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2022-2023 Undergraduate Scholarships and Awards

A variety of scholarships are available to incoming first-year students as well as current hospitality and tourism management students. The number of scholarships and amounts awarded are subject to change without notice.

Descriptions and Criteria

Scholarships for High School Seniors

AH&LEF Incoming Freshman Scholarships

Scholarships are available from the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Foundation for high school seniors who have been accepted into the hospitality and tourism management program. For more information and to download an application, visit www.ahlef.org 
Deadline: May 1 

Hendricks County

The Hendricks County, Indiana, Convention and Visitors Bureau has developed a one-time $1,000 scholarship for high school seniors attending a Hendricks County school who wish to pursue a career in hospitality and tourism fields. Students can apply through the common application from the Hendricks County Community Foundation.   
Deadline: February

Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association Educational Foundation (Illinois residents only)

Scholarships are available for high school seniors who are residents of Illinois and have been accepted into Purdue’s hospitality and tourism management program. View information about scholarship requirements, and download an application.

Linda Thompson Memorial Scholarship

Applications will be accepted from individuals who are preparing for a career in destination management — length of the program may be one year or longer.  View scholarship application and requirements.
Deadline:  December 7

National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation

This scholarship is available to high school seniors with food service experience who have been accepted into Purdue’s hospitality and tourism management program. Visit the National Restaurant Association website for scholarship requirements and to download an application.

Tourism Cares Scholarship

Tourism Cares awards up to 50 academic scholarships annually, ranging from $1,000-$4,000 for a total of up to $70,000. The scholarships benefit high school, undergraduate or graduate students of travel, tourism or hospitality-related programs at accredited schools in the United States and Canada. For additional information and the scholarship application, visit Tourism Cares.

For more information, contact:

Jonathon Day, PhD, Scholarship Committee Chair
(765) 496-2084
jonday@purdue.edu

Scholarships for Current HTM Students

Each academic year, thousands of dollars in scholarships are available to students who are majoring in hospitality and tourism management. Requirements for these scholarships differ in regard to GPA, financial need and work experience. The scholarships generally come in one of the following ways:

  • A company or organization gives money to HTM for the purpose of scholarships and either the school or the school and the donor decide on who will receive it.
  • The school receives scholarship application information from an association or other organization and notifies you via email or class announcements about the applications and their requirements. You can then download and fill out the application and return it to the company offering the scholarship.
  • The school nominates students for awards, and you must supply supporting information such as a current transcript, letters of recommendation, career statements, etc. When you supply the requested information, you are then nominated for the award.

The CVS Health Foundation Retail Management Scholarship

The CVS Health Foundation Retail Management Scholarship program aims to advance the business of retail by supporting the most promising students of tomorrow as they complete their education. The scholarship will provide $1,000 for each recipient. Both U.S. and international students can apply. Please submit materials to Maggy Leitch at maggy@purdue.edu.

Eligibility

  1. Applicants must be degree-seeking students in the retail management major.
  2. Cumulative GPA higher than 2.0
  3. Provide a 1-page essay to include plans on graduation and why they want to pursue a career in the retail industry. 
  4. Provide a recent resume.
  5. Complete the CVS Health scholarship survey by following the QR code in the application form.
  6. Both U.S. and international students can apply.
  • Deadline: January 21

White Family Scholars

The White Family Scholars scholarship aims to support students enrolled in hospitality and tourism management who are committed to complete the HTM finance concentration. Recipients should be high achieving incoming freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors with strong interests in both finance and hospitality. The scholarship will cover full tuition and fees for resident/non-resident students annually. Please submit materials to Maggy Leitch at maggy@purdue.edu.

Eligibility

  1. Applicants must be enrolled in hospitality and tourism management and committed to completing the finance concentration.
  2. Cumulative GPA must be greater than 3.0, with finance coursework greater than 3.0. Please attach an official transcript or an unofficial printout as proof.
  3. Applicants need to provide a recent resume and complete the application form and the required essay. The essay should cover the points listed below:
    • Describe your commitment to a career in finance-related fields in the hospitality industry and your reasons for doing so. You may include academic records, student organization activities or industry experience.
    • Describe to the HTM Scholarship Committee why you should be granted the scholarship.
  4. U.S. citizens and permanent residents can apply.
  5. The scholarship can be re-applied annually for a total of four years. To continue the scholarship, the applicants must be in good standing in the finance concentration or finance minor (finance courses GPA > 3.0) and actively involved in White Family Scholars activities and HTM events.
  • Deadline: October 20 and January 21

Arthur J Packard Award

HTM will nominate one student to be considered for a national scholarship selected by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Please submit materials to Maggy Leitch at maggy@purdue.edu.

Criteria: Enrolled full time, minimum GPA of 3.5, sophomore/junior when selected, U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and must have an interest in lodging. 

AHLA Foundation Scholarships

The exact amount and number of recipients depend on the American Hotel & Lodging Association Foundation’s annual allocation. We typically receive two to four scholarships between $1,500 and $3,000. Please submit materials to Maggy Leitch at maggy@purdue.edu.

Criteria: Enrolled full time, minimum GPA of 3.0, sophomore/junior when selected, U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and must be interested in lodging. Recipients must take at least 12 credit hours while receiving the scholarship.

IFMA (International Foodservice Manufactures Association) Educational Foundation Scholarship

The number and amount of recipients will depend on IFMA’s annual allocation. Please submit materials to Maggy Leitch at maggy@purdue.edu.

Criteria: Junior/senior standing, firm commitment to a career in food service, strong academic record (minimum GPA of 3.0), financial need, and participation in undergraduate activities or organizations that support career development. U.S. citizenship or permanent residence not required.

Statler Foundation: Scholarship of Excellence

Criteria: Candidates must be a U.S. citizen entering their third or fourth year. Applicants should have strong academic standing, leadership and student engagement experience, and a commitment to hospitality and lodging. Applicants must be enrolled full-time in the hospitality and tourism management program and have completed a hotel- or lodging-related internship or work experience. The scholarship is for up to $25,000 per school year. Please submit materials to Maggy Leitch at maggy@purdue.edu.

Direct Self-Apply

Over $1 Million Hospitality Scholarships available at AHLA Foundation. Apply directly at: https://ahlafoundation.scholarshipapps.org/

Scholarship funding from the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association’s Educational Foundation

The purpose of our scholarship program is to assist Illinois students who have demonstrated a desire to make the hotel and hospitality industry a career. Scholarships are available ranging from $1,000 up to $4,000 per academic year.

Students are eligible to apply if:

You are a permanent resident of Illinois and a U.S. citizen OR a permanent U.S. citizen attending an accredited college or university in Illinois

AND

You are a current undergraduate student enrolled full-time (12 credit hours or more) OR are a high school senior or graduate who has been accepted in an accredited college or university hotel and/or hospitality management degree granting program in the U.S.

OR

You are an undergraduate student enrolled in at least 6 credit hours per semester in an accredited college or university hotel and/or hospitality management degree granting program in the U.S. and are also employed a minimum of 20 hours per week in the hospitality industry.

If you or any of your students would like to know more or apply for an IHLA Educational Foundation Scholarship click HERE to learn more. The deadline to apply is May 25, 2023.

Past scholarship recipients and past applicants are encouraged to reapply by submitting a new application.

Contact Information

Michael Jacobson, President and CEO
Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association (IHLA)
MJacobson@illinoishotels.org