New York State Hospitality and Tourism Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by New York State Hospitality and Tourism

Introduction
Recognizing the difficulty of balancing work and higher education, the Foundation provides scholarship support for students pursuing hospitality-related majors. Awards are available to both full- and part-time college students who are employed at a member property/business or who are dependents of employees at a member property. Students enrolled at NYSHTA member schools are also eligible.

Scholarship Awards
- Full-time undergraduate recipients: $1,500 per semester, up to a maximum of $6,000 total.
- Part-time undergraduate recipients: $750 per semester, up to a maximum of $6,000 total. If a part-time recipient later enrolls full-time, the award level will change to $1,500 per semester (still capped at $6,000 per student).
- Senior-year scholarship: Full-time students entering their final (senior) year are eligible for $1,500 per semester, up to $3,000 total.

Scholarship funds are disbursed beginning the semester after the awards are formally announced and are sent directly to the recipient’s college or university.

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet all of the following:
- Major in a hospitality-related field.
- Be employed at a NYSHTA member property/business, be the dependent of an employee at a NYSHTA member property, or be a student at a NYSHTA member school.
- Maintain a minimum 2.50 grade point average (GPA).
- Meet the credit expectation: students should have completed at least 15 college credits (and full-time status typically reflects enrollment of 15 credits per semester).

2026 Application Period and Deadline
- Applications for the 2026 scholarships are open now.
- All materials must be submitted by the April deadline; applications received after that date will not be considered.

Application Steps
1. Complete the Background and Education information section of the application.
2. Submit a 1–2 page Personal Description and Statement of Intent.
3. Provide three Letters of Recommendation (one must be from a NYSHTA member).
4. Include current transcripts or arrange for your institution to forward them.
5. Submit the completed application by the deadline.

Confidentiality
All information submitted is treated as confidential and will be used only by the Foundation for scholarship selection.

Notes
- Award payments begin the semester following the formal award presentation and will be paid directly to the educational institution.
- Late applications are not eligible for consideration.