Prompted by the untimely passing last year of Mary Hammond, the longtime executive director of the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau, our Leadership Legacy Scholarship is dedicated to Mary’s memory and to her extraordinary legacy of leadership, as well as to serve 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.

2025 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 1-6 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 2025 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

Application

Click below to access this year's application. Contact Katherine Bowman with any questions.