NOW ACCEPTING 2025 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
THE 2025 APPLICATION WINDOW CLOSES ON APRIL 13, 2025
$8,000 AWARD
The Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association (AzLTA) will award one student with The Doug Yonko Scholarship, an $8,000 award, through a competitive process to a student pursuing a degree in the areas of hotel and restaurant management, culinary arts, travel and tourism, sustainable tourism, sports tourism, or a related industry.
This scholarship will be awarded in memory of Doug’s service and commitment to Arizona. Doug Yonko was a pillar in our community. He had a heart for service and was committed to making our state an incredible place to live.
Doug spent an illustrious 40-year career at Hensley Beverage Company, one of the largest family owned and operated beverage distributors in the nation. Throughout his career, Doug gave of himself tirelessly to numerous community and business organizations including the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority, the Phoenix Thunderbird Charities, the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Arizona-Mexico Commission, the Beer and Wine Distributors of Arizona, the Arizona Finance Authority and our very own Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association.
Doug was an Arizona giant, a tourism industry champion, a community leader, and a policy icon. The Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association is privileged to host an annual industry golf tournament in Doug’s memory, and we are proud to ensure his legacy lives on through the scholarship.
- Students must be enrolled in a hospitality, hotel, restaurant, culinary arts, or tourism program at a two or four year degree-granting Arizona community college or university.
- Enrolled in at least 9 units at the time of application.
- Have earned a 3.75 overall GPA for all completed courses.
The application form must be completed and submitted with the following attachments:
- A current resume of education, work experience, and other relevant information.
- A brief essay of up to 500 words describing your personal background, including answers to the following questions:
- Why do you think the hospitality or tourism industry is the right career choice for you?
- How will this scholarship help you achieve your career objectives and future goals?
- Describe a situation in which you faced adversity in hospitality and how you overcame it.
- A copy of the transcript of classes completed and grades at your current school and the classes currently being taken. The transcript may be downloaded from the school website.
- May include a recommendation by the General Manager or operating officer of a lodging or tourism place of employment. Recommendations should be in writing.
- Digital photo/headshot in .jpeg or .png format for use in publicity, along with the photo release form.
Award:
- The AzLTA Education Committee will notify the applicant of the award via email. A subsequent phone call may be scheduled.
- Payments will be made by check and will be sent directly to the college or university upon receipt of a current registration, transcript, and class schedule of at least 9 units.
$4,000 AWARD
The AzLTA Education Foundation will award two students a $4,000 scholarship through a competitive process to students pursuing a degree in the areas of hotel and/or restaurant management, culinary arts, travel and tourism, sustainable tourism, sports tourism, or a related industry.
- Students must be U.S. Citizens or Legal Permanent Residents.
- Students must be enrolled in at least 9 units (hospitality, hotel, restaurant, culinary arts, sustainable tourism, sports tourism, or related tourism program) at the time of application or be a high school senior applying to a tourism related program, at an Arizona community college or university.
- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5.
The application form must be completed and submitted with the following attachments:
- A current resume of education, work experience, and other relevant information.
- A brief essay of up to 300 words describing your personal background, including answers to the following questions:
- Why do you think the hospitality or tourism industry is the right career choice for you?
- How will this scholarship help you achieve your career objectives and future goals?
- A copy of the transcript of classes completed and grades at your current school and the classes currently being taken. The transcript may be downloaded from the school website.
- May include a recommendation by the General Manager or operating officer of a lodging or tourism place of employment. Recommendations should be in writing.
- Digital photo/headshot in .jpeg or .png format for use in publicity, along with the photo release form.
Award:
- The AzLTA Education Committee will notify the applicant of the award via email. A subsequent phone call may be scheduled.
- Payments will be made by check and will be sent directly to the college or university upon receipt of a current registration. Scholarships must be used exclusively for the payment of tuition, fees, and books. Any remaining funds must be returned to the AzLTA Education Foundation. Any recipient who fails to meet the enrollment criteria or cancels his/her enrollment must notify AzLTA immediately.
PLEASE NOTE:
Scholarships will be awarded at the AzLTA Doug Yonko Memorial Golf Tournament on May 7, 2025 at the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club
