HTM Competition Results!
ORLANDO – From February 28 – February 29 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel, more than 60 students representing 15 high schools competed in the statewide annual Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF) Hospitality & Tourism Management Program (HTM) Competition. This year marked the 20th year for the HTM event; Florida is the only state to host a statewide competition for the HTM program. Executive and Board Leadership from the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) attended the competition.
Throughout the week, HTM students competed in categories including Hotel Operations, Knowledge Bowl, and a Hospitality Project. Over $108,000 in scholarships were awarded from the FRLAEF, as well as Florida International University.
These events would not be possible without the support of our Global Sponsors which are Keiser University, National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality and Universal Orlando. Event sponsors include Disney Culinary, Ecolab, Florida Atlantic University, and Florida International University.
“This year’s HTM competition showcased the dedication and skill of our exceptional hospitality students,” said Laura Rumer, Director of the FRLA Educational Foundation. “It was inspiring to witness the spirited competition, collaborative teamwork, and enthusiastic school pride demonstrated by these students and their instructors. We are incredibly grateful to everyone involved from across the hospitality industry, including our esteemed judges and devoted volunteers. We are excited for the promising futures of these outstanding students and look forward to our winners representing Florida at the national competition this spring in Washington, D.C.”
“As the top state for tourism and hospitality, Florida proudly maintains its forefront position in high school hospitality education,” said Carol Dover, President & CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA). “With the lunique distinction of being the only state to host a statewide HTM contest, we remain committed to nurturing the next generation of industry leaders. These competitions serve as vital investments in our students, who embody the future of this dynamic field. Witnessing their dedication and talent in action is truly exhilarating. Congratulations to these exceptional young individuals and to their devoted instructors, whose unwavering dedication shapes the path to success.”
OVERALL
1st Place – Stoneman Douglas High School
Instructor: Mitchell Albert
2nd Place – Olympia High School
Instructor: Kristina Bryant
3rd Place – Robert Morgan Education Center
Instructor: Alina Hughes
Hotel Operations Competition
1st Place – Stoneman Douglas High School
Instructor: Mitchell Albert
Students: Blake Backman, Macy Meis, Saya Greiner, Maddison Schapiro
2nd Place – Seminole Virtual High School
Instructor: Kimberly Pintok
Students: Lindsey Weber, Emiaj Jaime, Zachary Griffin, Alexavier Sanders
3rd Place – Gainesville High School
Instructor: Dawn Bekaert
Students: Emily Yanik, Sam Myers, Brittney Davis
Hospitality Project Competition
1st Place – Stoneman Douglas High School
Instructor: Mitchell Albert
Students: Blake Backman, Macy Meis, Saya Greiner, Maddison Schapiro
2nd Place – Olympia High School
Instructor: Kristina Bryant
Students: Isabel Miller, Aubrey Heaton, Mitley Seide, Ella Tran
3rd Place – Seminole Virtual High School
Instructor: Kimberly Pintok
Students: Lindsey Weber, Emiaj Jaime, Zachary Griffin, Alexavier Sanders
Knowledge Bowl Competition
1st Place – Stoneman Douglas High School
Instructor: Mitchell Albert
Students: Blake Backman, Macy Meis, Saya Greiner, Maddison Schapiro
2nd Place – 3rd Place – Gainesville High School
Instructor: Dawn Bekaert
Students: Emily Yanik, Sam Myers, Brittney Davis
3rd Place – Robert Morgan Education Center
Instructor: Alina Hughes
Students: Destinee Rodgers, Julia Felipe-Careaga, Peyton McQueen, Samyra White
H
The 3rd Annual HTM Summer Training will take July 8-10, 2024 at the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort in 
Orlando. Break-out sessions will include discussions with Post-secondary instructors and industry partners along with best practices and more.
PROGRAM COST
The FRLAEF will cover the cost of all Florida HTM instructors who will be teaching the HTM curriculum during the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. Attendees will be responsible for their travel and some meals.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Registration closes May 3, 2024.
