High school hospitality students from Okkodo High School in Guam took home the national title in the eighth annual American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) National Lodging Management Program (LMP) Competition held April 7-9, 2011. The three-day event at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Fla., challenged students with the real-life work experiences in a hotel. The competition is organized by AHLEI, via funding provided by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation.
Teams of students displayed their proficiency while competing in three different contests:
the Knowledge Bowl, Hotel Operations, and the Hospitality Project.
The following teams won accolades during the event, entitling them to nearly a half million dollars in scholarships from Johnson & Wales University, San Diego State University, Paul Smith’s College, Niagara University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation:
Overall Winners
First place: Okkodo High School (Guam). Team members Jessica Suarez DeVera, Iris P. Lapid, Donna Cardenas Lubas, Raquel Ann Maminta. Instructor Norman Aguilar.
Second place: Lakeland High School (Idaho). Team members Cheyenne Lawrie, Ashley Metcalf, Amanda Taylor, Taylor Patik. Instructor Marjorie Tibbits.
Third place: Mountain View Academy (New Hampshire). Team members Mercedes Belanger, Tucker Campbell, Jackie Lowell, Brooke Ramsdell. Instructor Lisa Perras.
Knowledge Bowl
First place: Waipahu High School (Hawaii); second place: Lakeland High School; third place: Okkodo High School.
Hotel Operations
First place: Okkodo High School;
Second place: Miami Beach Senior High School (Florida); third place: Hospitality High School of Washington, D.C.
Hospitality Project
First place: Mountain View Academy;
Second place: Lakeland High School; third place: Miami Beach Senior High School.
