Requirements for the James B. Ricketts Memorial High School and College VBTTF Scholarship Programs

 

I. Virginia Beach High School Dual Enrollment VBTTF Scholarship Program

 
The Virginia Beach Travel and Tourism Foundation (VBTTF) endeavours to identify and reward the best and brightest of the hospitality industry’s next generation of leaders. To do so, each school year it asks students meeting certain basic requirements to complete and submit an application and other required information, and write a short essay to support the request for scholarship funding.  The Foundation is offering multiple $250 scholarships to Virginia Beach high school students enrolled in career and technical programs related to the hospitality and travel and tourism industry offering dual enrollment credit through Tidewater Community
College (TCC).
 
Basic requirements for a VBTTF high school scholarship:
  • The student must attend high school in Virginia Beach, and have been accepted at the Virginia Beach Technical and Career Education Center (VBTCEC) or the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in a program designated for culinary arts and/or hospitality and tourism management prior to applying for a scholarship. Course titles currently include:
    • Hospitality and Tourism Management at the ATC.
    • Culinary Arts I and II at the VBTCEC.
  • Must be enrolled for dual enrollment credit through TCC.
  • Must have earned a 2.50 GPA for all semesters completed at TCC.
  • Must have verifiable hospitality industry work experience, internship or extra-curricular activities (in clubs such as DECA, FCCLA, or Skills USA).

Application and attachment requirements for a VBTTF high school scholarship:

  • A current resume of education, work experience, and other relevant information, along with a statement of support from at least one current or previous career and technical teacher.
  • An essay totalling no more than 500 words on the following topic:
  • Why do you believe Virginia Beach travel and tourism is a critical part of the local economy and why do you wish to pursue a career in the hospitality industry?
  • If this is your second year applying for a scholarship, please provide a copy of the transcript of classes completed at TCC including grades. The transcript may be an unofficial copy down-loaded from the TCC website.

High school scholarship applications are due to the VBTTF
by July 1st for the following school year.

Apply Today!

 

II. Virginia Beach College VBTTF Scholarship Program

The Virginia Beach Travel and Tourism Foundation (VBTTF) endeavors to identify and reward the best and brightest of the hospitality industry’s next generation of leaders. To do so, each school year it asks students meeting certain basic requirements to complete and submit an application and other required information, write a short essay, and, if scheduled, appear before a VBTTF interview panel.  The Foundation is offering multiple $500 scholarships.

Basic requirements to apply for a VBTTF college scholarship:

  • The student must live or work in Virginia Beach and attend an accredited public, private, or for-profit college or university in the Commonwealth of Virginia and pursuing an associate, bachelor, or an advanced degree.
  • Must have been a designated culinary arts, hospitality and tourism management or another related discipline for at least one semester or quarter prior to applying for a scholarship.
  • Must be enrolled as either a full or part-time student in at least 6 credits at the time application is made.
  • Must have earned a 2.50 overall GPA for all semesters or quarters completed.
  • Must have verifiable hospitality industry work experience beyond required internships and extra-curricular activities.

 

Application and attachment requirements for a VBTTF college scholarship:

  • A current resume of education, work experience, and other relevant information, along with a letter of recommendation and support from at least one current or previous employer from within the past 12 months.
  • A copy of the transcript of classes completed and grades at your current school and the classes currently being taken. The transcript may be down-loaded from the school website.
  • An essay totalling no more than 500 words on the following topic:
  • How do you believe a college degree in culinary arts, hospitality and tourism management or another related discipline will utilize your unique knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, and/or expertise?

 

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED BY
THE VBTTF THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.

Apply Today!

 

III. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON BOTH THE High School and College VBTTF scholarship process:

  • All communications between the Foundation and the student concerning the scholarship process will be via telephone and/or e-mail. If you are interested in applying for a VBTTF Scholarship, please call Robert Ruhl at 757-651-4952. 
  • Qualified applicants will be notified of the date, time, and place of an interview, if scheduled, which will be conducted by a panel of VBTTF directors. Applicants will be judged on leadership capabilities, industry experience, extra-curricular activities, clarity of academic and career goals, and both written and verbal communication skills.
  • Not all persons  will receive a VBTTF scholarship. Selection is made in a non-discriminatory fashion in terms of race, creed, color, sex, religion, national origin, ethnic group, disability, age, sexual orientation and any other legally protected characteristic as well as meeting the basic requirements and the application form. Those who are awarded a scholarship will be notified via telephone and/or e-mail. Payments will be made when evidence of current registration in the applicable school year  has been received by the Foundation. Qualified education expenses include tuition and fees; and course-related expenses such as books, supplies and equipment.  VBTTF scholarship checks will be made payable to the student.