Thursday June 5, 2025
Dear Board Members, Students, Alumni, and Donors,
The HCF board took a good deal of time during the last few months going through scholarship applications, reading essays and sitting down to interview potential candidates. After extensive and careful deliberation, we decided to award ten scholarships to local Clark County high school students.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS!
Alexis Flessati, Southeast Career Technical Academy. Class of 2029
Career Goal: Restaurant Manager
Amaia Frank, Southwest Career Technical Academy. Class of 2029
Career Goal: Café & Speakeasy Owner
Christian Egbo-Cruz, Sunrise Mountain High School. Class of 2029
Career Goal: Event Management
Dayana Flores Garcia, Valley High School, Class of 2029
Career Goal: Sports Event Management
Fanny Vega Barragan, Desert Pines High School. Class of 2029
Career Goal: Culinary Arts
Jerusalen Zeledon, Spring Valley High School, Class of 2029
Career Goal: Hotelier
Quinn Loughton, Southwest Career Technical Academy, Class of 2029
Career Goal: Event Management
Selene Losoya Tremillo, Equipo Academy. Class of 2029
Career Goal: Event Services
Shakty Hernandez, Southeast Career Technical Academy. Class of 2029
Career Goal: Event Coordinator
Valentina Rivera-Aporta, Northwest Career Technical Academy. Class of 2029
Career Goal: Human Resources
It was a beautiful, breezy day for HCF’s 10th Annual Golf Tournament at Canyon Gate Country Club. Golfers started the morning off with coffee from Sambalatte Torrefazione and a Bloody Mary from Tito’s Vodka. The day included drinks from SGWS Stone Sapporo, SunCruiser Vodka Iced Tea, Chicago Brewing Co, Sandbagger Hard Seltzer, Jack Daniels/Coca Cola RTD, Kettle one/Diageo, Jim Beam RTD, Johnson Brothers/Gallo, Toto’s Vodka, Pepsi/Celsius, Top Golf, and The Activation House. We also had Activations by Land Rover & First Class Solutions Cleaning & Labor! On course boxed lunches were generously provided by Sysco. We also had support from our awesome hole sponsors: Encore, Kaori Luxury Real Estate, and Siegel/Pink Box.
Our students and board have been busy! Congratulations to Claire Cuddihy and Isabella Sandoval on graduating from UNLV. We’re also excited to welcome several incredible new board members—see below for details. Recently, board members and students connected over a fun escape room experience, and our students participated in our annual finance seminar, designed to bridge the gap in real-world skills not taught in the classroom.
Whether seeking to pursue careers in culinary arts or hospitality, the dreams of our amazing students is our No. 1 priority, and as a board, we are continually working toward ensuring we are always providing the best possible resources for those dreams to come true. As always, it is thanks to the generous support from our sponsors, donors, partners, and board that any of this is possible, and for that we thank you. As always, you can keep up to date with everything HCF at https://www.hcflv.org/ or by following on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
All the Best
Tom Gorball
President
MENTORSHIP MATTERS HONORING SEAN DICICCO
Every year, the HCF board carefully chooses an individual who epitomizes the core values of our mission. In 2025, we proudly honored Sean DiCicco, Corporate Vice President of Food & Beverage for ClubCorp, as our esteemed honoree. Sean’s exceptional mentorship has made a profound and enduring impact on our board members, graduates, and student’s alike, inspiring growth and development and was recognized at Mentorship Matters 2025. Sean has been instrumental in everything that the board is now and will be in the future, as well as changing the lives of our students. Thank you, Sean, for not only being a mentor to our students, but a great mentor to us all!
For images of the event, courtesy of Cashman Photo Enterprises, click here.
FORE! HCF’s 10th ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC
Congratulations, First Place:
Kevin Kopec, Jon Warnsholz, Richie Vasquez, Russ Orfe
Congratulations, Second Place:
Paul Kirk, Alex Perata, Mike Gurlides, Sam Wong
Congratulations, Third Place:
Terry Caudill, Dean Acord, Paul Biafore, Dennis Hershey
Thank you to our Golf Classic Sponsors!
BOARD MEMBER UPDATES
Please join us in welcoming James McBride, one of our newest board members of HCF. James currently serves as Vice President of Food & Beverage, Retail, and Spa for MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, The Signature, New York New York Hotel & Casino, Excalibur Hotel & Casino, and Shadow Creek. With nearly 20 years of leadership experience, he is passionate about innovation, mentorship, and giving back to the communities that shaped his success.
Please join us in welcoming Angela Price, one of our newest board members of HCF. Angela is the Senior Director of Event Operations and General Manager at Informa Markets, where she leads a talented Las Vegas-based team and oversees a diverse portfolio of high-profile events. With over 18 years of experience across industry leaders like RX, Freeman, and MGM Resorts International, Angela is known for her strategic leadership, passion for mentorship, and dedication to workforce development in the events industry.
Please join us in welcoming Alexis Meruelo, one of our newest board members of HCF. As the Chief Vision and Purpose Officer for Meruelo Group, Alexis oversees Corporate Social Responsibility efforts for over 25 companies across 10 industries, driving purpose-led initiatives that create meaningful impact.
Please join us in welcoming Ashlen Manos, one of our newest board members of HCF. Ashlen is the Regional Vice President of Marketing at Boyd Gaming, where she leverages 18 years of experience to lead brand strategy, digital and traditional advertising, loyalty programs, and more, all with a data-driven focus on maintaining a competitive edge in the gaming and hospitality industry.
Congratulations, Alyssa Mendes, on her new position at Rio Hotel & Casino Las Vegas as Senior Vice President of Hospitality!
STUDENTS AND GRADUATE UPDATES
Congratulations to our UNLV Spring Class of ‘25 Graduates- Claire Cuddihy & Isabella Sandoval!
Tahje Hutchinson, HCF/UNLV Class of 2026, recently secured an internship at Allegiant Stadium in Facility Operations. He will use this as an opportunity to grow with Allegiant Stadium and is excited for the extraordinary opportunities ahead!
Melanie Caro, HCF/UNLV Class of 2026 has been promoted as Facility Operations Coordinator at Allegiant Stadium, where she was previously an intern for a year! She is excited to step into this new role to gain more insight into the operations side of events. The best is yet to come for her growth.
Gregory Haley, HCF/UNLV Class of '28, has recently accepted a new role as a pastry cook at Honey Salt. He looks forward to expanding his culinary skills and embracing the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.
Claire Cuddihy, HCF/UNLV Class of '25, recently secured an internship with Freeman, thanks to Maggie Jackson. She will use this as an opportunity to grow within the events sector of the industry and cannot wait for the great opportunities ahead.
Leyla Alvarez, HCF/UNLV ‘24, has recently begun her new Executive Meetings and Events Manager position at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino Las Vegas!
Bettina Bautista HCF/UNLV ‘21 has been promoted to Associate Product Manager - Game Sales at Aristocrat Gaming!
Ben Sison HCF/UNLV ‘19 recently began his new position as Director of Concessions at the Las Vegas Ballpark!
BOARD & STUDENT OUTINGS
HCF students learned the importance and tricks of branding themselves on social media from HCF board member, Amber Jung.
HCF students learned valuable information about setting the roadmap with personal finance.
HCF students and associate members- Ivana and AJ took some time for a mental health hike at Calico Basin.
HCF students and staff volunteered with team SAHARA for Project 150’s Prom Closet
For more information, please contact Melissa Arias at 702.932.5098, melissa@hcflv.org or or visit the HCF website at www.hcflv.org.
