Admiral Hospitality Scholars program gives Houston high school students a unique chance to pursue degrees, careers in hospitality

HOUSTON—Local high-school students will have a unique opportunity to pursue degrees and careers in hospitality, thanks to Admiral Hospitality Scholars (AHS), a new internship program launched by NBA Hall of Famer and philanthropist David Robinson and supported by Hilton Worldwide, American Liberty Hospitality, the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management and Admiral Capital Group.

Robinson met with the inaugural AHS class and their families on May 20 at a reception at the Hilton University of Houston, where he gave each of the 24 students an autographed basketball, a shirt and a leather portfolio.

To kick off the program, the students—who were chosen from various HISD high schools—will participate in a three-day hospitality camp at Hilton College, starting on July 8. Each student will then be matched with a personal mentor from the hospitality industry and complete a one-year internship at a local Hilton Worldwide-branded property managed by American Liberty Hospitality.

When the students graduate from high school, they’ll receive financial support toward a hospitality degree.

“The hospitality industry is one of the largest providers of jobs in the world and is globally diverse by nature. Admiral Hospitality Scholars will expose Houston’s diverse student population to the industry at an age when they’re seeking to define themselves and give them a glimpse of the types of opportunities that are available if they elect to pursue the hospitality path,” Robinson said.

Houston was selected for the launch of the program after Admiral Capital Group—a national real-estate investment fund co-founded by Robinson—and American Liberty Hospitality partnered to acquire the Hilton Garden Inn Energy Corridor. The hotel will be one of the first to provide internships to the AHS students.

As a company policy, Admiral Capital Group returns 10 percent of all profits back to the communities in which it invests—a mission that also resonates with the Hilton brand.

“We applaud Admiral Capital Group for creating opportunities and fostering diversity within our industry through its Admiral Hospitality Scholars program,” said Jennifer Silberman, vice president of corporate responsibility at Hilton Worldwide. “We’re excited to partner with a firm that is equally as committed to its neighboring communities as Hilton Worldwide.”

Contact:
Taylor Wiley
ttwiley@uh.edu 
713.743.4258