Oakwood Worldwide® Awards $12,000 In College Scholarships

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Oakwood Worldwide, the global leader in corporate and serviced apartments is pleased to award six dedicated and exemplary students with $12,000 in scholarships and bursary awards through the Howard F. Ruby Scholarship Program. The program, which is named after the company founder, has awarded more than $75,000 in scholarships over the past four years to children of Oakwood Worldwide Associates.

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This year's recipients earned scholarships for their exceptional academic achievements and community service:

• Grace Wilson, daughter of Ashley Bradshaw, business development manager, from Richmond, Va., was awarded a $5,000 scholarship;
• Jhanel and Chanel Stewart, twin daughters of Raquel Stewart, guest service representative, from Burbank, Calif., each received a $2,500 scholarship; and
• Bryan Ruiz, son of Catalina Ruiz, head housekeeper, from Huntington Beach, Calif., was honored with a $1,000 scholarship.

Due to the number of impressive applications that were received, the committee also selected two applicants, Erik Saucedo, son of J. Isabel Saucedo from Derwood, Md., and Isabel Calderas, daughter of Israel Calderas from Huntington Beach, Calif., who will each receive one-time bursary awards of $500 for the 2013 school year.

"Every year I am impressed by the dedication shown by the children of our Associates," said Howard Ruby, Oakwood Worldwide chairman, founder and chief operating officer. "As an entrepreneur, I can appreciate the determination of these students – and they are so very deserving of this award. I want to extend my thanks to every applicant and a special congratulations to this year's recipients."

Wilson, a graduate of Douglas S. Freeman High School, will attend Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Beta Club, an academic society promoting character, leadership and academic achievement. During most of her high school career, she served as a volunteer with the Richmond Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and with the Varina Veterinary Hospital. A budding political activist, Wilson campaigned door-to-door in the past presidential election. She acknowledges her mother for setting a positive example and supporting all of her ambitions.

Jhanel Stewart aspires to obtain a position in the legal profession. A student at Los Angeles Valley Community College, Stewart is a recipient of the President's Honor Award for maintaining a competitive grade point average over the past three semesters. She and her twin sister, Chanel, will attend the University of California, Los Angeles in the fall.

Like her sister, Chanel Stewart is currently attending Los Angeles Valley Community College with a career interest in child psychiatry. Stewart volunteers with Burbank Youth Employment, a program that helps teens find jobs matched to their chosen career path. She is a library assistant at the Children's Library in Los Angeles, a position that nurtures her professional aspirations.

Ruiz would like to pursue a career in medicine and he knows the amount of work and dedication it takes to become a physician. In pursuit of his career goals, Ruiz has interned at hospitals while in Mexico and has volunteered with the American Red Cross. Ruiz will attend the University of California, Merced with a major in biological sciences.

Recipients of the Howard F. Ruby scholarship awards are recognized for academic achievement and community involvement through volunteer work in the areas of health and human services, education, arts and culture, civic life, community service and environmental preservation. Based on annual reviews by the Howard F. Ruby Scholarship Program Committee, each scholarship may be re-issued annually for a total of $44,000 awarded over four years of college education for these recipients.

Oakwood Worldwide has a long history of investing in its Associates, offering learning and growth experiences through educational reimbursement and internal and external training seminars. Moreover, the company's training program, Oakwood University, was recently recognized by Employee Benefit News.

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About Oakwood Worldwide

Oakwood Worldwide^®, based in Los Angeles, Calif., is the leading provider of corporate housing and serviced apartment solutions through its two well-known brands, Oakwood^® and ExecuStay^®.  Both brands provide move-in-ready furnished housing designed to meet the needs of business travelers on long- and short-term assignments. Oakwood has access to the largest selection of housing options and a presence in all 50 United States and more than 55 countries. ExecuStay is the preferred corporate housing partner of Marriott^® International and is the only corporate housing brand where guests can earn Marriott Rewards^® points for stays at any ExecuStay location in the U.S.

For more information, please visit www.oakwood.com and www.execustay.com.

SOURCE Oakwood Worldwide