Friday June 5, 2020
Dear ECF Family and Supporters,
As Las Vegas prepares to turn the sparkle back on with its June 4th openings, we want you to know that ECF has continued to do everything we could to help our students navigate while the city was closed.
We have stayed connected during this time of isolation. We have ensured all of our students have access to the necessary provisions to successfully complete their online classes. We continue to work with UNLV and Student Support Services to ensure our students receive free virtual tutoring to guarantee they have the tools to make it to the finish line. Our mentors are still meeting virtually with their mentees to help them navigate through this time. We are still conducting our leadership seminars and “coffee and conversations” development classes virtually. We continue to share local resources with our students. We are working with the Public Education Foundation to register students for classes for summer and fall. Our partners at Sysco have generously provide ECF students and their families food care packages.
Our current student body was born after 9/11 and were children during the recession. Covid is the first major catastrophe they have faced, they have quickly adapted. Many of our student have even said to us, “we’ve been through worse things before”. They have
missed out on their senior year moments, have had their internships cancelled, have lost their jobs. We are so proud of their resilience during this time.
At ECF we are looking towards the future and will begin interviewing for our newest class of scholarship recipients in June, we have an exciting date, location, and honoree announcement for M.E.N.U.S. 2020, and have a new date for our 5th Annual Golf Classic below.
We send our sincere thanks to our amazing Members, Donors, and Friends. We are here for you and we are all in this together.
Best,
Melissa Arias
Executive Director
MENUS 2020 - Save the Date – October 2nd, 2020
HONORING
Hershel Walker
Entrepreneur and Pro Football Player
Stay tuned for exciting details!
Congratulations UNLV Graduating Class of 2020!
ECF Graduate spotlight: Jasmine Ramos
Jasmin Ramos
UNLV Graduating Class of 2020
Goals and aspirations: My goals have shifted quite a bit throughout my college experience! I have always wanted to own my own restaurant one day; however, that is not on the top of my priority list anymore. I see myself working through different food and beverage operations and excelling at each. Working through these different departments will guide me in the right direction in hopefully becoming head of all Food and Bev operations in the future.
What it’s like graduating during a pandemic: Pros/Cons/What have you learned/etc. Graduating during this pandemic isn't something I ever expected but I am one to deal with the punches thrown at me. When I first heard about our graduation being postponed, I was definitely sad, but I know that no matter what, the hard work was all worth it and I will celebrate either way.
What is the most valuable thing you received at ECF? ECF has provided me with endless opportunities and exceptional experiences. I would have to say the very best thing I received is the Avero Scholarship that I was able to apply for at the end of my Freshman year. Traveling to NYC was an experience of a lifetime and I hope to travel more once the pandemic subsides.
What is the best advice a mentor has given you and who is it from? I would say the best advice came from every mentor that I have had throughout my ECF experience. However, Kelley Jones had me write my short- and long-term goals a few years back and I still go back to those notes checking off my small accomplishments and feeling proud of myself to keep moving forward.
Who have you mentored in your life and what did you gain from being a mentor? I would say I am a mentor for different people for different reasons. I think that no matter what, if someone needs advice and I have an educated opinion, or guidance on the topic, I am always happy to assist someone in any way that I can. My younger brother will be starting high school this next year so I hope that I can be a role model for him and his future endeavors.
What are your top few ECF moments? I would have to say my top ECF moments are bonding with my classmates, networking with our mentors, sponsors and their families! I feel that ECF has helped me become the grateful woman that I am today. I get so emotional thinking about my first interviews for this scholarship and just how far I have come throughout the years. I can now say that I feel confident in who I am as well as who I am becoming every day. I am so thankful and overall very happy. Go class of 2020!!
GOLF 2020- New Date!
Congratulations to UNLV Class of 2020
BOARD UPDATES
ECF is proud to welcome new board member Tom Gorball. Tom is Vice President Food & Beverage for Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
Board Member David Suppe is excited to announce that they have opened the drive through at the Horizon Ridge and Stephanie location of The Juice Standard.
ECF is proud to welcome hospitality executive Nathan Armogan to the board.
YEAR END STUDENT UPDATES
Susi Galindo, ECF/UNLV Class of ’23, “The class I struggled the most in was most likely accounting but in the end, I passed with an A! What helped me pull through was actually the professor. She would always try to make us understand the concept and also my classmates were helpful. I took it with Adolfo and Brikti and it was helpful to have friends I knew because we would study together and get good grades on the quizzes. At the end of the semester I passed my classes with all A’s!”
Kennedy Villegas, ECF/UNLV Class of ’20, “Phew! Congratulations to my peers and I for completing another semester! Although it was very interesting, we did it. This term, I was able to get straight A’s, too. The most challenging courses I took were Hospitality Law and Hospitality Finance. But they were also my favorite! Moreover, I am closer to graduating in Fall 2020. Despite of my internship opportunities being postponed/cancelled, I will be taking an alternative course this summer with a focus on Hospitality Finance & Data Analytics. I am super excited because upon completion, I can attain two certifications from the AHLEI. In the meantime, I will relax and enjoy some sun, while being safe and healthy. Thank you again to ECF for helping the students achieve another successful semester!”
Ashley Hasler, ECF/UNLV Class of ’21, “I pulled through in Finance and ended up with a B at the end of the semester, which I’m really proud of! I also am still on Dean’s List going into my senior year of college.”
Ashley Kozell, ECF/UNLV Class of ’22, “I ended the semester strong with straight A's!
Crystal Triguero, ECF/UNLV Class of ‘23, “I aced my finals and ended the semester with straight A's.”
Geovanni Saucedo, ECF/UNLV Class of ’21, “I FINALLY passed my math class with a B! I’m so excited and so grateful for ECF for pushing me this far. I can finally move forward and graduation seems closer!”
Noe Martinez, ECF/UNLV Class of ’21, “The class I struggled with most should have been the easiest class I took this semester, PHILOSOPHY 102. At first, my grade was struggling, but having put my nose in the textbook and researching other sources, I raised my grade ending with a B. I don't know why, but the concepts of breaking down an argument really stumped me which was what this class consisted of."
Monica Corral, ECF/UNLV Class of ’21, “I received all A’s this semester, I had an internship with Four Seasons planned this summer but now I don’t because of COVID.”
For more information, please contact Melissa Arias at 702.932.5098, melissa@ecflv.org or visit the ECF website at www.ecflv.org.
