Las Vegas Sands and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Tuesday announced that 15 students from 10 historically Black colleges and universities will be participating in the second annual Sands Hospitality Immersion Program. Scheduled for June 16-22 in Las Vegas, the program encourages interest in travel, tourism, and leisure industries by showcasing the Las Vegas hospitality industry to HBCU students.

The Sands Hospitality Immersion Program is part of the Sands Cares global community engagement program.

“The Sands Hospitality Immersion is a transformative initiative designed to give HBCU students unparalleled access and exposure to the dynamic field of hospitality,” said Thurgood Marshall College Fund Senior Manager of Learning and Talent Tristin Rainey in a statement. “This program not only broadens their career horizons but also equips them with the essential skills and networks needed to thrive in a competitive industry. By fostering a deeper understanding of hospitality, we are empowering the next generation of leaders to drive innovation and excellence in this vital sector.”

The selected students are studying majors including business, computer science, communications, finance, hospitality management, information technology, marketing, sales and supply chain management. They will receive an immersive introduction to the travel, tourism and leisure industry and its range of professional positions in the hopes they will consider employment in those areas.

The 15 rising junior and senior students selected for the exclusive summer program are:

“As a sales and marketing major, this experience will help me to better understand customer engagement,” said Cunningham of Tuskegee University. “By understanding this crucial practice in hospitality, I can apply these strategies to broader marketing efforts. This experience will also help me build valuable connections, gain practical insights and develop a deeper appreciation for personalized service and attention to detail.”

The multi-day experience will be curated by the Harrah College of Hospitality’s Sands Center for Professional Development at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Program elements include on-campus learning sessions with college faculty, industry speakers, and interactive activities such as a cooking competition led by the college’s executive chefs. During the program, students will receive insider tours of integrated resorts, convention spaces, and sports venues.

The students also will visit Sands’ corporate headquarters to hear professionals outline their experience in a range of disciplines and provide insights into hospitality industry professional services.

“The Sands Hospitality Immersion Program advances two of our core initiatives – helping to build a highly skilled, diverse workforce in the hospitality industry and fostering opportunities and advancement for young people from traditionally underrepresented groups,” said Las Vegas Sands Senior Vice President of Global Communications and Corporate Affairs Ron Reese. “We hope this unique experience will inspire this talented group of students to consider the many opportunities the hospitality industry offers.”

The Sands Hospitality Immersion Program is part of the Sands Cares global community engagement program.

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