Undergraduate Scholarships and Awards

Congratulations on being admitted to Purdue and its Hospitality and Tourism Management Program! Below is one scholarship you may consider. The White Family Scholars Scholarship was established in 2023 in memory of the late hospitality visionary and Purdue alum, Bruce White. He was the founder and former chairman of White Lodging, a hospitality company headquartered in Merrillville, Indiana. The Scholarship aims to support outstanding students enrolled in Purdue’s Hospitality & Tourism Management (HTM) major who are committed to completing the HTM Finance Concentration. The scholarship will cover full tuition and fees for United States (U.S.) citizens or U.S. permanent residents for one academic year only. Recipients of the scholarship can reapply each year during their tenure at Purdue. To apply, complete the application and upload your documents at the link below.

Website

White Family Scholars Scholarship

Criteria

The White Family Scholars Scholarship application is open by invitation only to students majoring in Purdue’s Hospitality and Tourism Management program and show a strong academic record with exceptional cumulative high school GPA and SAT or ACT scores. Eligible candidates must demonstrate a passion for hospitality and have been involved in organizations and/or volunteer work.

Open to U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents only.

Updated Resume

All applicants will need an updated resume. Your resume should include:

• Your cumulative high school GPA.
• Your SAT or ACT score.
• Organizations and clubs you were or are involved with.
• Volunteer projects you were and are involved with.
• Any other information you think may strengthen your application.

Brief Essay

In no more than 750 words, answer the following prompt:

Bruce White, who generously supported The White Family Scholars Scholarship, was the true Hospitalitarian – someone who, in their DNA, feels good by making other people feel good, who brings the virtue of hospitality to life. Tell us about why you consider yourself to be a hospitalitarian and how this scholarship will help you excel in your hospitality career.

Application Deadline

February 14 by 11:59 pm ET

The White Family Scholars Scholarship aims to support students enrolled in Purdue’s Hospitality & Tourism Management major who are committed to completing the HTM Finance Concentration. Recipients should be high-achieving sophomores, juniors, and seniors with strong interests in finance and lodging. The scholarship will cover full tuition and fees for United States (U.S.) citizens or U.S. permanent residents for one academic year only. To apply, complete the application and upload your documents USING THIS LINK.

Criteria for Sophomores

• Cumulative GPA: 3.0 or higher
• Area: Have a strong commitment to finance and to completing Purdue’s HTM finance concentration. 
• Work experience in hospitality.
• Involvement in student organizations and HTM events like Career Day, Spirit of Hospitality Summit, etc.
• Enrollment/completion in one finance/accounting course.
• U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident only.

Sophomore Essay Prompt (not previously funded)

Bruce White, who generously supported The White Family Scholars scholarship, was the true Hospitalitarian – someone who, in their DNA, feels good by making other people feel good, who brings the virtue of hospitality to life. Tell us about why you consider yourself to be a hospitalitarian and how this scholarship will help you excel in your hospitality career.

Sophomore Essay Prompt (previous recipients of the scholarship)

As a hospitalitarian – someone who, in their DNA, feels good by making other people feel good, who brings the virtue of hospitality to life, tell us about your experiences afforded because of being a previous recipient of the White Family Scholars scholarship. How has this scholarship as well as taking finance/accounting related courses helped you to prepare for a dynamic career in the hospitality industry?

Criteria for Junior or Rising Seniors

• All the above Criteria for Sophomores PLUS
• Declared Finance Concentration
• Finance Coursework GPA: 3.0 or higher

Junior and Senior Essay Prompt (not previously funded)

Bruce White, who generously supported The White Family Scholars scholarship, was the true Hospitalitarian – someone who, in their DNA, feels good by making other people feel good, who brings the virtue of hospitality to life. Tell us about why you consider yourself to be a hospitalitarian and how this scholarship as well as taking a finance minor/concentration, will help you excel in your hospitality career.

