CHICAGO, IL, April 30, 2008 -- The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Education Foundation has approved two grants for meetings industry research projects and awarded nine PCMA student members with scholarships. The Foundation also announced the winner of the 2008 Chapter Challenge: the PCMA Heartland Chapter.

"Continued research, student scholarships, and chapter initiatives are all vital to the success of both PCMA and the industry as a whole," said PCMA Education Foundation Chair Christie Hicks. "Through the funding of important research initiatives, scholarships for emerging leaders, and chapter programs, I know we will continue to move the industry forward while also investing in the future."

Education Foundation Research Grants
The approved research grants have been awarded to the following individuals:

• Tyra Hilliard, J.D., CMP, received a $6,370 grant for a study on "Crisis Prepared Meetings: Factors Influencing the Full Adoption of a Comprehensive Crisis Preparedness Program"
• Amanda Cecil, PhD, CMP, received a $15,600 grant to conduct extensive research on "Meeting Management Programs in U.S. Higher Education"

The next application deadline for grants from the PCMA Education Foundation is August 31, 2008. Applications and accompanying paperwork are accepted three times per year. Due dates are March 31, August 31 and November 30. Proposals are evaluated and recommended for funding by the PCMA Education Foundation Grant Review Committee. Funding decisions are made by the PCMA Education Foundation Board of Trustees. Applications and more information can be found at www.pcma.org/foundation/grants.

Education Foundation Scholarships
The Foundation is also pleased to announce the recipients of nine scholarships.

Five students are receiving the Roy B. Evans Scholarship, a $5,000 award for tuition, underwritten by the PCMA Education Foundation. Students are chosen based on their academic record, hospitality work experience, current and planned involvement in the hospitality industry, recommendations by their faculty and work supervisor, and PCMA involvement. This year's winners are: Ashley Akright, Penn State University; Daniel Burnett, University of Central Florida; Peter DiOrio, Penn State University; Tara Miller, Temple University; and Sara Quinteros-Fernandez, Penn State University.

Winners of this year's Multicultural Scholarship are Jessica Albino, Monroe College; Dovie Foster, Metropolitan State College of Denver; and Jodie Ann Robinson, Monroe College. Each of these students will receive $1,000 to offset the expenses of tuition, textbooks, and other associated educational costs. The candidates are recommended by PCMA faculty members at the institutions where the students are enrolled. The award is funded by the PCMA Education Foundation.

The Student Planner of the Year Scholarship winner is Lars Friedriszik of George Brown College. The PCMA Education Foundation is providing Friedriszik with complimentary airfare, hotel accommodations, and registration at the 2009 PCMA Annual Meeting in New Orleans as well as the opportunity to plan a student seminar in collaboration with an industry mentor. Friedriszik will also receive $1,000 tuition based award, underwritten by the PCMA Education Foundation.

This fall the PCMA Education Foundation will award The Chairman's Award, The Annual Meeting Scholarship and the PCMA Student Chapter of the Year Award to as many as five qualified PCMA student members and four PCMA Student Chapters. The next deadline for applications is October 1, 2008. To read more about the PCMA Education Foundation's scholarships or to apply, visit the student membership section of www.pcma.org.

2008 Education Foundation Chapter Challenge
In addition to the launch of the Annual Individual Giving Campaign at the 2008 Annual Meeting in Seattle, a Chapter Challenge was also issued to the PCMA membership. During the Annual Meeting, the Heartland Chapter raised the most funds through the new individual giving campaign (based on a percentage of the Chapter's total membership) and was determined the winner of the Challenge. The Foundation awarded the Chapter $500 to be used for a local environmental program, educational program, or a Chapter scholarship.

For more information on the PCMA Education Foundation, visit www.pcma.org/Foundation.

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The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) is the professional resource center and premier educator for the meetings and convention industry. Founded in 1957, PCMA represents the interests of meeting management executives from associations, non-profit organizations, corporations, independent meeting planning companies, and multi-management firms who recognize the importance of meetings to their organization. PCMA empowers members with the tools they need to succeed as meeting professionals and to promote the value of the industry to their organizations and the general public. Headquartered in Chicago, PCMA has 16 chapters throughout the United States and Canada. For additional information, please visit the PCMA Web site at www.pcma.org.

The role of the PCMA Education Foundation is to support the mission of the PCMA through fundraising and grant giving focused on education and research that will benefit the meetings and conventions industry. Established in 1985, the Foundation supports educational programs to improve professionalism in the meetings industry and to provide a university-level meeting management curriculum. The Foundation funds educational programs for meeting managers, hotels, convention and visitors bureaus, and other members of the meetings industry. It also conducts ongoing research of industry issues and concerns. The Foundation continually funds new programs to encourage the highest levels of professionalism in the meetings industry.