Our future looks bright.
Right now, I’m pouring over applications from students vying to be awarded one of the Tourism Leadership Council scholarships next month.
Every year, we award thousands of dollars to students who are studying hospitality and tourism. To date, we’ve invested more than $65,000 — an investment in the future of the tourism community and the community as a whole.
Among the criteria to be considered, the student must have a 3.0 grade-point average and a plan to work in the tourism community. Each one who fits the criteria gets a rigorous interview in front of a panel of professionals.
Last year, we awarded $5,000 to students studying tourism and hospitality, and that investment has already paid off.
One of those students, Andrew Lawrence from the University of South Carolina – Beaufort is working as a guest services agent at The Brice.
In his essay last year, he worte: “Choosing Hospitality Management as a field of study was a decision I came to once I understood that the breadth and scope of this profession went far beyond providing unskilled workers like me the means to get through college.”
Another one of last year’s scholarship winners is still working on his culinary degree at Savannah Technical College. Pulkit Chawla doesn’t rest on his laurels, and I checked in with him after he volunteered with Savannah Food & Wine Festival.
“Studies are going great,” Chawla said. “We competed in Charleston for the culinary knowledge bowl in the American Culinary Federation Southeast regional conference. I was a part of the team, and we won gold. Next year, I will be leading the team.”
Chawla hopes to one day open a fine dining restaurant featuring a global menu.
Some of our past scholarship recipients are working in Savannah’s booming tourism community today.
• In 2011, Katie Keener won while she was studying at Savannah Technical College. Today, she’s the sales and event manager at Savannah Lodging, a group of hotels in Savannah.
• In 2009, Petya Kostadinova, a native of Bulgaria, found an opportunity at a better life after studying at Savannah Technical College. She’s now a sales representative at Old Town Trolley Tours of Savannah.
• In 2009, we awarded the first scholarship to a Jenkins High School student who worked part-time in a kitchen. Tacuma McCraw caught the hospitality bug and now works as a cook at Grace Street Catering in the San Francisco Bay Area.
For other students, the scholarship helped them take on more classes so they could graduate earlier.
“I just finished the first half of my senior year with a 4.0! Now, I am taking a May class to finish thanks to scholarship funds!” said Randi Parton, a student at the University of South Carolina-Beaufort and a TLC scholarship recipient in 2014.
Parton wants to work with festivals after she helped collect data for a study on Savannah Food & Wine Festival.
This year, some impressive candidates have applied. I love this part of my job because it gives me a glimpse into what our future holds in this industry.
If you know of a student who is studying to be a part of the tourism community, tell them to apply for a scholarship. We’ll be accepting applications through Jan. 15. For more information, visit www.SavannahTourismAwards.com.
We’ll recognize this year’s scholarship recipients at the 17th Annual Tourism Awards & Scholarship Dinner on Thursday, Feb. 12, at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center.
Michael Owens is president/CEO of the Tourism Leadership Council, a nonprofit trade organization that supports and represents the tourism industry. Contact Owens at michael@tourismleadershipcouncil.com or by calling 912-232-1223.