UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The School of Hospitality Management (SHM) in Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development (HHD) has received a series of gifts from recent alumni, bolstering the support available to students.
In this series, SHM spotlights recent alumni who have decided to give back to their alma mater, supporting students following the path they helped to trailblaze.
As one of the longest-running hospitality programs in the nation, SHM equips students with the technical knowledge and interpersonal skills necessary to meet the needs of an ever-changing industry. Donna Quadri-Felitti, Marvin Ashner Endowed Director and associate professor, School of Hospitality Management, explained, “The school provides a dynamic environment for students preparing for a successful career in the industry by offering opportunities for engaged scholarship. Students learn from experienced faculty and participate in interactive learning that encourages the development of vital leadership skills. Donors are vital partners in supporting these opportunities, and gifts from recent alumni are especially meaningful affirmations of the value of the education we offer.”
The alumni featured in this series are all helping to make available the resources the school needs to sustain its longstanding priorities, including establishing scholarships, providing emergency aid to students who face unexpected crises, funding seed grants to get research off the ground and opening up internship opportunities. Through their philanthropy, these alumni are helping to ensure SHM will continue to innovate and produce industry leaders for years to come.
Ashley Akright Colon, a 2009 hotel, restaurant and institutional management graduate, recently made a gift to establish the Ashley Akright Hospitality and THON Leadership Award to reward students who have taken an active leadership role with a School of Hospitality Management student club or organization and actively participate in the Penn State Panhellenic Dance Marathon.
Akright Colon began her career with Gaylord Hotels, the company she interned with in college. When Gaylord Hotels was acquired by Marriott International in 2012, she continued with the company in event leadership roles at Gaylord National and Gaylord Palms, eventually having the opportunity to open Gaylord Rockies in Denver, Colorado. After nine event leadership positions in three hotels, she moved on to Gaylord Rockies’ executive committee as director of operational excellence and innovation. Akright Colon advanced in her Marriott career in 2022 when she was promoted to her current role as director of operations for the Westin Denver International Airport, a 519-room property that is connected to the third busiest airport in the world.
Akright Colon is a current member of the Penn State Hotel and Restaurant Society (PSHRS), and as PSHRS immediate past president/chairman, she represents the alumni society on the SHM Industry Advisory Board and HHD Alumni Society Board. She is currently enrolled in SHM’s Master of Professional Studies in Hospitality Management program and credits SHM for both her drive and early career success, explaining that as a student, she felt empowered to participate in SHM’s community.
“My education at Penn State was cultivated by applying my classroom experience to practical experiences,” she said. “Extracurricular involvement in SHM clubs, business fraternity Phi Gamma Nu, THON, Homecoming and others taught me teamwork skills that I parlayed into my professional career. Involvement with industry associations and work experiences as a student were where my passion met purpose, bringing my education to life in a playground of exploration and growth.”
She encouraged current SHM students to get involved and volunteer outside of the classroom, saying, “They’re not about filling a resume, they enhance the college experience by shaping your character, fostering leadership, and shrinking the expansive Penn State community into an intimate network.”
Penn State has always had a special place in Akright Colon’s family, she said. When she was young, her brother was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, leading to their involvement in THON, Penn State’s student-run philanthropy event whose mission is to provide support to families impacted by childhood cancer and ensure funding for critical research in pursuit of a cure. When she decided to create a student award, Akright Colon said she wanted to reward student volunteerism and pay it forward to those who make the most of their time at Penn State.
“In 1992, at the age of 5, I found a home in the Penn State community through the awe-inspiring experience of THON,” she said. “Thirty-three years later, I am still amazed at the generations of students, alumni and supporters whose collective efforts will ensure every cub can be a lion.”
Akright Colon added, “I give back to Penn State to express my gratitude for the opportunities provided along my journey. It is a symbol of my pride and loyalty as well as an investment in the continued success of Dear Old State.”
“Ashley epitomizes the Penn State SHM graduate," said Quadri-Felitti. "Her investment in the school and our students is evidence of both her past and future success. She is an example of how hotel industry success leads to community impact with her gift to marry support for HM students and the mission of THON."
These contributions advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.
This article is part of a series highlighting the philanthropy of recent SHM alumni. Click here to read more about the ways recent SHM graduates are supporting their alma mater.