Kendall College Partners with Hilton Worldwide, Department of Veterans Affairs and Blackstone to Offer Hospitality Educational Program to Veterans

CHICAGO, Aug. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kendall College, the No. 1 Chicago school for preparing students for a career in hospitality management and culinary arts (TNS Global – 2013 Survey), is partnering with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Blackstone and its portfolio company Hilton Worldwide to offer a hospitality educational program designed to help veterans and their spouses receive the critical education and experience that can lead to a career in hospitality management.

The new educational program offers enrollment in courses at Kendall College's School of Hospitality Management and a six month internship at a Hilton Worldwide property. The non-degree coursework will be taught by Kendall College's award winning faculty and veterans will receive the same academic and career services support as current full-time students. Veterans who successfully complete the necessary coursework and internship requirements will receive a Certificate of Completion in Hotel Management, college credit toward a Kendall College degree and experience that positions them to transition into employment with Hilton Worldwide. If eligible, veterans can receive funding for the program through the GI Bill in coordination with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

"Kendall College is committed to providing veterans opportunities in the hospitality and culinary fields," said Kendall College President Emily Williams Knight. "We are proud to be working alongside both Hilton and the Department of Veterans Affairs to achieve this goal. Having a pathway to a career at a world class leader in the hospitality industry from the moment they enter the program will give them a goal to work towards and will help to keep them on track.  As the daughter of two Navy Veterans and a former military spouse, I understand the benefits this program will bring the Veteran community and their families."

Blackstone committed to hiring 50,000 American veterans across its portfolio over five years.  In May 2014, Blackstone announced that it had already hired more than 10,000 veterans since making that pledge.

This new educational program will also support Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's goal for hosting 55 million tourists to the city by 2020.

"This is such a great opportunity for the veterans of Chicago and around the country to pursue their passion for a career in hospitality," said Mayor Emanuel. "Kendall's partnership with Hilton is another example of how this top educational institution is helping position Chicago as a leader in the hospitality and tourism sectors — two areas that are key to Chicago's continued economic growth."

For additional information, visit www.Kendall.edu.

About Kendall College
Kendall College, founded in 1934, is located in Chicago, Illinois and is a member of Laureate International Universities, a network of more than 75 accredited campus-based and online institutions in 30 countries throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. More than 800,000 students study at Laureate schools. Kendall offers undergraduate degrees in culinary arts, hospitality management, business and early childhood education to a diverse community of more than 1,650 students. Kendall College was ranked the number one program in Chicago for preparing students for careers in hospitality management and culinary arts in a survey of management at Chicago's leading hotels and Michelin Guide restaurants (TNS Global – 2013 Survey). Kendall College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), www.ncahlc.org; 1-312-263-0456. For more information, visit www.Kendall.edu.

SOURCE Kendall College