Junior and Senior Essay Prompt (previous recipients of the scholarship)

As a hospitalitarian – someone who, in their DNA, feels good by making other people feel good, who brings the virtue of hospitality to life, tell us about your experiences afforded because of being a previous recipient of the White Family Scholars scholarship. How has this scholarship as well as taking a finance minor/concentration helped you to prepare for a dynamic career in the hospitality industry? 

Criteria for Students Reapplying

Enrolled students in the Hospitality & Tourism Management major at Purdue can reapply for the scholarship each year.  In addition to the criteria listed above, the following are required:

• Attendance at multiple HTM professional events per academic year, listed on resume.

To apply you will need:

1. Official Transcript
   All applicants will need an official transcript or an unofficial transcript printout.
2. Updated Resume
   Your resume should include the following:
   • Work experience inclusive of dates and a brief overview of your duties and responsibilities
   • Organizations you were & are currently involved in, inclusive of dates and role.
   • Professional development events you participated in while at Purdue, include the name of the event(s) and the date(s)
   • Hence, for this scholarship application, your resume can be up to two pages in length.
3. Plan Of Study
   To prove the commitment to finance, an approved mapped 4-year plan of study must be submitted with your application. This plan of study should be approved by the applicant’s advisor.
4. Brief Essay
   In 750 words, complete essay prompt based on your year and if you’ve been awarded a White Family Scholarship before. You will find the essay prompts listed above.

Application Deadline

March 20 starting in 2026 and October 20 (each year)

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Foundation is the charitable giving arm of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. The AHLA Foundation aims to build careers, improve lives and strengthen the lodging industry. The foundation provides several scholarships. One such award is the Cecil B. Day Memorial Scholarship.

The White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management aims to nominate one student for this award. Neither the school nor Purdue University will make the award. The scholarship is awarded in the amount of $7,000. This amount will be distributed across two semesters, fall 2025 and spring 2026. The following are the requirements for the Cecil B. Day Memorial Award.

Criteria

• Enrolled full-time (12 credit hours) in an undergraduate hospitality-related degree-granting program.
• Enrolled for 12 credit hours at the time of application and for each semester during the award period.  
• Completed 36 credit hours at the time of application.  
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.  
• Work experience in lodging.  
• Involvement in student organizations, especially those in hospitality.  
• Participation in the school’s professional development events, such as Career Day and the Spirit of Hospitality Summit, among others.
• Engagement in industry-based research/scholarly research, especially in lodging.  
• U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.  
• Once nominated by the school, you will be required to complete the AHLA Foundation online application by February 24, 2025, at the latest.    

Updated Resume

Applicants will need an updated resume. The resume should include:

• Your current cumulative GPA.
• Your work experience, including dates and a brief overview of your duties and responsibilities for each.
• Student organizations you were and are currently involved with, the dates you were involved with these entities, and your role(s) in the organizations.
• Professional development events you attended and the dates.
• Research projects you worked on. For example, posters and stand-up presentations made on an industry-based or scholarly research project(s). Publication(s) on research authored alone or with others. Research activities should be listed in your resume according to the American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines.

Note: Only items listed in your resume will be considered during the application review process.

Brief Essay

In no more than 300 words, state why the school should nominate you for this scholarship.

Deadline: Thursday, February 6, 2025

The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) Education Foundation mission is “to give qualified culinary, marketing, sales, supply chain, and food science students financial support toward completion of education requirements through accredited institutions, enabling career-oriented internships and employment opportunities within IFMA member companies and through the food industry.” This year, the IFMA Education Foundation will be awarding up to four scholarships to students in Purdue’s White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. The maximum value of each award will be $5,000 which the awardees will be expected to use for tuition, fees, room and board, or other school-related expenses only. Below are details about this scholarship.

Criteria

• Required GPA: 3.0 or higher
• Junior or rising Senior
• Prove firm commitment to a career in foodservice (such as in culinary, marketing, sales, supply chain and/or foodservice)
• Show evidence of work experience, especially in foodservice
• Show involvement in student organizations at the school, college, and/or university level, especially at the leadership level
• Provide evidence of participation in professional development events (like Career Day and Spirit of Hospitality Summit)
• Prove financial need

One optional requirement that could strengthen your application is involvement in industry-related or scholarly research, especially in foodservice.

