Investment in hospitality helps students turn their passion into careers
The Dimond Family Foundation’s most recent gift expands opportunities for paid internships, scholarships and workforce-ready training.
During her senior year at Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2014, Tristin Lawrence found herself at the precipice of an evolution in hospitality education — and her professional growth — when she was selected for the inaugural cohort of the Rita and Navin Dimond Fellows Program.
“As a fellow, I witnessed a frozen pipe burst, announced fire drills over the PA system, learned how to flip a room in 30 minutes and discovered that, at its heart, hospitality is about people and their stories,” said Lawrence, who was a spa attendant at Viceroy Snowmass at the time. “More importantly, I built the confidence to step into any hotel after graduation and know I belonged there.”
Earlier that year, Rita and Navin Dimond, founders of the national hotel management firm Stonebridge Companies, established the Dimond Family Fund, providing funding for School of Hospitality scholarships, recruitment and retention efforts, and fellowships.
A recent $1.5 million gift from the Dimond Family Foundation has significantly increased the funds available to School of Hospitality students, expanding access to financial aid and experiential opportunities like Lawrence’s that will help them graduate workforce ready.
“We are profoundly grateful for the Dimond family’s unwavering commitment to the MSU Denver School of Hospitality,” said Lynn Minnaert, Ph.D., dean of the MSU Denver School of Hospitality.
“This transformative gift isn’t just a donation; it’s an investment that will empower the University to recruit and retain the brightest minds and honor their professional and academic achievements by ensuring they are supported from their first day until graduation.”
Dimond Fellows are selected twice a year to receive specialized education and training opportunities, including a paid, hands-on internship at Stonebridge properties. During her fellowship at the newly opened Renaissance Denver Downtown City Center Hotel, Lawrence gained a deep understanding of how each facet of hospitality connects by rotating through all of the hotel’s departments.
According to Ashley Dimond, Principal at Copford Capital Management — the private investment office for the Dimond family — and MSU Denver Foundation Board secretary, a passion for education is the foundation of her family’s story, a value they proudly share with the University.
“Education is the great equalizer,” she said. “Having an undergraduate degree opens doors; it gives you choices and longevity in whatever career you choose.”
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The latest gift will continue to advance the family’s goals of recruiting and retaining students through fellowships and scholarship support, encouraging them to persist, even when the payoff isn’t immediate.
“It takes grit for people to finish their education — and MSU Denver students have grit,” said Dimond. “That’s not always rewarded, and it’s something we wanted to acknowledge and reward.”
One student benefiting from the family’s thoughtful planning is Hospitality Leadership major Tyrin Register, a Dimond Scholarship recipient in his senior year at MSU Denver.
“Hospitality is a natural fit for me because it is dynamic, people-driven and full of opportunities to lead and learn,” said Register.
Encouraged by School of Hospitality faculty and staff members to apply for the scholarship, Register says the funds allow him to focus on the real-world experience he is gaining in his full-time position as sales coordinator at the Colorado Convention Center instead of worrying about how to pay his tuition balance for the six classes he’s taking this semester.
“I am ambitious by nature and have always loved a challenge. MSU Denver is where I’ve been able to channel that drive, sharpen my skills and grow into the kind of leader I want to become,” said Register.
“The Dimonds’ investment has helped me turn passion into purpose and given me the tools to shape the future of hospitality.”
Register looks forward to carving out a thriving career in hospitality, as Lawrence has in the decade since her fellowship.
“(The Dimonds’) generosity doesn’t just fund programs,” said Lawrence, area director of sales at Element Denver Downtown East and Courtyard by Marriott Downtown West. “It builds dreams, careers and legacies.”
“Speaking as someone who benefited from people believing in me, they are making a difference that will ripple for generations to come.”
Learn more about the Rita and Navin Dimond Fellows Program.
