About the Elizabeth Swans Smith Emerging Pineapple Professional Scholarship
Elizabeth Swans Smith was born 12th out of 19 children to the late Masco and Vera Swans in Ellaville, GA. The highest education she achieved was an eighth-grade education due to the segregation of schools in her small town of Ellaville, GA. She worked for 32 years as a nursing assistant for the state hospital. Despite the lack of receiving a formal education, all of her children and grandchildren received bachelor’s degrees, while both daughters received their master’s degrees.
To pay homage to her grandma’s life and the anniversary of her homegoing, Davonne Reaves decided to create a scholarship fund to award an African-American female majoring or minoring in a hospitality-related field.
Because it was her grandma who led her to the field of working in the hospitality industry.
About Davonne Reaves
Davonne Reaves is the founder and chief hospitality strategist behind The Vonne Group. She is an award-winning hotel consultant, a hotel asset manager with over 14 years of experience in the lodging industry, and a published author.
Ms. Reaves serves as an advisory board member for the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality, is an associate member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants, a member of Urban Land Institute (ULI), and a co-founder of NextGen in Lodging.
Scholarship Criteria
For the inaugural year, the goal is to raise $1,000.
Scholarship Timeline
- Scholarship Launch - January 24th
-Scholarship student application process begins - February 6th
- Deadline to raise the funds: February 28th
- Deadline for students to apply: April 1st
- Award recipient announced: May 1st
Eligibility
Must be an African-American female student majoring or minoring in hospitality.
Criteria
- 500-word essay
- Must plan to pursue a career in the hospitality industry
- 2.5 GPA (transcripts unofficial)
- Community Service
- Professional Organization Involvement
- International involvement
- Virtual Zoom Interview
