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White Family Scholars

White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management

At the White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM), we’ll take your next giant leap — together. As a globally recognized program of experience engineers, you’ll be the driving force behind consumers’ memorable encounters at events, hotels, restaurants, tourist destinations and more. The White Family Scholars scholarship aims to support students pursuing their passion of becoming hospitalitarians — someone who, in their DNA, feels good by making other people feel good. Scholars will participate in transformative experiences, learning to lead and innovate in the dynamic hospitality and service industries. The scholarship is designed to cover full tuition and fees for both resident and non-resident students annually.

Bruce White

Building the Next Generation of Hospitality Leaders

Established in memory of Bruce White, founder and former chairman of White Lodging, the funds will support exceptional hospitality students within the Purdue University White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM).

Along with the scholarship, Bruce White and White Lodging have left impressive footprints around Purdue, including the investment in the historic Purdue Memorial Union hotel to transform it into a luxury hotel and hands-on learning laboratory. The Union Club Hotel was named the Best Boutique Hotel in the U.S. in 2021 and is now part of Marriott’s exclusive Autograph Collection of luxury boutique hotels. This iconic spot is the only student-run Autograph Collection Hotel in the world. White Lodging is one of Marriott’s largest franchises and one of the country’s largest privately held hospitality companies.

Take your Next Giant Leap in Hospitality

Eligibility

Requirements for Prospective Students

Criteria

  • High cumulative high school GPA
  • High SAT or ACT Score
  • Majoring in Purdue’s Hospitality and Tourism Management program
  • Have a passion for hospitality
  • Involvement in organizations and/or engagement in volunteer work.
  • U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident only.

Official Transcript

All applicants will need a transcript.

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

Requirements for Current Purdue students

To apply you will need:

  1. Official Transcript
    All applicants will need an official transcript or an unofficial transcript printout.
  2. Updated Resume
    All applicants will need an updated resume.
  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 academic 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 on the website below.

Application Deadline

October 20th (Fall Semester)

March 20th (Spring Semester starting in 2026)

Find more about these requirements and the essay prompts on the HTM scholarship page.

For questions, contact Rene Michele Helfert, Scholarship Support Administrator, at rhelfert@purdue.edu.