New Scholarship in Club Management Honors Three Industry Icons

Senior Jennifer Geier named first recipient of the Southwell, Steger and Brecunier Scholarship

Jennifer Geier was the first recipient of the Southwell, Steger and Brecunier Scholarship, the largest privately endowed scholarship at the Hilton College. At an intimate luncheon to meet and congratulate Jennifer were (left to right) Bob Southwell, CCM, Jonathan Shear ’80, CCM, and Red Steger.

HOUSTON, May 15, 2009 — Alumnus David Chag, CCM, general manager of The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., wanted to honor his colleagues Bob Southwell, Red Steger and Joan Brecunier for their contributions to the field of club management. That desire was fully realized when senior Jennifer Geier was recently named the first recipient of the new Southwell, Steger and Brecunier (SSB) Scholarship at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston.

Though many scholarships are available to students attending the Hilton College, one of the top hospitality programs in the world, the SSB Scholarship Endowment was created to ensure that their legacy of club management education will continue by helping to attract and support top students who are pursuing an education leading to a career in club management. Robert Southwell, CCM, managed the Houston Country Club from 1971 to 1991. W. R. “Red” Steger managed River Oaks Country Club from 1960 to 1990, and Joan Brecunier managed the Forest Club from 1985 to 2004. All three iconic club managers have developed classes and taught at the College, provided jobs and internships for students at their clubs, and served as mentors for young managers. Geier was awarded this scholarship based on her professional achievements, academic strength and commitment to the hospitality industry.

Led by Chag and fellow Hilton College alums C. J. “Joe” Bendy Jr., CCM, general manager of the River Oaks Country Club in Houston, and Jonathan Shear, CCM, general manager of The Bayou Club of Houston, an aggressive fundraising campaign culminated in 2008. The SSB Scholarship has since grown to become the largest privately endowed scholarship at the Hilton College.

Scholarship winner Jennifer Geier worked at the Baywood Country Club prior to becoming a student at the Hilton College. She is currently finishing her senior year and, upon graduation this May, will join the Hilton Americas-Houston in the Accounts Receivable/Finance department, where she currently works as an intern.

Geier is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society. Distinguished academically, she has received several other scholarships from both the University of Houston and the Hilton College, and has made the Dean’s List numerous times at the University’s Honors College, the Conrad N. Hilton College and the University of Houston. She also participated in the Hilton College’s pilot Mentorship program.

If you would like to contribute to the SSB Scholarship Endowment at the Conrad N. Hilton College to honor Bob Southwell, Red Steger and Joan Brecunier for their outstanding contributions to club management education, please contact Miguel Cabrera, program manager for Development, at 713-743-1523.

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Contact:
Miguel Cabrera
(713) 743-1523
mcabrera3@uh.edu