NEWH, Inc. Announces Inaugural Nikki Jones Memorial Scholarship

NEWH, Inc. (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality), the premier organization dedicated to scholarships, education, mentorship, and networking in the hospitality industry, is honored to announce the establishment of the Nikki Jones Memorial Scholarship, which is funded by a $50,000 bequest from Jones. A $10,000 biennial scholarship will be awarded in honor of Jones, a longtime member and significant contributor to the organization, as a testament to her belief in the power of education and her enduring commitment to fostering the next generation of hospitality leaders.

We are profoundly grateful to the late Nikki Jones for her extraordinary generosity and commitment to our organization throughout her life. Her belief in the power of community led her to leave a lasting impression on our members, many of whom she mentored and inspired throughout her phenomenal career. Her legacy lives on in the dreams she helped make possible. Chris Tucker, CEO of NEWH, Inc.

Jones’s active involvement in NEWH throughout the years was deeply impactful. She was a founding member of the NEWH Las Vegas Chapter in 1991, served on the NEWH Board of Directors from its inception in 1993 to 2005, was named NEWH Woman of the Year in 1995, and acted as NEWH, Inc. President from 1998 to 2001. She also developed the NEWH Corporate Partner program, which solidified the organization's financial stability by recruiting prominent corporations to take a leadership role in sponsorship of the national organization. In 2019, Jones was honored with the Pinnacle Award, the highest award given to a NEWH member, to honor her extensive contributions to the organization’s success.

Jones was unparalleled in her field, and at one point, she became the highest-ranking female employee among the 30,000-plus people employed by Atlandia Design & Furnishings. Throughout her career, Jones contributed to a number of iconic properties like the Bellagio, Treasure Island, Beau Rivage in Mississippi, and the Golden Nugget Las Vegas. After retiring in 1997, she founded N.J. & Associates, Inc., a hospitality and residential consulting and purchasing company.

NEWH, Inc. scholarships promote the success of eligible students aspiring to enter the hospitality, foodservice, and related industries—fueling the ambition behind aspiring professionals pursuing their dreams. To contribute to the Nikki Jones Memorial Scholarship fund, please visit https://newh.org/scholarship/nikki-jones-memorial-scholarship-fund/.