• Marriott Vacations Worldwide created a $250,000 endowed scholarship for hospitality students at the University of Central Florida this week
• The university contributed a further $50,000 to the fund for a combined investment of $300,000
• The fund will be managed by the UCF Foundation and will provide a minimum of two annual scholarships for students at the university’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management
• The endowed scholarship continues the support effort initiated by Marriott Vacations Worldwide upon the Rosen College of Hospitality Management’s founding in 2004

Marriott Vacations Worldwide created a $250,000 endowed scholarship this week to be awarded to hospitality students at the University of Central Florida (UCF). The university contributed a further $50,000 to the fund for a combined investment of $300,000.

The fund will be managed by the UCF Foundation and will provide a minimum of two annual scholarships for students at the university’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

UCF’s funding for the partial match came from the Philanthropy for Lasting Change program, which was created to leverage funds from the  $40 million gift given by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in 2021.

“We are honored by this generous gift from Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation in support of our students and their aspirational goals to be the future leaders of the hospitality industry,” says Youcheng Wang, dean of UCF’s Rosen College. “The backing of our industry partners demonstrates the confidence they have in the college and its education process to produce skilled members of the hospitality and tourism workforce.”

The endowed scholarship continues the support effort initiated by Marriott Vacations Worldwide upon the Rosen College of Hospitality Management’s founding in 2004.

The Rosen College holds renowned distinctions for serving as a pipeline for hospitality talent, with many graduates going on to serve in administrative or corporate roles in some of the world’s biggest companies, like Disney and Universal.

Given Orlando’s status as a global tourist hub, Marriott and various hotel entities have invested resources into the Rosen College in an attempt to prolong its status as an industry pipeline.

“This scholarship is a true investment in student success, and our community, as Orlando is the heart of hospitality and is one of the most visited destinations in the United States,” continued Wang.

The Rosen College of Hospitality Management was ranked as the nation’s top hospitality and tourism program by ShanghaiRankings in August. The placement marks the third consecutive year that UCF was awarded the top spot.

The college was also ranked among the top-five programs globally for the first time this year. University leaders attribute the high ranking to collaborative, high-level research initiatives and a rigorous curriculum.

The institution has recurringly scored well in ranking metrics as a result of its interdisciplinary research options for teachers and graduate students.

The Rosen College is also known for its work with Orlando’s largest tourism attractions, namely Disney, which utilizes research and strategy data formulated and studied at the university.