Jamberoo woman up for $20,000 scholarship prize

A young Jamberoo woman has the chance to make her dreams of a future in the hospitality industry a reality thanks to the AHA (NSW) 2012 Women in Tourism and Hospitality annual scholarship.

Ashleigh Smith is one of four finalists from across regional NSW in the running for the $20,000 prize.

The eventual winner of the scholarship, made available through the AHA (NSW) Charitable Foundation, will undertake a three-year Bachelor of Business degree (International Hotel and Resorts Management) at the highly regarded Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School (BMIHS). The scholarship covers residential costs.

Ms Smith, a keen touch footballer, is currently a popular staff member at the Jamberoo Pub and Saleyard Motel.

The former Kiama High School student is known for her local charity work raising more than $4000 for the Leukaemia Foundation's UGLY Bartender of the Year initiative last year.

The 19-year-old said she was passionate about a future in the hospitality industry.

"It is a vast, growing industry that is exciting and offers endless opportunities," she said.

"I love customer interaction and meeting new people and a career in hospitality will give me the opportunity to travel and work."

AHA (NSW) CEO Paul Nicolaou said the organisation was proud to support the Women in Tourism initiative.

"Women obviously play a vital role in the regional hospitality sector," he said.

"Once considered the domain of men, regional women like Ashleigh continue to prove the stereotypes wrong. There's no doubt women are the backbone of our 40,000 strong regional workforce and AHA (NSW) is proud to back them through this scholarship."

The 2012 Women in Tourism and Hospitality Scholarship winner will be announced at Marquee, The Star, Sydney on Thursday, 23 August 2012.

Last year's winner was Natasha Moss of the Mittagong Hotel.

Source: Australian Hotels Association NSW, 7 August 2012