"An Unwillingness to Stop"

Since 2004, students from Saunders College of Business have been recognized for their leadership potential and academic prowess by the Statler Foundation. One of only fourteen hospitality programs invited to nominate students, Saunders recently welcomed its newest Statler Scholar, Lauryn Fulton. She will receive the $25,000 Scholarship of Excellence from the Statler Foundation as well as see her name engraved on a plaque in the Eastman Building.

Lauryn is a third year hospitality student with an immersion in Spanish. She found her ideal major in the hospitality program. “I love knowing that every day is different and that everything I do impacts someone’s day in some form, whether they notice or not,” Lauryn said.

At the end of the 2019 spring semester, Lauryn was notified that she had been nominated by several RIT faculty members for the Scholarship of Excellence and, after the application process, was selected as one of this year’s recipients. “I have been fortunate enough to have a very involved, caring faculty surrounding me and my efforts in school and encouraging me and my peers to work to our full potential. The courses in and of themselves are extremely useful when applied together, however it is the faculty that truly makes our education successful,” Lauryn said.

The Statler Foundation was established in 1934 based on the work of Ellsworth M. Statler, who worked his way up from bellboy to hotel chain manager. His organization supports hospitality programs across the United States. The Statler Foundation has funded study abroad opportunities, the Statler Hospitality Innovation Lab, and various technology improvements for Saunders College of Business students. The Scholarship of Excellence specifically has been awarded to eleven Saunders hospitality students, now including Lauryn.

To those aspiring to reach Scholarship of Excellence levels of achievement, Lauryn gave the following advice: “To all students, I would say simply don’t give up on what you’re passionate about. Business and hospitality are often seen through a very much in the box perspective, don’t be afraid to go outside of it. Express your interests, work closely with those who are willing to help you succeed, and don’t stop until you do. I applied for countless scholarships and internships, and have been denied more often than I’d like to admit, but it’s an unwillingness to stop trying that makes someone successful.”