The PCCA Scholarship Program will provide four scholarships annually to undergraduate students pursuing any degree program in Temple’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management.
Amy Giddings, John McNichol and President John Fry gathered for a celebratory luncheon kicking off the new scholarship program last Tuesday, Dec. 2.
Photo by Ryan S. Brandenberg
A new program from Temple University and the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA) will open doors for future leaders in hospitality management. Through the PCCA Scholarship Program, undergraduate students pursuing degrees in Temple’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM) will have the opportunity to receive both financial support and professional development opportunities.
The program is supported by more than $300,000 in funding from PCCA, which will fund four student scholarships annually.
“Through this collaboration with the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority, we are creating new pathways for talented students to pursue an exceptional education and meaningful careers in one of Philadelphia’s most vital industries,” Temple President John Fry said. “This scholarship program is a powerful example of what is possible when two institutions come together for a shared cause, and we are deeply grateful to the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority for their partnership.”
“Once students get involved in the hospitality industry, they love it,” added Amy Giddings, associate dean of STHM. “They begin to understand the breadth of the industry and the range of careers available, whether that’s in sports, entertainment, hospitality or events. The challenge is getting students to consider that path and to make it affordable. This scholarship, which is a nearly 50% tuition award, makes a hospitality career more attainable for our PCCA scholars.”
The PCCA has made a $200,000 endowed gift and will contribute an additional $25,500 annually for a minimum of four years. The funding will support four annual scholarships in the amount of $8,500 each.
John McNichol, president and CEO of the PCCA, explained that the program’s funding is generated by hotel tax revenue, meaning visitors who stay in Philadelphia are helping support the next generation of the city’s hospitality leaders.
“We realized that some of the excess revenue we receive from hotel taxes wasn’t being fed directly back into our own industry,” he said. “Hospitality needs smart, well-trained professionals who truly understand the culture and business of this work. So we looked up the street, to our perennial partners at Temple University, to take this relationship to another level through an endowed scholarship.”
PCCA scholars will have priority access to internships and opportunities at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Leaders from the PCCA will also have the opportunity to join STHM as adjunct faculty, guest speakers, internship supervisors and other roles throughout the partnership.
Located at 1101 Arch St. in Center City Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Convention Center hosts meetings, conventions, trade shows and other events that attract attendees from around the globe, making it the largest economic driver of the region’s hospitality industry.
The first cohort of PCCA scholars will be selected in the spring, and the program will officially begin in the fall 2026 semester.
Students interested in applying for the scholarship should contact Michael Usino, assistant dean for STHM at michael.usino@temple.edu for more information.
