A Day
in the Life!
BY CHRISTINA BUSWELL
TAYLOR TORENO
Florida Gulf Coast University
Fort Myers, Florida
aylor Toreno, a junior at
Florida Gulf Coast University,
was recently awarded the
ISPA Foundation’s Mary
Tabacchi Scholarship, which seeks out
future leaders of the spa industry. For
seven years, the scholarship has given
passionate students the opportunity to
excel in driving the spa industry forward.
Toreno applied for the scholarship
after receiving an email from Jennifer
Licciardi, director of spa at The Hyatt
Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa.
Toreno knew immediately that this
would be the perfect opportunity. “I am
only able to attend college due to the
scholarships and grants that I receive.
This scholarship would not only help me
T
56 PULSE
n
August 2015
The life of a spa professional is a continuous cycle of daily
responsibilities that help make the spa world go round. Pulse
asks ISPA members to give us a sneak peek into their daily
lives to help us understand the roles they play and the
difference they make on a daily basis.
continue my education but it would
provide me with a mentor. I am the first
in my family to go to college and I know
that having a mentor would provide me
with a path to success,” Toreno says.
She explained how her biggest
challenge was deciding if she would be
a good candidate for the scholarship,
given the fact that this is an international
scholarship and that there would be a
large pool of competing students. “I had
to realize that my greatest competition is
myself and not to let the fact that other
qualified students should prevent me
from giving it my best shot,” says Toreno.
Once she heard the news that she
was given the opportunity to interview
for the scholarship, Toreno was “overwhelmed with excitement.” Having never
conducted a Skype interview before, she
took the time to research and properly
prepare for the occasion. She began by
researching online and reading advice on
how to perform at her best. She made
sure that she was in appropriate and
professional attire, had good lighting, and
had an acceptable background for the
interview. She also researched more
about ISPA and learned about the global
impact it has had.
Toreno feels fortunate to have gathered up the courage to apply for such a
prestigious scholarship. “Preparing for
the future in any industry requires the
upcoming generations to learn
from its successors,” she says.
“By offering this scholarship,
ISPA is allowing the future
generations to learn from current
spa industry leaders and to
continue their education.”
Between juggling school work
that will earn her a degree in
Resort & Hospitality
Management and various
extracurricular activities, including
Valerie’s House, Dress for Success of
SWFL, Club Managers Association of
America, and Blessings in a Backpack,
Toreno keeps very busy.
Here’s what her day looked like when
she learned that she was a Mary
Tabacchi Scholarship winner:
H 8 am My day started just like any
other day. I woke up, got dressed, and
went to breakfast with my grandmother.
H 10 am I walked my dog and got
ready to work out.
H 2 pm I checked my email and
received the best news imaginable.
I was one of the lucky winners of the
ISPA Foundation Mary Tabacchi
Scholarship.
H 4 pm I was still in shock but beyond
honored. I was already filling out the
questionnaire for Pulse magazine and
looking at past information about ISPA
Conference & Expo.
“I am so honored that I was chosen
as one of the recipients of the ISPA
Foundation Mary Tabacchi Scholarship.
Being selected will afford me the opportunity to continue my education, attend
the 2015 ISPA Conference & Expo, and
will provide me with a mentor. Being a
first generation student, I am beyond
thankful that I have people who believe
in me, and I will not let them down,”
Toreno says. n