Niagara University junior Gabriella Ortiz receives club management scholarship

Gabriella Ortiz, a junior hospitality and tourism/business finance major from Youngstown, was one of only 10 students nationwide recognized for her commitment to the club management industry with the coveted Joe Perdue Scholarship.

Awarded by the Club Management Association of America Foundation, the Joe Perdue Scholarship provides tuition support to students who are pursuing careers in club management. This year’s recipients represent nine CMAA student chapters from across the country.

The scholarship was established in 1988 to honor Perdue, CCM, CHE, the club industry’s leading hospitality educator. From 1986 to 2015, he served as academic adviser for the Club Management Association of America. Responsible for the initial development of CMAA’s Business Management Institute (BMI), Perdue coordinated more than 300 weeklong BMI programs for more than 10,000 managers. Beyond the U.S., he developed professional education programs in China, South Africa, Europe and Canada.