Carnival Gold Scholars receive $400,000 in scholarships

The awardees from left to right: Kristen Linton, Kandys Temes, Erick Magloire, Andrea Martinez-Bustamante and Marvah Benjamin

For some students a scholarship means that they can pay for a semester or two before depending on loans or working more hours, but five incoming freshmen will never have to experience that uncertainty.

Thanks to a $400,000 contribution from Carnival Foundation, five hospitality students received a scholarship that provides up to $20,000 for tuition and housing each year and is renewable for up to four years.

“This scholarship changed the world for me,” Kandys Temes said. “This has put me in a position where I don’t have to worry about loans.”

On Sept. 23, the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and Carnival Corporation held a celebration dinner for the awardees. There was no suspense or anticipation to whom the awards were going. Temes, Andrea Martinez-Bustamante, Erick Magloire, Kristen Linton and Marvah Benjamin sat as guests of honor.

Carnival Corporation CEO Arnold Donald addresses the awardees.

Martinez-Bustamante was already awarded several Pell grants, but said it was a stroke of luck that she even applied for the scholarship.

“They called my mom and it went to voicemail,” she said. The message was weeks old and it said her essay submission was due the next day. She played hooky to complete her essay and was rewarded with an interview where she blew the panel away.

Now, with no financial obligation, she is going to use the scholarship to make the most of her FIU education.

“I’m going to do the study abroad trip to London,” she said. “It’s all thanks to the scholarship.”

Magloire had a more uncertain college outlook. Winning the scholarship cleared his path.

“It was a mix of excitement and a blessing at the same time,” he said, his mom by his side. “When I was in high school I was always wondering how I was going to pay for college.”

The students’ parents were even more elated to know their children’s hard work and dedication paid off, literally.

“That’s a big load off of my shoulders,” said Temes’ father Edward. “We had plans to do whatever was necessary for her to attend any university.”

Carlos Martinez said his daughter spent entire weekends volunteering at the Camillus House and enjoyed working with disabled children.

“This is a gift from the heavens,” he said. “It was a relief. Not because of the money, but because of the peace of mind.”

Peace of mind is something Richard Brilliant ’93, chief audit officer of Carnival Corporation & plc, wishes he had when he was working on his degree.

“More companies should be doing this,” he said. “It took me a decade to pay off my loans.”

FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg and Chaplin School Dean, Mike Hampton, led off the event with speeches about the awardees stellar high school careers (Martinez-Bustamante graduated with a 5.25 GPA) and the close relationship Carnival Corporation has with FIU.

“Scholarships are critical for timely graduation,” Rosenberg said.” They are integral to get the best students here. The better the university does, the better the community will do.”

Carnival has a strong relationship with the Chaplin School and has supported its students with scholarships in the past.

“I think it’s terrific that students have this type of opportunity,” Hampton said. “This is a great example of how businesses can have a positive effect on our students.”