When applying for this scholarship you will need the following documents:

1. An Updated Resume

• You will need a current resume. Your resume should include the following:
• Your current GPA
• Work experience inclusive of dates and a brief overview of your duties and responsibilities
• Organizations you were and are currently involved in, inclusive of dates and role.
• Professional development events you participated in while at Purdue, include the name of the event(s) and the date(s)
• Research projects you have worked on whether for a class or with a professor.

Hence, for this scholarship application, your resume can be up to two pages in length.

2. Current Statement from Purdue’s Financial Aid Office (showing financial need)
3. Brief Essay -should say, in no more than 300 words, why you should be selected for this scholarship.essay why you should be selected for this scholarship.

Deadline: Friday September 27, 2024

*Other Requirements (if selected)

If selected for the scholarship, the following will also be needed. However, these should be provided directly to IFMA:

• A completed Student Spotlight Questionnaire. Note, the information provided in the survey could be used on IFMA’s website and in their marketing materials.

LINK to IFMA’s Questionnaire: Student Spotlight Questionnaire

• A high-resolution digital head or candid shot. This should be sent to email address stefanee@ifmaworld.com. The Chair of HTM’s Scholarship Committee should be copied on the email. Her email address is ajnicely@purdue.edu.

Purdue University Hospitality & Tourism Management (HTM) Society and Black-Tie Dinner are proud to announce that we are offering TWO, $300 professional development grants funded by the HTM Society/Black Tie Dinner Keystone Endowment. The HTM Society student organization started this endowment in 2016 to support HTM Student Professional Development.

Criteria

• Full-time undergraduate student in the hospitality and tourism major at Purdue.
• Has a financial need.
• The professional development activity should help the applicant prepare for a career in the hospitality industry.

Deadline: Friday, February 21, 2025, at 5 pm

Applications should be emailed to Dr. Carl Behnke at behnkec@purdue.edu.

The Statler Scholarship of Excellence was established by the Statler Foundation under Ellsworth Milton Statler’s will. It was created to advance the United States hotel industry and its future professionals.

Information on Ellsworth Milton Statler

This year’s Statler Scholarship is for a maximum of $25,000. The scholarship can only be used for tuition, fees, and books. Of that amount, recipients can use a maximum of $1,000 to purchase books and a computer. For recipients to receive this scholarship, they must submit the relevant invoices before payment. Recipients will also be required to advise Statler’s finance office of the payment date.

The White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Purdue needs two students to recommend for this scholarship. The Statler Foundation decides who receives the scholarship and its amount.

Criteria

• A hospitality/tourism major with a commitment to hotels.
• Cumulative GPA: 3.0 or higher.
  • Hotel Coursework GPA: 3.0 and higher.
• Entering 3^rd or 4^th year of your undergraduate program.
• Involvement in student organizations at the school, college, and/or university levels.
• Involvement in professional development events like Career Day, Spirit of Hospitality Summit, etc.
• Work experience in hotels.
• Has a financial need.
• U.S. citizen.
• Engagement in industry-based and/or scholarly research, in general, especially in lodging (For this criterion, bonus points will be awarded.)
• Completed the Statler Scholarship of Excellence Application.

Completed Statler Application Form

You will need to complete the Statler Application Form and then upload it. To be considered for this scholarship all areas of the Statler Scholarship application must be completed except the area requiring the Program Director’s/Chair’s signature.

Transcript

You will need an official transcript from the Registrar’s Office. Your transcript should be in a sealed envelope and left at the Main Office in Marriott Hall (MRRT 227) before the deadline for applications for this scholarship. Included on the front of the envelope should be your name and “The Statler Scholarship of Excellence”.

Updated Resume

You will also need an updated resume. Your resume should include the following:

• Work experience inclusive of dates and a brief overview of your duties and responsibilities.
• Student organizations you were and are currently involved with, inclusive of dates and your role(s).

