Johannesburg students aim to win a chance to pursue their dreams

A career in hospitality creates endless opportunities. As South Africa?s leading private hospitality management education provider, The International Hotel School (IHS) offers nationally ? and internationally ? recognised hospitality diplomas and certificates for graduates. And with the annual Three Cities and IHS Bursary Competition, some students? dreams will be coming true!

The competition began in May this year and was held at each of the International Hotel School branches in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban. Out of the many entrants each school received, only five finalists were chosen to vie for the winning spot.

The five Johannesburg finalists were chosen to attend the Boot Camp 2012 finals, hosted by the Premier Hotel O.R Tambo, a member of the Three Cities Group, from Sunday 30th September to Friday 5th October.

Boot Camp challenges for hospitality studies bursary

Only one winner at each campus can be chosen to have their full tuition fees paid for ? for any IHS programme they wish to study ? for the duration of the programme, valued up to R180?000!

The boot camp will be a five-day learning and hands-on experience, where each student involved will be challenged in various hospitality departments. The pupil who succeeds in all of the challenges will take home the bursary and winning title.

The Johannesburg finalists are:

• 17 year old Boitumelo Makoe from Queens High School
• 18 year old Reneilwe Tekele from Pro Arte High School
• 18 year old Kyle Willis from Hatfield Christian College
• 18 year old Kate Palisa Fortunate Msomi from John Orr Technical School
• 18 year old Vicky Faulds from Piet Potgieter Hoerskool.

Boitumelo Makoe

Boitumelo would love the opportunity to pursue a career in hospitality management and is very excited to be part of the selected few for the boot camp. She will ensure that she performs to the best of her ability.

?I realised I wanted to get into the hospitality industry from the moment I started cooking in Consumer Studies I realised this is something I want to do for the rest of my life. Management is something I want to do as well, because I?ve always been able to take charge of situations and been able to handle them well.?The reason I entered this competition was because the hospitality industry is the place I see myself excelling.?I have a passion for cooking and believe I can be one of the best managers IHS has ever produced.?

Boitumelo has been preparing for boot camp in a variety of ways…

?I play netball at school and exercise throughout the year; I?ve started walking in heels for longer hours to get practice for that week?and I?ve started cooking different dishes and practicing how to perfect them.?

Reneilwe Tekele

For Reneilwe, participating in this competition means that she can pursue her dreams in an opportunity of a lifetime and says, ?participating in this competition will give a platform to challenge myself and exhibit my skills to the best of my abilities.?

Reneilwe realised that she had a passion for this industry when she had to choose between pursuing a career in Drama or Hospitality at High School.

?I entered this competition because I saw it as a great opportunity and challenge to prove myself. The competition has indeed confirmed my love and passion for the hospitality industry.?

If she wins, she would like to study Food and Beverage Management and looks forward to competing at the Boot Camp.

?I have been doing research on the Premier Hotel and its different departments to make sure I understand its operation and environment. This way I will be well prepared for the final week.?

Kyle Willis

Kyle says that participating in the bursary competition has showed him that he is meant to do this as a career.

?It means that I have the qualities and capabilities needed for my dream industry that I would like to follow. It also means that I have the ability to put my parent?s minds at ease with regards to fees if I win it.?

Kyle is looking forward to doing the Hospitality Management course at IHS, and hopes that he will work in the managing of a hotel in London or Europe in the future.

?I would preferably like to go into the management side of the Hospitality industry but enjoy all aspects of the industry as long as I am working in the industry in some way.?

Even though he?s currently in the process of writing trial examinations, Kyle?s very excited and is counting down the minutes to the Boot Camp week.

Kate Palisa Fortunate Msomi

For Kate, participating in this competition means the world to her.

?I?m so proud of myself for making it this far.?

Kate is aiming at either becoming a chef, owning her own restaurant, or shelter for underprivileged children in the future.

At the tender age of 12 years old, Kate first realised that the hospitality industry was what she wanted do as a career.

?I baked my first chocolate cake and it was very pretty with all the decorations. I just knew that cooking and baking was for me.?

Kate?s excited about being a part of the Boot Camp and has been experimenting with different dishes in practice towards the gruelling week ahead of her.

Vicky Faulds

Vicky says that participating in The International Hotel School?s Bursary Competition, ?is a wonderful opportunity that only comes once in a life. I am very honoured to be one of the finalists and I will put everything into this competition.?

?I decided to become part of this industry when I was working part time as a waitress and chef for a catering company. I entered this competition because I see it as an opportunity that I can?t let go. I love to work with people and it is my passion to see my guests happy.?

 

Good luck to the five Johannesburg finalists! We?ll know soon whose hospitality career dreams will be coming true…

 

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