Hospitality major won scholarship
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| Lauren Bettcher |
As a travel lover, it was no surprise that Lauren Bettcher declared a major in hospitality and tourism management her first year at Grand Valley. Now in her senior year and a member of the global organization Meeting Professionals International (MPI), she was recently awarded the MPI Undergraduate Scholarship.
The scholarship is divided into three categories, college education funding, general leadership education or academic funding, and MPI programs. Bettcher received $1,000 for college education funding that she plans to use towards her study abroad experience at Napier University in Scotland, next semester.
“MPI is an international organization and has one UK chapter and nine other European chapters,” she said, “I plan to use the scholarship to help advance my knowledge globally.”
As a member of MPI, Bettcher says that the organization provides her with networking opportunities with professionals in the event planning industry.
In addition to her classes and MPI, Bettcher keeps busy through other activities that allow her to do event planning. She has participated in “Make a Difference Day” and various alternative spring break trips. She is also actively involved in the sorority Delta Zeta where she has planned the sorority’s formal as well as a mock tailgate providing alcohol awareness. Additionally, as part of her major requirement in hospitality and tourism management, Bettcher was required to complete three internships, which she completed at Western DuPage Special Recreation Association in Carol Stream, Illinois, the Hilton Chicago/Indian Lakes Resort & Conference Center in Bloomingdale, Illinois, and Total Event Resources in Schaumburg, Illinois. All three expanded her knowledge of the event planning and tourism industry.
“I feel so lucky for all of the opportunities that I have had that I am passionate about at Grand Valley,” she said. “I’ve been able to use all of the resources so that I had more of a holistic life as a student, and I have gotten so much out of my overall college experience.”
Bettcher will be completing her final semester at Grand Valley abroad at Napier University in Scotland. Once she returns in June, she would like to work in event planning or the travel industry and eventually hold a management position.
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By Leah Burns
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