2010 Tourism Cares Academic Scholarship

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Q: What may the Tourism Cares Scholarship funds be used for?

A: Each undergraduate scholarship award may be used to cover expenses for tuition, books, and educational fees only. Each graduate scholarship award may be used to cover expenses for tuition, books, educational fees, and research-related expenses only.

Q: Are the Tourism Cares Scholarships based on merit or financial need?

A: They are based on merit.

Q: How are scholarship recipients selected from the students who have applied?

A: The Tourism Cares Academic Scholarship Selection Committee consists of travel, tourism, and hospitality educators and industry professionals from across the United States. The role of the committee members is to review the ASTA and NTA Academic Scholarship applications provided by eligible students and to select the recipients. The committee’s decisions are reported to the Tourism Cares Board of Directors.

Q: If I am selected to be a Tourism Cares Scholarship recipient, when could I expect the disbursement of the scholarship award funds to take place?

A: A scholarship recipient must be enrolled in school fall 2010 semester to be eligible to receive an award. Funds are disbursed during summer 2010 in U. S. dollars directly to recipients’ school financial aid offices to be deposited directly into the students’ accounts to be applied to the fall 2010 semester (with certain exceptions, such as for internship or graduate research scholarship recipients).

Q: Will I be advised if I am not selected to receive a scholarship award?

A: Yes, Tourism Cares will notify eligible applicants by email to advise them if they are not selected.

Q: Does Tourism Cares offer any renewable scholarships?

A: No, currently there are no renewable scholarships available.

Technical Questions about STARS Online Scholarship Application System

Q: What should I do if I am experiencing technical difficulties on the application website? 

A. The only web browser you can use to access the STARS online scholarship application system is Microsoft Internet Explorer, and it must be Version 6 or higher. Also, be sure to enable cookies and allow pop ups on your Internet Explorer browser setting. Please email your request for technical assistance to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and be sure to include your first and last name and email (as you entered into STARS) and clearly explain the problem encountered.

Q: What web browser can I use with the STARS System?

A. The only web browser you can use to access the STARS online scholarship application system is Microsoft Internet Explorer, and it must be Version 6 or higher.

Q: What does "TC Student ID Number" refer to in the STARS System?
A: TC Student ID means Tourism Cares Student Identification, but Tourism Cares is not an educational institution so does not attribute ID numbers, so use your actual school 9-digit ID number. If your ID is more than 9-digits, or contains letters, just enter any 9 digits. Do not use your social security number for privacy protection reasons, even if your school uses it as your student ID number.

Q: How do I find the county where my school is located if I do not know it?
A: Please visit http://zip.langenberg.com and where it is marked Dragon Software, enter the zip code of your school’s location, and click “Go” and it will provide the information on the county.

Q: What should I do when the STARS system asks for my county if I do not see my county on the list provided?
A: When the STARS System asks for "County," if your county is not on the list, just select "Other" on the alphabetical list provided.

Q: How do I update my profile information in my online application in the STARS System?
A: Sign in with your user name and password, go to the applicable field (i.e. name, email, password, address, phone, etc.), make the updates you wish to make, and be sure to save.

Q: I have gotten to the part of the STARS System when it displays a list of possible scholarships I may be eligible for. But it says, "Apply now" after each one. What do I do at this point to view the eligibility criteria and requested items for each scholarship?
A: If you click on each "Apply now" on the list, it will allow you to view the eligibility criteria and requested items for each specific scholarship.

Q: What format should I scan all my requested documents into before I upload them into the STARS system?
A: Please do not apply until you have prepared all the requested documents, signed, scanned in black and white (not in color as it takes up too much file space), and saved in electronic version as a "PDF." PDF is the only file format Tourism Cares will accept. If you need help, please contact your school's "Help Desk" or computer lab.

Q: Can I scan and upload my unofficial transcript into the STARS system?
A: No, Tourism Cares does not accept unofficial transcripts from applicants. The applicant's school must send an official student transcript in a sealed envelope directly to: Tourism Cares, 275 Turnpike Street, Suite 307, Canton, MA 02021, Attention: Transcript. The Tourism Care Scholarship Department will verify this document, scan, and upload it into the STARS System. Tourism Cares must receive your official transcript by the application deadline of Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (note: if it is postmarked the day of the deadline, it will not arrive on time so your application would be considered incomplete).

