Caesars Entertainment to Fund Hospitality Scholarship at U of M
For release: August 17, 2004
For press information, contact Valerie Morris: MorrisV@grandcasinos.com, 662-357-3089

TUNICA RESORTS, MISS. - Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: CZR), one of the world's leading gaming companies, has funded a $60,000 scholarship for a student at the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management at the University of Memphis. Clarence Smith, a recent graduate of Rosa Fort High School in Tunica has been selected as the first scholarship recipient.

Beginning this fall, the fund will provide $15,000 a year for four years for a need-based annual scholarship. The recipient must be a Tunica resident, a graduate of the Rosa Fort High School and a candidate for a bachelor of business administration degree through the Wilson School who maintains a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5.

The scholarship can be renewed for three consecutive years if the recipient continues to meet all criteria. The award will cover out-of-state tuition as well as room and board.

After obtaining his degree, Clarence plans to begin his career in the hospitality and resort industry by working for one of the Caesars Entertainment properties in Tunica County. After gaining experience locally, it is his goal to move to Las Vegas to broaden his skill set by taking on new challenges and opportunities. Ultimately he wants to own his own restaurant. "To be able to further my education in my chosen field of Hospitality and Resort Management, with the strong backing of an industry leader such as Caesars Entertainment, was something I could not pass up" said Clarence upon his recent acceptance of the scholarship.

"Caesars Entertainment, which operates the Grand, Bally's and Sheraton casinos in Tunica County, has a long history of supporting programs that provide opportunities for personal growth and community development," said Jon Lucas, president of Caesars Entertainment's Tunica casinos. "We believe that enabling Tunica students to learn the skills that will lead to life-long careers in the hospitality and resort industry is one of the best uses of our philanthropic dollars."

The Kemmons Wilson School was established with a $15 million gift from Wilson, founder of Holiday Inn. The curriculum stresses the hands-on administration of the unique, day-to-day situations specific to the hospitality industry, including marketing and sales, beverage and food management, and human resource management. The Wilson School is administered by the University of Memphis' Fogelman College of Business and Economics.

The Caesars Foundation supports charitable organizations in our communities that empower individuals and impart the skills they need to be successful. Through education, training, and mentoring, these organizations invest in neighbors who are in need, helping them to develop their talents and achieve their goals. These organizations also deliver direct benefits to communities by enhancing the abilities of potential employees and stimulating economic development.

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