Six Hospitality Management students earn scholarships at Alabama Governor's Conference on Tourism

Congratulations to six College of Human Sciences Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management students who were recognized at the 2026 Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism (AGCT), held this summer at the Renaissance Shoals Resort & Spa in Florence, Alabama.

The conference brought together tourism professionals, destination marketers, hospitality leaders, educators and students from across the state to discuss industry trends, workforce development and the future of tourism in Alabama.

A highlight of the conference was the annual Scholarship Luncheon, where hospitality management students earned six industry-sponsored scholarships.

The awards were as follows:

--Lauren Washington received the $4,000 John Wild Memorial Endowed Scholarship

--Jack Burke and Caroline Wilkins each received $3,000 scholarships

--Mary Parish Hutchisson, Victoria Malinowski and Palmer Cerniglia each received $2,000 scholarships

The awards recognized academic achievement, leadership potential and commitment to Alabama’s tourism industry. Several tourism professionals and organizations were also recognized during the conference for their outstanding contributions to promoting and advancing tourism throughout the state. The students’ success reflects both their individual accomplishments and the rigor of Auburn University’s Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management in preparing future leaders for hospitality, tourism and event management careers.

The Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management was also represented at the conference by Assistant Professor Dr. Rojan Baniya, who participated in educational and networking sessions focused on tourism development and workforce preparation. During the conference, Baniya was nominated and approved as an ex officio member of the Alabama Tourism Council, further strengthening Auburn’s engagement with tourism industry partners across the state.