Thirteen young Bahamians have been awarded scholarships to pursue tourism-related studies, thanks to a collaborative effort by three organisations.

The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), the Bahamas Hotel Employers Association and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF) have linked up to provide scholarship awards collectively valued at $70,000 - the largest single annual disbursement since 2005.

Over the past eight years, 107 scholarships have been awarded valued at $428,000.

Students were presented with award certificates at BHTA’s recent membership meeting by the organisation’s president, Stuart Bowe.

“We applaud our young people for their desire to pursue a career in our dynamic industry. We are pleased to invest in their education knowing that our industry’s success is clearly tied to their future. There are tremendous opportunities available to those who are prepared. ” said Mr Bowe.

The industry raises funds for the scholarships, and other education and training initiatives, through the BHTA’s annual Golf Tournament, its annual online auction, and room donations for auctioning by CHTAEF at the annual New York Times Travel Show.

The BHTA will this year hold its 15th annual golf tournament at the Ocean Club on Sunday, October 6. Funds raised through sponsorships and golfer registrations will assist with awards to next year’s scholarship recipients.

This year’s scholarship recipients and their schools are: Tarran Edgar Simms, College of the Bahamas; Kevyn Pratt, Johnson & Wales; Dawn Dakota Ferguson, College of the Bahamas; D’Nae Baker, Johnson & Wales; Ianta Stubbs, College of the Bahamas; Nastassia Sears, Johnson Wales; Dinae Rolle, College of the Bahamas; Dominique Sturrup, Johnson & Wales; Maudline Goodman, College of the Bahamas; Jasmine Forbes, Johnson & Wales; Victoria Morris, College of the Bahamas; Rache Josey, Johnson & Wales; and Mikiayla Dames, Johnson & Wales.