Southeastern Academy of Travel and Tourism

History of the Southeastern Academy of Travel and Tourism

The Southeastern Academy of Travel and Tourism was originally opened in Orlando, offering two-year associate’s degree programs in business, computer, and other professional fields. It was only temporary as their primary location was being renovated. In 1976, they moved into their new building situated on 31 acres of land, a converted Ramada Inn built in the late 1960s, located just off the Florida Turnpike.

The school operated until May 31, 2001, when the school was forced to close down due to financial issues. At the time of its closing, the school had 235 students attending, with many students claiming that the school still owed them tuition reimbursements. Students received copies of their transcripts and financial aid records, as well as received full credit for courses they were currently attending. Other students received their diplomas if they were to graduate after the quarter.

The financial issues the school had stemmed back to a court hearing, which found them guilty of not filing a closeout audit and not properly accounting for federal funds for the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 award years. The judge ordered that Southern College and Southeastern Academy repay to the United States Department of Education the sum of $5,555,682.46 and $5,069,550.00, respectively; in other words, a sum of money the schools didn’t have.

Conversion to a Homeless Shelter

In November 2002, Positive Directions Alliance, a non-profit organization that provided housing, counseling, and job training to homeless and other deprived individuals, began operating at the former school. Six months later, its residents were forced to vacate the premises after electricity to the property was cut off due to an outstanding fee of $26,000 to the Kissimmee Utility Authority. At this time, the property was still in the hands of Southeastern Academy, with the possibility that the building was leased out to Positive Directions Alliance.

Kissimmee Christian Academy

Southeastern Academy declared bankruptcy, and the property was acquired by Super Stop Petroleum Inc. in 2003. Super Stop Petroleum Inc. is owned by Mohammed Javed Qureshi, the man who is believed to be responsible for converting Jose Padilla to Islam. Padilla was arrested in 2002 on suspicion of plotting a dirty bomb attack and was convicted in a federal court of aiding terrorists.

Around 2004, Super Stop Petroleum leased the property out to the Kissimmee Christian Academy (KCA). Late that same year, the KCA filed a lawsuit against Super Stop Petroleum, claiming that they were harassed off the property by having their electricity, water, and sewer services cut off, and then sent an erroneous bill in violation of the provisions of its lease. Although remnants of a church organization were found at the abandoned school, its history had become deeply entwined with conspiracy theories at this point.

Pastor Lee Wasson, who runs the KCA, believed it was so that Super Stop could establish its own organization, Universal Heritage Foundation (UHF), a group known for its hate speech against Christians and Jews. He also said that the UHF invited speakers to its mosque, describing suicide bombers as “martyrs”, and called for the imposition of Sharia law in the United States. He also claimed that the UHF has been in charge of other mosques and schools that have been under investigation, or have had arrests and raids conducted at them. Officials of the UHF denied these allegations.

The Universal Heritage Foundation

According to Militant Islam Monitor, the Universal Heritage Foundation was led by Zulfiqar Ali Shah, a figure with a lengthy record of involvement in extremist Muslim organizations. Shah once announced plans to repurpose the former school property into what he described as an “interfaith theme park.”

Shah’s background is extensive. In 1996, he served as Imam of the Islamic Center of Northeast Florida (ICNEF), where Parvez Ahmed—the National Chairman of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)—was a member. U.S. officials later alleged that CAIR had funneled millions of dollars to Hamas, the Palestinian-based terrorist organization.

By 2001, Shah was serving as Director of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA). Just before the September 11 attacks, ICNA issued calls for its followers to provide “material support” to groups linked with Al-Qaeda. During Shah’s tenure as National President, ICNA also entered into a merger agreement with the Muslim American Society (MAS), widely recognized as the U.S. arm of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood. MAS, through its official platforms, has circulated content that advocates violence against Jews and promotes jihad against non-Muslims.

Under Shah’s leadership, ICNA also hosted a range of controversial Islamist speakers at its events. At the group’s annual convention in July 2001 in Cleveland, Ohio, the roster included Siraj Wahhaj, listed as a potential co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing; Nihad Awad, Executive Director of CAIR, who has publicly voiced support for Hamas; Ikrima Sa’id Sabri, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, known for calling on God to “destroy America;” and Fawaz Damra, later imprisoned for fundraising on behalf of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, who had previously been involved in establishing Al-Qaeda’s main U.S. base in Brooklyn.

In October of 2005, after an earthquake ravaged the border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan, KindHearts created a South Asia division to respond to it. Shah was hired to be the division’s Director. But just four months later, KindHearts itself would be shut down for fundraising for Hamas.

Demolition of the Southeastern Academy

The building sat vacant for years, and it would be around 2008 when the vandalism on the property would begin. Though a fence was erected around the property, this did little to deter trespassers. In October 2009, a storage building located behind the school contained textbooks, school materials, and a truck, was set ablaze. The school was eventually demolished in 2014.

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