MPIGNY Member, Ashia Ruth Kelly, Receives Recognition

Ashia Ruth Kelly, a high school senior, was recognized as the youngest recipient to be selected for the Long Island Business News 30 Under 30 Awards. They distinguished her with The "Next Gen" award (pg. 22). 

Click here to view the awards ceremony (1:13:02)

The “Next Gen” Award recognizes a student under the age of 18 who has already established relationships within the Long Island business community, and is committed to giving back through charitable efforts.  The 30 Under 30 Awards honor the bright, dynamic young professionals age 30 or under, who contribute to the Long Island community through public service and have made significant strides in business.

Ashia is the corporate meeting planner for Workforce Career Readiness™. In addition, she coordinates several high-profile events for several organizations and private clients. 

She received national recognition as the youngest recipient to be selected as an accomplished corporate meeting planner by CONNECT, a national event management association. She was designated as an “Early Riser” in the event management industry by this organization, and Newsday featured her story in the “Way To Go” section. 

Ashia was appointed by Melanie D'Arrigo's Congressional campaign as their “Students for Melanie” Events Coordinator. For two years, she has volunteered at the National Association of Social Workers-Suffolk Division award ceremonies. Most recently, Ashia was featured on a podcast called “The_Hush_Podcast." In this episode, Ashia talks about food insecurity on Long Island.

She is a student member of Meeting Professionals International and Meeting Professionals International Greater New York.  Currently, she serves on the Meeting Professionals International Greater New York Diversity & Inclusion Committee. 

Ashia is a senior at Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville, New York. Ashia serves on the College Board Youth Advisory Council and was a Youth Delegate at the 25th session of the United Nations Youth Assembly, where she participated in the Global Development Leadership Series through the Friendship Ambassadors Program.

She participated in Girls’ Leadership Worldwide, a program at the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill. She has interned at Nordstrom as a fashion ambassador where she learned how to organize and coordinate fashion projects and events. Ashia also has interned at the Long Island Children’s Museum where she learned various aspects of public relations and customer satisfaction. Ashia was nationally recognized by Tiffany Pham, CEO & founder of Mogul, as one of “50 High School Students You Need to Know About.” 

Her mentors in the hospitality industry are Harris Rosen, founder and CEO of Rosen Hotels and Resorts; Mindy Koening, conference center sales at Rosen Hotels and Resorts; and Jordan Hollew, former senior sales manager at Hilton Embassy Suites.

After high school, Ashia plans to go to college to major in hospitality administration and minor in journalism. Some of the schools she is interested in are the University of Central Florida-Rosen School of Hospitality, Cornell University, New York University, Penn State and Boston College. 

Ashia is accomplished far beyond her age of 17. She is an average student making a difference in the world. Ashia wants to be an example and inspire other girls that they can do anything they put their minds to. She has a strong desire to uplift and help others.