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AEF’s July 4th Celebration
Join Destination DC and our affiliated 501(c)(3) charity, the American Experience Foundation (AEF), for an exclusive Washington, DC celebration this July 4th! With a perfect view of the fireworks, this event is the best place to celebrate and give back to DC students. The private rooftop party will have food, drinks, music and access to air conditioning. Bring your friends and family and celebrate with us! The American Experience Foundation connects students to career opportunities in the hospitality industry and provides scholarships to qualified DC high school students studying hospitality. Buy individual tickets and packages now! When: Friday, July 4, 2025 7 - 10 p.m. Where: Potomac View Terrace The American Pharmacists Association 2215 Constitution Ave. NW Washington, DC 20037 Partnership Opportunities For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Haleluya Demeke, Partnerships Manager, (202) 789-7052. Your company will receive unmatched exposure to Destination DC VIP clients, hospitality and tourism leaders, meeting planners and industry partners. .button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 20px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; color: #ffffff; background-color: #0a3264; border-radius: 6px; outline: none; } SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION HERE Participation Opportunities Don't have the budget for a full sponsorship package but still want to participate? Donate a VIP prize for our fundraising raffle. Donations can be considered tax-deductible donations to the American Experience Foundation. Contact Haleluya Demeke, Partnerships Manager, (202) 789-7052 for more information.
American Experience Foundation Field Trips
AEF field trips would not be possible without the generous support of our industry partners. Each year, hundreds of thousands of students travel to the nation’s capital to deepen their knowledge of American history, democracy, and culture. For many young people, it is their first travel experience, but for many more, this trip will never take place due to school budget cuts or lack of resources. AEF’s unique programming helps fill this gap by introducing low-income students to the joy of travel and a life-long appreciation for the unique heritage of Washington, DC. But these trips are not only about having fun! Emphasizing the importance of our industry on the heritage and culture of the city, students meet business leaders at each stop on their trip to learn more about future career possibilities in hospitality and tourism. Backyard Bound Many students in DC do not have the chance to explore the historic and cultural attractions in their own backyard. AEF provides this opportunity for local students to learn firsthand the importance of their hometown through a customized one or two-day field trip. Backyard Bound field trips generally include transportation, meals, and guided tours. Rite of Passage This trip engages students across the country that cannot access this important milestone travel experience due to lack of resources or school budget cuts. AEF’s “Rite of Passage” brings the classroom to life, providing a three to four-day customized itinerary of DC’s historical, political, and cultural icons. Rite of Passage field trips generally include transportation, lodging, meals, and guided tours.
American Experience Foundation Scholarships & Internships
By leveraging Destination DC’s reach, resources, and its members’ expertise, AEF provides students with unforgettable educational enrichment support, bringing their curricula to life and supporting career paths in hospitality through scholarships, internships, and classroom experiences. Established in 2014, Academies of Hospitality and Tourism are located within Ballou HS, Bell Multicultural HS at Columbia Heights Educational Campus, Woodrow Wilson HS, and Maya Angelou Public Charter School. Students in grades 9-12 follow the NAF program and emphasize strong college and industry partnerships, work-based learning experiences and rigorous curricula that culminate in industry-recognized certification at graduation. SCHOLARSHIPS Annually, AEF offers a $2,500 scholarship to each of Washington, DC’s four high school hospitality academies, as well as alumni currently enrolled in higher education to continue their studies. Awards are based upon demonstrated need of the applicant, solid academic background and interest in a career in hospitality. One of these recipients is recognized as the Gregory McCarthy Scholar for their exemplary leadership both in and out of the classroom. Gregory McCarthy is the Vice President of Community Engagement for the Washington Nationals and former Destination DC Board Chair. Scholarship applications are open to current academy students. Scholarships are also available to past scholarship recipients seeking continued financial support for his or her education. Students are encouraged to reapply annually as scholarships are not automatically renewed. Gregory McCarthy Leadership Scholarship Winners 2021 Tenielle Parker (CHEC) 2020: Makayla Cruz (CHEC) 2019: Zoe Roberts (George Mason University; Wilson HS) 2018: Daren Dorsey (Ballou HS) 2017: Johana Romero-Valdez (CHEC) 2016: Deranique Graydon (Ballou HS) 2015: Robsa Mideksa (Hospitality HS) 2014: Amanda Burnham (Hospitality HS) David Iselin Scholarship for Community Service 2021: Jean-Pierre Roberts (Wilson High School) 2019: Adame Temsen (University of Rochester;CHEC) 2020: Adame Temsen (University of Rochester;CHEC) AEF Scholarship Winners 2021: Jazzmen Morant (Ballou HS) 2021: Anura Sharma (CHEC) 2020: Jermaine Evans (Wilson HS) 2019: Deranique Graydon (University of the District of Columbia; Ballou HS) 2019: Diamond Hunter (Temple University; Wilson HS) 2019: Andre Jones (Maya Angelou PCHS) 2019: Jose Martinez (CHEC) 2019: Amya McKoy (Ballou HS) 2019: Britney Rivera- Martinez (Wilson HS) 2019: Loriel Taylor (Maya Angelou PCHS) 2018: Perpetua Nkem (CHEC) 2018: Sharnae Niblet (Maya Angelou PCHS) 2018: Lauren Bryana Brown (Wilson HS) 2018: Diamond Hunter (Wilson HS) 2017: Deranique Graydon (Ballou HS) 2017: Andre Jones (Maya Angelou PCHS) 2017: Zoe Michele Roberts (Wilson HS) 2016: D'andre Jones (Ballou HS) 2016: Natalie Webb (CHEC) 2016: Solijala Jones Morris (Wilson HS) 2015: Tyrell Keys (Hospitality HS) AEF Alumni Scholarship Winners 2021: Pepetua Nkem (Morgan State University) 2021: Britney Rivera (Cornell University) 2020: Deranique Graydon (University of the District of Columbia; Ballou HS) 2019: Deranique Graydon (University of the District of Columbia; Ballou HS) 2018: Deranique Graydon (University of the District of Columbia; Ballou HS) AEF Honorariums 2021: Cenaria Fells-Watson (CHEC) 2021: Yeshetuwef Mulugeta (Wilson HS) 2020: Lauren Brown, Howard University (Wilson HS) 2020: Jose Martinez, Marymount University (CHEC) 2020: Amya McKoy, Bowie State (Ballou HS) 2020: Zoe Roberts, George Mason University (Wilson HS) INTERNSHIPS AND MENTORSHIPS AEF partners and Destination DC members provide valuable work experience and exposure to career paths and professionals by hosting interns free of charge through DCPS’ Career Ready Internship program. This initiative matches highly qualified DC students with exceptional summer employment opportunities. In 2019, 75 students were placed for meaningful "career ready" summer internships. To learn more about the program, including how you can host an intern, at DCPSinternships.org. IN-CLASSROOM EXPERIENCES Destination DC members are also featured in Academy classes or host site visits to share their stories, experiences, career paths and skills with students. AEF is working with our Hospitality Academy partners to expand these programs for the 2021-2022 school year.