FRLAEF Scholarships Awarded
Congratulations to the following students who were awarded a 2024 FRLAEF Scholarship. Each student will receive a one-time, non-renewable $2,000 scholarship once they are enrolled in a Hospitality or Foodservice post-secondary program.
| Liat | Goren | Cooper City High School |
| Mia | Fraino | Cooper City High School |
| Matthew | Scruggs | Fernandina Beach High School |
| Colton | Sours | Horizon High School |
| Emma | Kramer | Marjory Stoneman Douglas |
| Alina | Tio | Marjory Stoneman Douglas |
| Nathalia | Davis | Monarch High School |
| Sara | Reichbach | Monarch High School |
| Aysia | Simon | Oak Ridge High School |
HTM Teacher of the Year
Valerie Woodring, HTM Teacher at Osceola High School in Osceola County was awarded 2024 HTM Teacher of the Year! Valerie has been a teacher at Osceola High School for 23 years and has taught HTM since 2015.
Her students participate in field trips and host guest speakers. Valerie also administers the HTM exam to her students and the ServSafe exam. Well deserved, Valerie!
NRAEF Scholarship–Closing Soon!
Each year, the NRAEF awards more than $1.2 million in scholarships to individuals pursuing a post-secondary degree in the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry.
The Foundation also provides grants for educators and for individuals seeking industry certifications to advance their careers.
Since the program’s inception in 1987, the Foundation has awarded more than $26 million in scholarships to support the next generation of industry leaders.
Scholarship Timeline
- January 15: Scholarship Application Opens
- March 11: Application Closes
- April – May: Scholarship Application Review
- June: Scholarship Award Notifications
- July – August: Scholarship Claiming and Payments
- August 15: Deadline to Claim Scholarship
Apply Now!
AHLA Scholarships Available–Closing Soon!
The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) offers scholarships for hospitality students. The application is now open. There are two types of scholarship available: self-nominated and school nominated. AHLA offers $1 million in scholarships annually.
For more information, CLICK HERE for the brochure.
APPLY NOW!
Scholarship deadline is March 15, 2024
Get Social With Us!
With the 2023-2024 school year underway, FRLA would love to highlight our participating HTM programs and your creative side. We know how much fun your learning experience is and want to show that off, encouraging others to join in and hopefully join Florida’s hospitality industry! Here are a few tips and suggestions for you, and don’t forget, whenever you post, tag @frlanews and we can share your post. Keep an eye out for future updates on HTM social media competitions too!
TIPS/IDEAS
Be creative with your content. Here are a few fun possible content ideas:
- Come with us to class! (a video montage of a fun activity during class)
- POV: You’re in high school and want to be a hospitality student! over a video collage of footage from the class
- Challenge others to join HTM …The top 3 reasons you should join HTM…with fun footage or text/caption over photo/video from students.
- Hashtag challenge – create a fun hashtag
- Take someone through a night audit, or other task
Most importantly, have fun and tag @FRLAnews!
Hospitality Industry Internships
The Hospitality Industry Internship (HII) provides the opportunity for Florida ProStart & HTM instructors to work in a 
foodservice/lodging establishment for at least 40 hours. Once the required paperwork has been processed, the participant will receive a personal check for $600.
To qualify for an HII, the instructor must teach the ProStart, HTM, or HTMP curriculum during the 2023-2024 school year. If you are already employed at a restaurant or hotel, you MAY NOT use that site for your internship. The restaurant/hotel must be a new work experience for you, not somewhere you have worked before or used as an HII internship location.
The applicant must secure a position at a foodservice or lodging facility where a minimum of 40 hours of hands-on experience is guaranteed. The host location may pay the recipient but is not required to do so.
The FRLAEF will award 11 HII’s this school year on a first-come, first-served basis. So apply NOW! Work experience may begin once the applicant receives an award notification from the FRLAEF.
APPLY NOW!