A senior at The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University, earned the Donald S. Freeman, Jr. Conference Scholarship from Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA).
Carlie Smith (BA ’15) was selected from a pool of applicants in the U.S. and Canada to receive the award, which includes a stipend plus the registration and travel expenses to the ESPA annual conference in Chicago from Jan. 9-11.
Smith is the director of Membership for The School’s award-winning chapter of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). Last month, she was awarded one of only two prestigious PCMA Chairman’s Convening Leaders Scholarships. That scholarship includes complimentary registration for the PCMA Convening Leaders Conference, also in Chicago this month as well as four nights’ accommodation and round-trip airfare. She also received $2,500.
“Carlie is a dynamic and energetic student leader in our School,” said Lena Loeffler, coordinator of Alumni Relations and Development, The School, and an event planner. “She has a bright future, and we are very proud of her.”
Smith looks forward to attending both annual conferences, where she will be able to attend the educational sessions, network with meeting planning and convention management professionals, and display a “Spartans Will” work ethic.
“I cannot believe that I will be representing The School at both the PCMA and ESPA conventions,” said Smith. “I am excited and honored to learn more and to showcase our School.”
Smith will be joined by over 20 members of the student chapter of PCMA at Convening Leaders, all of whom will receive scholarship funds from The School to help with travel costs. PCMA Chapter President Lisa Malinowski will attend with scholarship funds from PCMA – a result of the chapter being named one of the two Student Chapters of the Year by PCMA.
