VSL's Dianne Nelson Binger Scholarship is bestowed annually to a female student at the University of Utah in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism of the College of Health. The scholarship honors Binger's example of a strong female professional in the hospitality industry, her mentoring of other women and VSL's desire to remember her in a meaningful way. Dianne Binger served VSL and Salt Lake for 18 years, becoming President and CEO in 2001. A great leader and mentor, Binger sadly lost her long battle with cancer in March 2005.

"The passing of Dianne shook the Bureau and the entire Salt Lake community to its core," said Scott Beck, Bureau President and CEO. "She paved the way for travel professionals and women in the industry, and I'm sure Dianne would applaud the selection of Cicily for the scholarship in her name."

Kind has been on the Dean's List since enrolling at the University of Utah, and has been invited to join the National Society of Leadership and Success and the Golden Key International Honor Society.

In order to preserve historical locations for future generations to experience, Kind's goal following graduation is to work with heritage tourism locations in order to assess how they can increase visitor interest in a sustainable way without disrupting the location's physical integrity. To that end, Kind recently began an internship with the Utah Office of Tourism, working on sustainability programs for local tourism industry businesses. Her volunteer work with the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department at the Kaysville Botanical Center and the Nature Conservancy has rounded out her educational experience.

Funding for this scholarship is a part of VSL's Annual Meeting each year, with a goal of a $50,000 endowment that will fund the scholarship in perpetuity. Individuals or corporations interested in contributing to this fund can call the University of Utah Development Office at 801-585-3205.
Visit Salt Lake is a private, non-profit corporation responsible for the promotion of Salt Lake as a convention and travel destination.

Visit Salt Lake's mission is to improve the area economy by attracting and providing support to conventions, leisure travelers and visitors while being a leader in environmental responsibility. Salt Lake is a unique fusion of metropolitan city and quaint mountain town; the towering Wasatch Mountains that embrace Salt Lake offer a dramatic backdrop to the vibrancy and activities of downtown.