Five Arlington students are gaining more than summer work experience through the Travel & Sports Legacy Foundation’s 2026 40 Futures Initiative. Through paid internships, professional development, mentorship, and hands-on training, the program helps participants explore careers while strengthening workplace skills. This year’s interns are working with hospitality, tourism, and sports organizations throughout Arlington. Each placement allows students to apply what they have learned in a professional setting.
The Travel & Sports Legacy Foundation, or TSLF, is the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau’s nonprofit organization. It provides soft-skills training, internships, mentorships, scholarships, and leadership development for underserved students interested in hospitality and sports careers. “TSLF works to tackle the educational disparities and skills gaps that exist for students from underserved communities, while addressing the workforce needs of the travel, tourism, sports, and entertainment industries,” said Mary German, the foundation’s founder and executive director. The 40 Futures Initiative specifically prepares Arlington ISD Career and Technical Education students for opportunities within those industries.
This year’s interns are Brandon Ho at Prince Lebanese Grill, Chloe McCorry at the UT Arlington Kinesiology Department, Jaiden Martinez at LaQuinta Inn & Suites, Leandro “Leo” Jimenez at the Golf Center of Arlington, and Zachary Dalton at Grounds & Gold. Placements were matched to student interests, mentorship opportunities, and potential employment after the program. Their career interests span hospitality, culinary arts, baking, kinesiology, and sports business entrepreneurship.
Before beginning their internships, participants completed training focused on personal discovery workshops, communication, customer service, financial literacy, and job interviewing skills. Core Clarity and Toastmasters sessions also helped students recognize their strengths and speak more confidently in professional settings. Together, those lessons prepared them for both their internships and future careers.
“The thing that attracted me to the TSLF program was the opportunity it provided us students to get a head start in the workforce and create meaningful connections,” Ho said. He also credited the Core Clarity and Toastmasters lessons with helping participants understand more about themselves. According to Ho, those sessions helped the interns become stronger and more confident speakers. His experience reflects the initiative’s focus on preparing students for the expectations of the professional world.
Martinez was drawn to the initiative by the opportunity to begin building his career and gaining experience outside the classroom. “The most valuable part of my internship has been the soft-skills program, where I’ve grown in professionalism and become a more confident public speaker,” he said. His placement at LaQuinta Inn & Suites has allowed him to experience the hospitality industry firsthand. It has also demonstrated how communication, professionalism, and customer service can influence a guest’s experience.
For Jimenez, the program revealed leadership abilities he had not yet recognized in himself. “The 40 Futures gave me a vision and confidence I didn’t know was in me,” he said. “I feel more guided for my future and able to become more of a leader to others.” His experience demonstrates how professional opportunities can influence both career direction and personal growth.
McCorry’s placement allowed her to explore the range of career opportunities available in sports. “The 40 Futures Initiative gave me the opportunity to explore different career paths in sports and build meaningful connections,” she said. She added that the most valuable lesson she learned was that there is always something new to discover, regardless of where someone is in life. That mindset can help participants remain curious, adaptable, and open to new opportunities throughout their careers.
Professional relationships are central to the initiative, connecting interns with mentors and employers while strengthening communication, confidence, work ethic, and leadership. Five Arlington ISD graduates are selected annually for paid placements, with the 2026 cohort representing Bowie, Lamar, Martin, Sam Houston, and Seguin high schools. The program also helps to prepare local talent for available tourism jobs in Arlington.
Although it ends this summer, interns will remain connected to TSLF’s network. The foundation hopes participants become ambassadors, pursue living-wage careers, and grow within the industry. As TSLF approaches its 10th year in operation in 2027, the initiative helps Arlington students discover meaningful opportunities through training, mentorship, and community partnerships.