On a separate page list, the following:

• HTM events you attended while at Purdue inclusive of dates.
• Non-scholarly and scholarly research projects you worked on (such as real-life feasibility studies, consulting projects, and studies completed whether as part of a course or not). The projects should be listed according to the American Psychological Association requirements (APA).

This page will be an addendum to your resume.

Statement from Purdue’s Financial Aid Office

You will need a statement from Purdue’s Financial Aid Office (FAO) indicating your monetary need. FAO should complete your Statler application as well.

So, in addition to answering the questions in the DocuSign document at the link below, ensure you did the following. Upload your Statler Application Form and Personal History Statement. Include your updated resume and addendum. Submit your FAO statement. Leave your official transcript with a support team member in the Main Office of Marriott Hall (MRRT 227); do not upload it. Ensure all uploaded documents are professionally formatted.

Application Deadline: Monday, April 21, 2025

The Ila F. Scott Memorial Scholarship is one of the oldest funds within Purdue’s College of Health and Human Sciences. It was established by two sisters who, upon their passing, requested that their farm and land be sold, with the proceeds used to support students. A portion of this fund has been designated for the White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) to assist students wishing to participate in Study Abroad Programs at Purdue.

To apply for the Ila F. Scott Memorial Scholarship for Study Abroad, please complete the application and upload your documents using the link below. The award amount will vary based on the length of the program overseas and other factors. The maximum amount that will be awarded to any one student is $3,000.

Criteria

• Cumulative GPA: 2.75 or higher
• Full-time HTM student.
• Work experience during tenure at Purdue.
• Involvement in professional development events (like Career Day and Spirit of Hospitality Summit etc.).
• Have a valid passport or applied for one
• Have a Federal Student Aid (FASFA) form online.
• Financial need.

To apply you will need the following:

1. An Updated Resume
   
   It should include the following:

• Your current GPA.
• Work experience inclusive of dates and a brief overview of your duties and responsibilities.
• Professional development events you participated in while at Purdue, including the name of the event(s) and the date(s).
  
  Hence, for this scholarship application, your resume can be up to two pages in length.

2. Current Statement from Purdue’s Financial Aid Office (showing financial need)
3. Copy of Your Passport (or evidence that you applied for one)
4. Brief Essay

Using no more than 300 words, prepare and submit an essay. Include in your essay a brief description of the following:

• Your need.
• The study abroad program for which the funds will be used (name, objective, date, cost, link to website). Note: The date of travel should be in 2025.
• How your participation in the study abroad program connects to your program of study in HTM.
• What you hope to accomplish from the study abroad program.
• Previous travel experience, if any.

Deadline: Saturday, March 1, 2025

Awarding Body: The Hospitality Industry Network, Chicago

Application Deadline: October 15, 2024

Application Link: You may use any of the following options

• Email: newhchicagochapterscholarship@gmail.com
• Web Link: https://newh.org/
• Mail:
  Marcie DeLaRosa
  Sheedy/DeLaRosa Interiors
  4045 N. Rockwell St.
  Chicago, IL 60618

The annual case study competition allows applicants to pursue the scholarship in one of four disciplines, therefore four versions of the case study are available for: Design and Product Development, Merchandising, Marketing, or Business Strategy.

Given the growth of our scholarship competition, we are introducing an additional document this year, the “How to Apply” guide. The “How to Apply” guide outlines all competition requirements, including eligibility and additional submission content beyond the case study. Additionally, it provides students with guidance on how to identify the right discipline based on their interests.

The general topic for the 2026 Case Study Competition is “Fashion Crosses Industries”. Across disciplines, applicants are asked to develop a collaboration with a business in an industry outside of fashion. Their business partner could be in industries such as hospitality, tourism, technology, or a variety of other business sectors. The central requirements of the collaboration are that it (1) cannot be with another fashion brand/retailer, and (2) cannot be with an individual – such as a celebrity or influencer. For clarity, applicants can propose a collaboration with a namesake brand, such as the Micheal Kors brand, but it cannot be with a singular person, like Sabrina Carpenter.

