In celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week, Visit York County is pleased to announce the recipient for our 2021 Hospitality Tourism Education Scholarship, Georgia DeVaney. Georgia is a 2018 graduate of Nation Ford High School in Fort Mill and is currently a Travel & Tourism major within the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at Clemson University.  In addition, Georgia is minoring in Music and has worked in many areas of the tourism and hospitality industry (i.e., events, food service, attractions and agritourism).

Eligibility for this annual scholarship required applicants to be currently enrolled or have plans to pursue a hospitality and tourism related undergraduate program. They must also maintain a 3.0 grade point average and have worked, volunteered, or interned in the hospitality field.  Additionally, applicants produced an essay about tourism industry related topics and provided a letter of recommendation.

“It’s important as we grow as a county that our restaurants, hotels and attractions have viable candidates to fill these important roles for tourism. This scholarship helps to create a new generation of hospitality workers for that future development,” said Visit York County’s President & CEO, Billy Dunlap.

Georgia will receive a $2,000 scholarship to continue her studies in this hospitality field, funded by our hospitality partners group.  She chose the hospitality tourism path due to her love of travel and event planning.  Georgia desires to personalize adventures for people and help them achieve goals and experiences that will allow them to live their life to the fullest.  Her goal is to become an event producer, destination wedding/event planner, or perhaps a consultant for a tourism corporation in the hotel or airline industry.

“The pandemic has increased awareness of the importance of travel and tourism to the people, communities and economies of South Carolina, the U.S. and beyond.  As we emerge from the pandemic, travel and tourism programs will be critical to understanding and shaping how our industry recovers and grows. Students like Georgia are the future of the industry in South Carolina.  She is a wonderful representative of the new professional who is combining her love of the entertainment industry with travel and tourism,” said Dr. William Norman, Professor of Travel and Tourism at Clemson University.