New York-based Hanna Lee Communications announced the 2022 HLC Global Bartender Travel Scholarship. This year, the agency, which is celebrating its 18th anniversary, has earmarked $18,000 for the scholarship for working bartenders around the globe. Part of the agency’s ongoing giving back to the community initiative, scholarship submissions are being accepted now through July 31, 2022 and 18 winners will be announced in September 2022.
The scholarship recipients will be chosen by a Global Mentor Committee of 30 distinguished spirits and bartending luminaries from the U.S. and abroad. Entirely self-funded by the agency, the scholarship is designed to help bartenders travel to key global cocktail conferences to network and inspire one another.
“Bartending is a noble career, and we feel privileged to support its worthy artisans,” says Michael Anstendig, Editor in Chief, Hanna Lee Communications and co-author of ‘The Japanese Art of the Cocktail,’ the agency’s first book. Our inaugural scholarship launched in 2019 and attracted 195 submissions from bartenders in 45 countries across five continents. With travel resuming, we are even more excited to launch this year’s edition.”
“Bartenders are at the pinnacle of the hospitality industry,” says Hanna Lee, President & Founder, Hanna Lee Communications. “We are firm believers in the power of travel to help expand minds and palates. This year, the 2022 scholarship will grant $1,000 to each of the 18 recipients, and we are thrilled to see our scholarship nurturing the career development of bartenders that we greatly respect and admire.”
Below is the five-step application process for the scholarship:
- Step 1: Follow @hannaleepr on Instagram
- Step 2: Upload a photo of yourself behind the bar to your public Instagram feed
- Step 3: Explain why you chose bartending as your career
- Step 4: Use #hannaleepr
- Step 5: Tag @hannaleepr and the cocktail conference you would like to attend
The agency assembled 30 distinguished spirits and bartending luminaries from the U.S. and around the world as a Global Mentor Committee that will be choosing the scholarship recipients. They include:
● U.S.
○ Bridget Albert, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits
○ Charles Gibb, Fever-Tree USA
○ Dale DeGroff, King Cocktail & Author of “The New Craft of the Cocktail”
○ Elayne Duff, Beverage BA Academy
○ Ms. Franky Marshall, Modern Bartender & Educator
○ Jackie Summers, Sorel Liqueur
○ Julio Cabrera, Cafe La Trova
○ Lynn House, Heaven Hill Brands
○ Lynnette Marrero, Co-Founder of Speed Rack & MasterClass Host
○ Sother Teague, Amor y Amargo
○ Simon Ford, Fords Gin Company
○ Tara Fougner, Thirsty
○ Tony Abou-Ganim, Modern Mixologist & TAG Global Spirits Awards
○ Tyler Zielinski, PUNCH & Liquor.com
○ Valentino Longo, Shōshin Art Club
● International
○ Diego Cabrera, Salmon Guru (Spain)
○ Eugene Nyaundi, Rhumbishop (Kenya)
○ François Monti, Amargueria (Spain)
○ Giampiero Francesca, BlueBlazeR Magazine (Italy)
○ Giorgio Bargiani, Connaught Bar (U.K.)
○ Holly Graham, DRiNK Magazine Asia (Hong Kong)
○ Jesse Vida, ATLAS (Singapore)
○ Keith Motsi, Charles H. Four Seasons Seoul (Korea)
○ Leah van Deventer, Daily Maverick & Food24 (South Africa)
○ Martin Hudak, Maybe Sammy Group (Australia)
○ Matteo Zed, The Court (Italy)
○ Maura Milia, Connaught Bar (U.K.)
○ Renato “Tato” Giovannoni, Florería Atlántico & Abajo London (Argentina)
○ Sam Bygrave, Boothby Media (Australia)
○ Shawn Soole, Soole Hospitality Concepts (Canada)