Hotel developer and operator Wynn Resorts has announced that its Las Vegas property is running the inaugural Wynn Scholarship Fund.
The newly created program is the brainchild of current Wynn CEO Matt Maddox, with the initiative awarding a total of $75,000 in academic scholarships to current employees and their children.
Designed as part of an ongoing commitment to developing growth opportunities for Wynn’s workers and families, the new fund augments similar such programs already in place, namely the Wynn Mentorship and Wynn Internship programs, as well as the Wynn Tuition Reimbursement program.
Maddox explained: “We are dedicated to enhancing our employee benefits program and creating opportunities for our employees and their families to thrive.
“The Wynn Scholarship Fund furthers our longstanding support of pursuing higher education. I commend our first group of recipients as they move even closer to achieving their academic goals.”
Receiving in excess of 100 applications in the first year of operation, from a variety of employees and their dependants, the Wynn Scholarship Fund is to be overseen by the Wynn Employee Foundation.
The independent committee has awarded ten students up to $7,500 per academic year, for up to four years and a maximum of $30,000 for each.
One Wynn employee, who works as a server at its Jardin restaurant, and recipient of the scholarship Brooke Holmes stated: “I have been a server at Jardin at Wynn for almost three years while attending community college.
“With this scholarship I plan on transferring to UNLV to pursue a psychology degree. It is a tremendous privilege to be awarded an education and I hope to someday give back by founding a nonprofit focused on helping struggling single mothers and their children.”
Further to Holmes, the other nine individuals receiving the scholarship are:
- Carolyn Acosta, daughter of employee Maria Acosta
- Ana Aguilar, Cook at Jardin
- Gabriela Cuicas, daughter of employee Gema Salazar
- Scott Dao, Table Games Dealer
- Gabrielle Fernandez, daughter of employee Sherry Fernandez
- Chelsea Galvez, daughter of employee Ana Zaragoza
- Michelle O’Connell, Cocktail Server
- Laurren Takahata, daughter of employee Alan Takahata
- Alanna Walker, Surveillance Specialist
The next scholarship application period begins April 2019.