Prompted by the untimely passing of Mary Hammond, the long time executive director of the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau, our inaugural Leadership Legacy Scholarship is dedicated to Mary’s memory and to her extraordinary legacy of leadership. Mary’s leadership was marked by tending to the tasks of today while always laying the ground work for the future. So too will KTIA’s Leadership Legacy Scholarship program, in that we hope to grow it into multiple scholarships in future years in continued tribute to Mary as well as a memorial to other industry leaders.

Scholarship Purpose and What It Provides

This is a one-year STS Marketing College scholarship for a Kentucky tourism professional in the early stage of his or her industry career. The scholarship will provide the tuition and housing (dormitory) cost for the recipient’s first year of Marketing College.

2024 STS Marketing College 

Since its inception in 1992, Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College has hosted tourism professionals, for one week, each year, to provide a unique continuing education program for the travel and tourism industry.

Marketing College® professors are industry-related professionals from across the U.S., noted as experts in their field, who bring a working knowledge of current trends, data, and implementation for tourism and travel.

Upon completion of the three-year Marketing College® curriculum, students receive a Travel Marketlng Professional (TMP) certification, presented at a special graduation ceremony at STS Connections.

This year's program will take place from June 2-7 in Macon, Georgia at Mercer University. Click here for full details including a schedule and transportation details.

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

Applicant must:

  • Be currently employed in the Kentucky travel & tourism industry
  • As of the first day of the 2024 Marketing College have worked no more than five years in the Kentucky travel & tourism industry
  • Provide one letter of recommendation from a senior level position within your organization. (If the applicant is an executive director/ CEO, the letter should be from the organization’s board chair, owner, etc. If questions on this point, contact KTIA>)
  • Provide essays as specified by the application that demonstrate a record of achievement and a desire to be a long term and valuable contributor to the Kentucky travel and tourism industry.

Application Due Date & Submission

Due: April 21, 2024

Send to: Katherine Bowman at [email protected]

Questions

Contact Sarah Brock at [email protected] with any questions