Scholarships
The Kemmons Wilson School provides over $100,000 in scholarship each year. The application for most scholarships is located online through the My.Memphis portal. Other scholarships are applied for directly with the company/organization. Please contact the KWS office for more information. Below is a list of scholarships available.
If a scholarship requires the school's dean or department head nominate a candidate, please speak with Dr. Radesh Palakurthi.
Wilson Family Scholars Fund: Funded in honor of the late Kemmons Wilson Sr., founder of Holiday Inns, this scholarship is available to entering freshman majoring in hospitality business management. Candidates will have outstanding academic record in high school with a 3.0 GPA or higher, high SAT and ACT scores. Two letters of recommendation, a demonstrated community service record and interview is required for consideration. Internships and service learning is required of Wilson Scholars while enrolled at the University of Memphis. Travel funds are included for each scholar in the junior and senior year for attendance at national industry conferences. Scholarship is renewable for four years if GPA, service hours and internship requirements are met. (Up to $24,000 over four years for up to six students)
InterContinental Hotels Group: The leading corporate partner to the Wilson School provides at least six scholarships for students enrolled in the Sophomore, Junior or Senior levels with preference given to women and minorities. GPA, leadership and service required. Annual application required. (Up to $3,000 annually)
Frank Flautt, Jr. Scholarship: Multiple awards are available to students of the Kemmons Wilson School that have a 2.3 GPA or higher, hospitality work experience and career aspirations in the lodging industry. (Up to $2,000)
John Q. Hammons Hotel Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded to out-of-state of Tennessee residents who are HPRM majors at the Wilson School. High school record, GPA, and test scores determine eligibility for freshmen. GPA for upper level students. (Up to $6,000 for tuition differential for out of state students)
Jay Uiberall Legacy Fund Scholarship: The recipients of this scholarship will be enrolled at the University of Memphis and will be a full-time student (12 credits) enrolled in the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management. Preference will be given to a rising junior who has interned/worked in a restaurant and has career plans to work in the food services industry upon graduation. Candidates will have a minimum GPA of 2.5. (Up to $3,000)
Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI): Students of the Kemmons Wilson School are eligible for scholarships to support travel to attend an HSMAI sponsored conference. Students must have hospitality work experience and good academic standing. ($1,000)
Metropolitan Memphis Hotel Lodging Association (MMH&A) Scholarship: Eligible students will have a minimum GPA of 2.5, 250 hours of lodging work experience and completed 12 hours in the HPRM major. (Up to $2,500 annually)
SKAL International: Full and part-time HPRM students eligible. ($500)
Memphis Restaurant Association/Sysco Memphis, LLC Scholarship: Preference will be given to students enrolled at junior and senior level, enrolled in the HPRM major and who demonstrate interest in a food and beverage career. Students must be residents of Shelby County, Tennessee, have a 2.5 cumulative GPA, and be a full-time student. ($1,500)
Perkins Restaurants & Bakery: Preference will be given to students who demonstrate financial hardship and are residents of Shelby County, Tennessee. Students can be either a full or part-time and have reached the sophomore level. (Up to $1,500 annually)
International Gold and Silver Plate Society: Full-time Wilson School students who are interested in Food Services. ($1,000)
North Mississippi Hotel and Lodging Association: Full-time Kemmons Wilson School student with hospitality work experience, demonstrated financial need and personal goals. An essay is required. ($1,500)
Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Education Foundation (THEF) Scholarship: Students must be enrolled full-time (12 credits) at the Kemmons Wilson School with a GPA of 2.7 or higher, having completed at least one grading year (sophomore) and have worked or is currently working in the industry. Email Rebecca Fowler, Director of Education, for an application. The deadline to apply is April 27, 2012. (Five scholarships valued at $1,000 each.) tnhta.net
AH&LEF (American Hotel and Lodging Educational Foundation) Scholarships: Annual Scholarship Program requires schools to select the student recipients ($500-3,000). Packard Memorial Scholarship requires students to be nominated by their schools ($2,000-$5,000). Hymans Extended Stay Scholarship requires students to be nominated by their schools ($1,000-$3,000). Hyatt Fund for Minority Management, apply directly online or download ($2,000). American Express, apply directly online or download ($500-$2,000). Ecolab, apply directly-download ($1,000-$2,000). IAHI, apply directly-must be HIE employee/ download ($1,750). Bill Fisher Scholarships, School Select ($1,000-$3,000). (May 1, except IAHI-June 1.)
IFEC (The International Foodservice Editorial Council Scholarship: Annual IFEC Scholarship Award. Apply Directly - Download (March 15) ($500-$4,000). ifeconline.com
NRA (National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation): Academic Scholarship, $2,500 (Mar.15). Coca-Cola Salute To Excellence, $5,000 (Apr 15). ProStart National Certificate, $2,500 (Aug. 18). Apply Directly - nraef.org
IACC (International Association of Conference Centers): Conference Center Industry Award, $5,000 (Feb. 5), requires students to be nominated by their schools. Annual Conference Scholarship (Future Leader Award) NCV $3,000 (Feb. 4). Apply Directly - iacconline.org
ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents): ASTA Tourism Cares - Contiki Vacations, Undergraduate Scholarship, $1,500 (Jun 20). Apply Directly - asta.org
CMAA (Club Managers Association of America): Joe Perdue Scholarship, $2,500 (May 1). Apply directly - cmaa.org/
TIA (Travel Industry Association of America): TIA Foundation Scholarships, $3,000 (June 30). Requires students to be nominated by their schools. ustravel.org/
PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association): Multicultural Scholarship, $1,000 (Mar 12). Requires students to be nominated by their schools. pcma.org/x9.xml
College Board: Fred Zahn Foundation Scholarship, $1,500 (Apr. 15). Apply directly - collegeboard.org
Tourism Cares: $1,000-3,500 (Apr. 1). Apply Directly - tourismcares.org/