Applications Open for West Virginia Governor’s School of Tourism
Freshmen and sophomore high school students can now apply to attend the first-ever West Virginia Governor’s School for Tourism. The 10-day, hands-on learning tour of the Mountain State will be held from June 20 through June 29, 2024. Hosted by West Virginia University and supported by the WV Department of Education’s Division of Instruction and Career Engagement, the program aims to introduce students to the variety of career opportunities in the booming tourism industry.
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice’s office has emphasized that the program is provided at no cost to students or families. The deadline for applications is Friday, April 26, 2024, and interested students can find the application on the WVDE website.
With tourism exploding in West Virginia, it’s time to start working with our students to showcase all the good-paying jobs available in this industry, said Governor Justice. The growth has been off the charts, and our research shows this is quickly becoming a high-demand field in our state.
During the program, students will visit various travel regions across West Virginia and have the opportunity to explore different tourism sectors, including outdoor recreation, hospitality and lodging, arts and culture, and the culinary arts. They will also meet professionals in the tourism industry for firsthand insights into potential career paths.
West Virginia Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby believes that the program is crucial in ensuring that students are aware of the employment opportunities available in their home state. We’ve discovered that so many students haven’t been able to explore West Virginia and aren’t aware of the employment opportunities that await them, Ruby said. The program will allow students to experience their own state as visitors, as well as contribute to the development of next year’s promotional strategies for West Virginia Tourism.
Upon completing the program, students will become the governor’s official tourism ambassadors for one year. They will collaborate with the Department of Tourism’s marketing team, serving as liaisons and local content creators.
The Governor’s School for Tourism is seen as a valuable addition to the state’s summer residential learning offerings. According to State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt, The format of the Governor’s School for Tourism turns our state into a learning laboratory because industry professionals and academic leaders across the state engage students with experiential learning.
The curriculum and educational components of the camp will be led by the Hardy Family Hospitality and Tourism Management program at WVU’s John Chambers College of Business in coordination with the Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative. West Virginia University is proud to partner with the Governor’s Office on a program that will expose students to the unique opportunities in the tourism industry in our state and open their minds to the possibilities of how they can contribute to it, said Josh Hall, Milan Puskar Dean of WVU’s John Chambers College of Business and Economics.
For more information about the program and other governor’s schools in West Virginia, visit the WVDE website. With the deadline approaching, eligible high school freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to apply for this exciting opportunity to explore the growing field of tourism and the potential it holds for their future careers.
