences (PhD)
  • Yetunde Olowu, Malcolm X College – Nursing
  • Aanicia Sutton, Chicago State University – Accounting, ROTC & U.S. Army
  • W. Bill Williams Trailblazer Scholarships: Named after Bill Williams, former Vice President of Diversity/Sales at Choose Chicago and affectionately known as “Mr. Chicago,” this $5,000 scholarship is awarded to graduating high school seniors from the South and West Sides of Chicago who intend to enroll in college in fall. Recipients are eligible to renew the scholarship for up to four years and receive access to a life coach, mentorship opportunities, and paid internships.

2025 recipients:

  • Camila Rosales, John Hancock College Prep (Loyola University) – Finance
  • Morgan Ellis, Simeon Career Academy (Siena Heights University) – Nursing & Culinary Arts
  • Rihanna Thomas, Simeon Career Academy (UIC) – Architecture & Art

For more information on the Choose Chicago Foundation, or to get involved through mentorship, donations, or partnership opportunities, visit: choosechicago.com/foundation.

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About Choose Chicago: Choose Chicago is the official sales and marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global visitor and meetings destination, leveraging the city’s unmatched assets to ensure the economic vitality of the city, its residents and our partner business community. Follow @choosechicago on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X/Twitter. For more information, visit choosechicago.com.

About the Choose Chicago Foundation: The Choose Chicago Foundation strategically promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives that benefit youth, community, and workforce development. The Foundation will offer financial support and long-term training opportunities for ethnically and economically diverse communities for advancement within the hospitality and tourism industry.

The Foundation is the official non-profit affiliate of Choose Chicago, the destination marketing organization for the city of Chicago, responsible for marketing the greater Chicago area as a business, meetings/convention, and leisure visitor destination. Choose Chicago is a partner-based organization, with nearly 1,500 members within the local hospitality and tourism industry.