The HospitalityTN Foundation began its scholarship program to recognize students who are furthering their education in the hospitality and tourism industry and who are excelling in study, work, and related school activities. HTF's mission is to equip the next generation of hospitality and tourism professionals with the skills they need to succeed in the industry.
The purpose of the HTF scholarships is to present academic awards to students who are recognized by their faculty for academic achievement and for their contributions to the hospitality and tourism program at their school. The scholarships are given to the school in the name of the student to be used for tuition, books, and other related expenses of their education.
2020 HospitalityTN Foundation Scholarships
A special thanks to A. Marshall Hospitality for their scholarship contribution.
$3,000 HTF Scholarship
April Gross-Armstrong
University of Memphis
“The Hospitality industry is all about stewardship- using your time, talent and treasure to serve others. Being in this field has helped with my personal growth in regards to professionalism and learning how to service different types of guests. I’ve learned over the years that making a sale is not what’s important but building a relationship that’s lasting.”
$3,000 HTF Scholarship
Ruth Lamptey
University of Tennessee-Knoxville
“I joined Pro Start and was on the production team. Also, I participated in the Tennessee Hospitality Olympics where hotels, management companies and a lot of industries come together and compete. I volunteered 14 hours with chef Robert Irvine, worked with strategic hospitality for three years and also helped with any catering events my school had. These moments define how I got attached to hospitality.”
$3,000 A. Marshall Hospitality Scholarship
Traveon Coleman
University of Memphis
“People have told me I’m caring, generous, or even funny. However, when I think of myself, I think resilient…It’s a trait I’ve learned to grow and expand on from a very early age. In order to be successful in this field of work you have to be organized, able to have time management, team build and much more. However, the main thing that will never fail you is resilience. Through out my life I had to face different situations that tested how much courage I have to bounce back.”
$2,000 HTF Scholarship
Jessica Seaton
University of Memphis
“My grandmother was the leader of the hospitality and welcoming team at our church; one of the initiatives created was offering a fresh loaf of banana bread to our visitors. On Saturday afternoons, I would go over to her house, and we would bake 10 loaves of banana bread in preparation for the new friends we would, hopefully, make the next day. Not only was a love for baking created, more importantly, a seed of hospitality was planted inside my heart.”
$2,000 HTF Scholarship
Landon Smith
University of Memphis
“I think that everyone in this hospitality industry has to become welcoming and make their guests feel at home. Since I work at the front desk at The Guest House at Graceland, I envision myself having the same southern hospitality as Elvis Presley, and I invite our guests into our resort, just as if The King would. I believe guest services are the heart of the industry. I also always throw all my troubles and all my worries out of the door as soon as I enter the inside of our property, as I like to think of it as a show.”
$2,000 HTF Scholarship
Emma Christensen
Chattanooga State Community College
“Growing up I always remember my mom travelling for her job. Many times I had the opportunity to travel with her. Because of my mom’s career, she was very passionate about customer service… I began to watch and study the service we would receive on these trips. I loved to point out simple yet impactful acts of service that I recognized and felt were worth sharing with my mom. I always felt so proud when she would agree with what I recognized, and she would often encourage me to share it with the staff. I loved watching their smiles when I shared my appreciation despite the fact that I was not an adult! I realized by watching these individuals in hospitality how important it is to be service minded – to always be looking for ways to surprise guests by not only meeting their expectations but exceeding them.”
The purpose of the HTF scholarships is to present academic awards to students who are recognized by their faculty for academic achievement and for their contributions to the hospitality and tourism program at their school. The scholarships are given to the school in the name of the student to be used for tuition, books, and other related expenses of their education.
2020 HospitalityTN Foundation Scholarships
A special thanks to A. Marshall Hospitality for their scholarship contribution.
$3,000 HTF Scholarship
April Gross-Armstrong
University of Memphis
“The Hospitality industry is all about stewardship- using your time, talent and treasure to serve others. Being in this field has helped with my personal growth in regards to professionalism and learning how to service different types of guests. I’ve learned over the years that making a sale is not what’s important but building a relationship that’s lasting.”
$3,000 HTF Scholarship
Ruth Lamptey
University of Tennessee-Knoxville
“I joined Pro Start and was on the production team. Also, I participated in the Tennessee Hospitality Olympics where hotels, management companies and a lot of industries come together and compete. I volunteered 14 hours with chef Robert Irvine, worked with strategic hospitality for three years and also helped with any catering events my school had. These moments define how I got attached to hospitality.”
$3,000 A. Marshall Hospitality Scholarship
Traveon Coleman
University of Memphis
“People have told me I’m caring, generous, or even funny. However, when I think of myself, I think resilient…It’s a trait I’ve learned to grow and expand on from a very early age. In order to be successful in this field of work you have to be organized, able to have time management, team build and much more. However, the main thing that will never fail you is resilience. Through out my life I had to face different situations that tested how much courage I have to bounce back.”
$2,000 HTF Scholarship
Jessica Seaton
University of Memphis
“My grandmother was the leader of the hospitality and welcoming team at our church; one of the initiatives created was offering a fresh loaf of banana bread to our visitors. On Saturday afternoons, I would go over to her house, and we would bake 10 loaves of banana bread in preparation for the new friends we would, hopefully, make the next day. Not only was a love for baking created, more importantly, a seed of hospitality was planted inside my heart.”
$2,000 HTF Scholarship
Landon Smith
University of Memphis
“I think that everyone in this hospitality industry has to become welcoming and make their guests feel at home. Since I work at the front desk at The Guest House at Graceland, I envision myself having the same southern hospitality as Elvis Presley, and I invite our guests into our resort, just as if The King would. I believe guest services are the heart of the industry. I also always throw all my troubles and all my worries out of the door as soon as I enter the inside of our property, as I like to think of it as a show.”
$2,000 HTF Scholarship
Emma Christensen
Chattanooga State Community College
“Growing up I always remember my mom travelling for her job. Many times I had the opportunity to travel with her. Because of my mom’s career, she was very passionate about customer service… I began to watch and study the service we would receive on these trips. I loved to point out simple yet impactful acts of service that I recognized and felt were worth sharing with my mom. I always felt so proud when she would agree with what I recognized, and she would often encourage me to share it with the staff. I loved watching their smiles when I shared my appreciation despite the fact that I was not an adult! I realized by watching these individuals in hospitality how important it is to be service minded – to always be looking for ways to surprise guests by not only meeting their expectations but exceeding them.”
