The West Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association Educational Foundation

Creating opportunities for West Virginians to enter and grow in the hospitality and tourism industry

A man and woman browsing glassware in a store, surrounded by colorful vases and glass items on shelves.

The West Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that was established by the WVHTA in 1999 to create more opportunities for West Virginians to enter and grow in the hospitality and tourism industry through education.  

The Foundation’s primary focus is to build an endowment that will be a sustainable source of scholarship funds for West Virginia residents entering the tourism and hospitality fields and to provide other educational opportunities for West Virginia’s students - either through attendance at our annual Hospitality University conference or through participation in our state’s various hospitality education and training programs. 

The Educational Foundation’s key partners include the West Virginia Department of Education’s Hospitality Education and Training (WV HEAT) program, as well as the National Restaurant Association Foundation’s ProStart culinary program.

Pro-Start® is the nationally accredited two-year, industry-based foodservice management curriculum designed by the National Restaurant Association that develops the culinary and management skills students need to succeed in restaurant and food service careers.

The WVHTAEF also works closely with our member Community and Technical Colleges throughout the state. 

Support the Future of West Virginia Hospitality

  • Make a Financial Contribution

    Your tax-deductible donation directly supports scholarships and educational programs for students pursuing hospitality careers. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, every dollar you give helps build West Virginia's future workforce while providing you with full tax benefits allowed by law.

  • Mentor a Student

    Remember who taught you the skills that launched your hospitality career? Now it's your turn to guide a high school or college student toward success. Share your experience, offer advice, and help the next generation get a head start in this exciting industry.

  • Open Your Doors

    Host a behind-the-scenes tour of your operation for students and educators. Give them a glimpse of daily operations, introduce them to your team, and show them the diverse career opportunities in hospitality. A 30-minute facility visit or guest talk about what employers value can make a lasting impact on future professionals.

Work directly with students

Please contact the WV Department of Education, Office of Hospitality And Training if you are interested in working directly with students.

Students interested in learning more about sponsorship opportunities should contact our office for more information.

Make a financial gift

Because the WVHTA Education Foundation serves all constituencies, without the restriction of membership, our budget must be self-sustaining.  As such, all monies for scholarship funds, endowment funds and operating expenses must be generated through fundraising efforts. To make a tax-deductible contribution, please complete our donation form online or mail your gift to us.

WVHTAEF Scholarship

Students sitting in a classroom, smiling and engaged in discussion, with notebooks and pens on their desks.

The primary goal of the WVHTA Education Foundation’s scholarship endowment fund and career mentoring program is to complete the educational pathway already underway in West Virginia.

Scholarships are awarded to high school students across the state. WVHTAEF awards scholarships to students seeking post-secondary education in the hospitality and tourism industry.  Applicants must be West Virginia residents to apply, but may be planning to attend out-of-state schools. 

2026 Scholarship Deadlines

  • Applications must be postmarked no later than March 31, 2026. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Application Downloads

Scholarship Eligibility Guidelines

The WVHTAEF Scholarship is open to students who are graduating seniors in a West Virginia high school who meet the following criteria:

  • Have a minimum grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.

  • Have performed a minimum of 250 hours of Hospitality and Travel industry related work experience

  • Have applied to a hospitality, travel, or recreation management program in a post-secondary institution, either full-time or substantial part-time, with the intent to enroll in a minimum of 2 terms.

  • Students must submit the following materials in order to have a completed application considered:

    • Completed Application

    • Transcript(s)

    • Essay (details in Section 4 of this application)

    • Proof of minimum 250 hours of Hospitality and Travel and Recreation-related work experience.

    • Letter of recommendation(s) on letterhead

    • Copy of college acceptance letter (if available) or copy of college application

  • Applications must be postmarked no later than March 31, of each year. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. To be eligible after the first year, the recipients must maintain a 2.75 GPA and be majoring in an appropriate field of study.

  • Previous scholarship award recipients are eligible to reapply after their first year and thereafter. Those recipients must maintain a 2.75 GPA and be majoring in an appropriate field of study. Additionally, in order to reapply, recipients must completely fill out and submit the WVHTA Scholarship Questionnaire and submit that by April 3, 2026.

  • All applicants to the WVHTA scholarships are automatically considered. If you have questions please call Jordan Nuzum at (304) 347-2100.

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