18 Jun Jacob Kuna Chosen as the 2012 Valentine Memorial Scholarship Recipient

2012 Valentine Memorial Scholarship winner Jacob Kuna and Vice President of Operations Jeff Johnson. Click the image to watch a video of the surprise presentation!

Today’s blog entry was written by Jackie Harris-Harrell, Towne Park’s Vice President of Diversity Inclusion

On behalf of The Foundation, I am pleased to announce Jacob Kuna as 2012’s Valentine Memorial Scholarship winner!  Selected from 19 applicants by Towne Park’s Educational Testing Service Scholarship & Recognition Program Review Committee, Jacob joined Towne Park in January 2011 as a Guest Service Associate at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown.  A full-time student entering his junior year at Arizona State University, Jacob is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology.

Please Read More from Jeff Johnson, Vice President of Operations, about how Jacob’s family and many of his Towne Park teammates surprised him with this award!

Nick Hartzell, Account Manager at the Sheraton Phoenix, secured a banquet room at the hotel set up with drinks, snacks and a champagne toast.  Jacob’s family was there to deliver the great news, as were several of Jacob’s Towne Park teammates; District Manager Erik Arreola, three local Account Managers, numerous Guest Service Coordinators, Business Development Manager Mark Dale, myself and the Hotel’s Director of Operations, Todd Iacono.

As we waited for Jacob to arrive, I spoke to those in attendance about the history of the Valentine Memorial Scholarship, including who Bob Valentine was and how important he was to our organization and his passion for developing people.  Jacob’s mother was visibly moved by this. 

The event was a complete surprise for Jacob, and Nick did a great job presenting the award.  Take a look at the video (click the photo above) to see Jacob’s genuine astonishment in being chosen, the beaming pride of his family and the sincere happiness emanating from his fellow Towne Park associates.

Presenting the Valentine Memorial Scholarship to Jacob was a great moment for Towne Park, our Western Region and the Sun District.  I really felt like it was a day that made an associate, an associate’s family, a client and a leadership team look at our company a little differently than we normally do.  It made us all realize how special Towne Park is and how we’re carrying on Bob’s passion for development through the Valentine Memorial scholarship.