It is suggested that applicants choose publicly traded companies. This is not intended to limit their creativity but is intended to help ensure applicants can find breadth of information about their selected businesses.

For…… 
General case study content questions can be directed to the case study author, Danielle Testa (danielle.s.testa@gmail.com).

General FSF questions can be directed to Marie Colletta (mcolletta@fashionscholarshipfund.org) and Katie Simone (ksimone@fashionscholarshipfund.org).

General Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund (VAPM) questions can be directed to Farai Simoyi (fsimoyi@fashionscholarshipfund.org) andCarly-Ann Fergus (cfergus@fashionscholarshipfund.org).

Submission Deadline: October 13, 2025, 11:59 AM EST

Awarding Body: American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA),

Application Deadline: Friday, April 25, 2025

Application Link/Email: https://www.aianta.org/scholarships/

Awarding Body: Sales Education Foundation

Application Deadline: November 1

Application Link/Email: info@salesfoundation.org

Awarding Body: The International Association of Exhibitions and Events®️ (IAEE)

Application Deadline: Application opens March 1 and closes May 1, 2025

The Home Economists’ Guild of Indianapolis offers annual scholarships to Indiana college students who are presently majoring and will be graduating with a degree in one of the following areas of study:

Apparel (Fashion) Design; Apparel (Fashion) Merchandising; Child Development, Dietetics; Family & Consumer Sciences; Family & Consumer Science Education; Family Studies & Human Development; Foods & Nutrition Sciences; Hospitality and Tourism Management; Interior Design; or Textiles

Application Deadline: March 15, 2024

Awarding Body: Davidson Hospitality Group

Application Deadline: February 24, 2025

Application Link/Email: AHED John Belden Davidson Scholarship Application

Awarding Body: The Association of Destination Management Executives International

Application Deadline: November 1, 2024

Application Link/Email: LTMS Application – ADMEI

Awarding Body: The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF)

Application Deadline: March 15, 2025, 11:59 pm PST

Note: You will complete one application. The NRAEF system will then match you to scholarships for which you are eligible.

To create one event that best serves the hotel-investment communities throughout the Caribbean and Latin America regions as they continue to evolve and feed off mutual interests that create lucrative cross-border and inter-regional opportunities ALIS CALA promises to create an enriched and more comprehensive conference experience for sponsors and attendees by:

• Continued growth and collaboration reaching investors, owners, and developers.
• Continued focus on local equity, debt, and development firms.
• Showcasing the collective power of investment and development opportunities in CALA region.
• Programming for localized and regional content.
• Offering a time-efficient event that maximizes networking, learning and deal-making opportunities in one location.” Source: https://www.aliscala.com/about

When and where is ALIS CALA?

• Tuesday-Thursday, April 29-May 1, 2025
  Loews Coral Gables Hotel, Coral Gables, Florida

Special Note

Student Ambassadors will be paid for the time worked at the event.

Student Ambassadors will receive complimentary registration for the conference. The registration will allow them access to the full conference program.

All costs associated with going to ALIS CALA 2025 (such as airfare, meals, ground transportation, and accommodation etc.) will be the responsibility of the student.

Spots available:

• Three

To participate:

• Must be over 21 years of age.
• Must be eligible to work within the US. (All students will undergo a hiring process with Northstar Travel Group and be paid based on their scheduled hours.)

Tentative schedule of conference hours students must be available

• Monday, April 28, 2025: 2:30pm-5:30pm (mandatory conference orientation, registration training, and student session with networking)
• Tuesday, April 29, 2025: 7:30am-6:00pm
• Wednesday, April 30, 2025: 7:30am-6:30pm
• Thursday, May 1, 2025: 8:00am-1:30pm

This is for students with an interest in hotel investment as well as meetings and events. Interested students notify Dr. Annmarie Nicely of this by emailing her at ajnicely@purdue.edu by Monday February 10, 2025.

For more details in the ALIS/CALA Conference click the link below.
https://www.aliscala.com/