Q: If I apply for two scholarships, do I need to have my school send two copies of my official transcript?
A: No, if you are applying for two, your school only has to send one copy of your official transcript.

Q: If I am applying for two scholarships, may I upload the requested documents just one time into the STARS System?
A: No, you will need to upload each of the requested documents separately for each scholarship you are applying for.

Q: What is the most common reason a student does not receive a scholarship?
A: The most common reason is the student did not follow the instructions carefully and as a result he/she submitted an incomplete application so was not eligible for consideration to receive a scholarship. Procrastination can also be a reason, as students often wait to request recommendation letters from faculty or professionals in the travel and tourism or hospitality industry, or to make the request to have their school send their official transcript directly to Tourism Cares. We recommend you plan ahead and find a professor or administrator to verify your application is complete.

Eligibility Questions

Q: I am travel and tourism or hospitality student, who is not a permanent resident of the United States or Canada. Are there any academic scholarships for which I might be eligible?

A: Yes, there are four 2010 academic scholarships that do not require either U. S. or Canadian residency: they are the two graduate research scholarships and the two travel and tourism-related internships in the Washington, DC area.

Q: Does a student have to have a certain grade point average (GPA) to apply?

A: Yes, all the 2010 Tourism Cares Academic Scholarships require the student applying to have a cumulative 3.0 GPA, or greater, on a 4.0 to be eligible to apply. The only exception is the NTA Yellow Ribbon Undergraduate or Graduate Scholarship, which requires a 2.5 GPA.

Q: Do you have to be a student enrolled full time to be eligible to apply?
A: This varies depending on the scholarship, as some are open to full-time or part-time students and others are only open to full-time students.

Q: Do you offer any scholarships where a high school student is eligible to apply?
A: There are a few scholarships for students who are graduating high school seniors at the time of application.

Q: Do you offer any scholarships for students attending community colleges?
A: Yes, Tourism Cares has some scholarship offerings for students currently enrolled at two-year schools.
 

Q: I attend a university in another country.  Am I eligible to apply?
A: There are some scholarships open to students attending university in Canada. The NTA Travel Leaders Graduate Scholarship, the ASTA Holland America Line and NTA Luray Caverns Graduate Research Scholarships, and the ASTA David J. Hallissey Memorial and NTA Mayflower Tours Patrick Murphy Undergraduate or Graduate and Internships are open to students who are residents of any country, but the students must be studying at educational institutions in the United States or Canada, depending on the specific one. If your official transcript is not in English, you must submit an official English translation on a 4.0 scale that is notarized.

Application Questions

Q: What is the application deadline for the Tourism Cares American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and National Tour Association (NTA) Academic Scholarships?

A: The application period for both ASTA and NTA academic scholarships opened February 19, 2010 with an application deadline of Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Q: Oops, I missed the deadline, may I still apply?
A: No.

Q. How many scholarships may I apply for?
A. In 2010, students may apply for up to two academic scholarships for which you are eligible (one ASTA and one NTA [not two ASTA ones and NOT two NTA ones]). However, you may only receive one scholarship award per academic year (meaning fall and spring semesters rather than calendar year). The only exceptions to this policy of applying for up to two are for the ASTA David J. Hallissey Memorial Undergraduate or Graduate Internship and the NTA Mayflower Tours Patrick Murphy Undergraduate or Graduate Internship where you may only apply for one total.

Q: May I submit my requested documents by paper copy via snail mail or fax, or as scanned documents as email attachments?
A: No, Tourism Cares only accepts online applications for the Academic Scholarships. The only exception is an official copy of the student’s current school transcript, which must be sent directly in a sealed envelope from the school to Tourism Cares to arrive (not postmarked) by the Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time application deadline. Unofficial transcripts, or transcripts that arrive after the deadline, will not be accepted.

Q: When will I be notified if I am selected to receive a scholarship?
Notification and announcements of scholarship recipients should take place in late May 2010.

Questions about Requested Documents

Q: I have a requested document that is not in English. May I submit it in a foreign language?

A: All requested documents must be submitted in English. If your document is not in English, please submit an official notarized translation in English along with the original language item.

Other Questions

Q: What if I have a question which is not answered by these frequently asked questions?
A: If you still have a question after carefully reading over these FAQs, please email the Tourism Cares Scholarship Department at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please do not phone Tourism Cares if you have a question. We will call you if your question cannot be answered by an email.