Thirty-two SDSU Hospitality Students receive 2025 CHLA Hospitality Foundation Awards

Ninety-seven students pursuing degrees in hotel management, tourism, and culinary arts at 21 California colleges and universities have been awarded $170,000 in scholarships by the California Hotel & Lodging Association Hospitality Foundation. 

A whopping 32 of those students are from the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at San Diego State University.

"The CHLA scholarships are unique as they require rigorous interviews with industry professionals and are based on potential for success,” said Carl Winston, Director of the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. “We are so proud of our students' ability to interview and impress. I am even prouder that we do not prepare or coach them for these interviews; it is just a result of the work of our faculty and staff in motivating and educating our students."

CHLAHF supports the education and professional development of students who commit to pursuing a career in hospitality. This year, the Foundation received a record number of applicants and was honored to provide scholarships to 35 more students than the previous year.

“These students have the power to shape the future of the hospitality industry in bold and innovative ways,” said Michael Pace, Chair of CHLAHF and General Manager of the InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco. “What excites me most about our scholarship program is that it allows us to support and inspire a passionate, talented group of future leaders to keep pushing forward in their pursuit of careers in hospitality.”

Recipients will be honored at the 2025 Scholarship Awards Gala on October 23, 2025, at The Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco. 

This year’s schools with the highest number of scholarship recipients are:

• San Diego State University: 32 recipients
• California State Polytechnic University, Pomona: 14 recipients
• California State University, Monterey Bay: 12 recipients
• California State University, Long Beach: 10 recipients
• University of San Francisco: 5 recipients

The California Hotel & Lodging Association Hospitality Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships and research in support of industry employees and hospitality students to raise the profile and promote excellence in the California hospitality industry. 

The L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management prepares students to lead with purpose, passion, and professionalism in one of the world’s most dynamic industries. With hands-on learning, real-world internships, and unmatched access to industry mentors, Payne School students graduate with a clear path to a thriving career.