Foundation Scholarship Programs
Scholarships available for CEOs and staff members
Made possible by the DMA West Education & Research Foundation, there are numerous scholarship opportunities available for western destination marketers.
DMA West Tech Summit Scholarship Program
The Destination Marketing Association (DMA West) Education & Research Foundation is pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for DMO CEOs and staff members to apply for scholarships to attend DMA West’s Tech Summit & Vendor Showcase. The Tech Summit brings together the West’s top destination marketing executives and staff. The Tech Summit includes technical and strategic direction through these learning opportunities—concentrated labs, dynamic general sessions and lively workshops as well as discussions with industry peers and vendors.
Scholarship recipients will be eligible to receive complimentary registration and hotel accommodations, which include scheduled meals at the Tech Summit. Recipients are responsible for their travel expenses (airfare, mileage, ground transportation, etc.).
Purpose
To enable CEOs and staff members from qualifying DMOs to attain a higher level of performance and industry knowledge by participating at DMA West’s Tech Summit.
To assist DMOs with the cost of offering quality professional development opportunities and continuing education to their staff and CEOs, thereby raising the level of professionalism for our industry.
Scholarship Applicant Criteria
The DMA West Education & Research Foundation Scholarship Committee will select applicants as scholarship recipients and provide Tech Summit registration and lodging for those applicants who meet the following criteria:
- Applicant must be employed on a full-time basis, and have been so for at least one (1) year with his/her current employer (e.g., a local destination marketing organization located in the western United States or western Canada).
- Applicant may not have received a previous scholarship to attend the Tech Summit.
- DMO must be financially unable to pay the registration fee and lodging costs for the scholarship applicant.
(No financial documentation required, honesty appreciated.)
Awards
- Scholarships are for attendance at the DMA West Tech Summit. The DMA West Education & Research Foundation Scholarship Committee selects the recipients.
- Each scholarship includes the DMA West Tech Summit registration fee and up to three nights lodging. Any additional room nights, other meals, activities or incidentals will be the scholarship recipient’s responsibility.
- Scholarship recipients are responsible for their own travel arrangements and expenses (e.g., airfare, mileage, ground transportation, etc.) to attend the Tech Summit.
- No organization may receive more than one scholarship per Tech Summit.
Responsibilities of Recipients
Scholarship recipients must attend the full Tech Summit program—barring any unforeseen emergencies. Scholarships are nontransferable.
Deadline and Notice of Selection
The scholarship application deadline is February 27, 2024. Recipients will be notified of their selection no later than 30 days prior to the DMA West Tech Summit.
CEOs and Senior Staff Executives Scholarship Program
Rosalind Williams Memorial Scholarship
The DMA West Education and Research Foundation offers an exciting opportunity for DMO CEOs and senior staff executives—from the West—to earn scholarships to attend executive training programs (e.g., human resources seminar on employee law, university classes, industry conferences, etc.). The executive training programs must be presented by professional organizations or accredited institutions.
The Foundation established this memorial scholarship in honor of Rosalind Williams, former President & CEO of the Newport Beach (California) Conference & Visitors Bureau.
The Foundation Scholarship Committee evaluates and selects or declines scholarship applications based on the following criteria and stipulations.
- Applicant must be employed on a full-time basis, and have been so for at least one year, with his/her current employer (e.g., a convention and visitors bureau/destination marketing organization located in the western United States or western Canada).
- Applicant must complete the scholarship application and provide program information for designated training programs (for programs other than those presented by DMA West). The executive training programs must be presented by recognized professional organizations or accredited institutions.
- Applicant may not have received a DMA West Foundation scholarship within the past three years.
- Each scholarship recipient must attend the full program of the designated educational event—barring any unforeseen emergencies.
- Scholarships are nontransferable.
The Scholarship Committee will determine the number of scholarships to be awarded and the amount of each scholarship. No scholarship grant will exceed $850. A scholarship grant must be used within 24 months from date of recipient notification. Grants may be paid to the organization or institution sponsoring selected programs, or as a reimbursement to the scholarship recipient.
Apply any time of the year! Each applicant will be notified of the Committee’s decision no later than 30 days after receipt of application.
DMA West Education Summit Scholarship Program
The DMA West Education & Research Foundation offers an education opportunity for DMO CEOs and staff members—from the West—to earn scholarships for attendance to DMA West’s Education Summit & Vendor Showcase.
Each scholarship includes DMA West Education Summit registration fees, scheduled conference meals and lodging for two nights (room and tax only). Travel expenses, non-conference meals, activities and incidentals not part of the Education Summit program are the responsibility of the scholarship recipient.
The Foundation Scholarship Committee evaluates and selects or declines scholarship applications based on the following criteria and stipulations.
- Applicant must be employed on a full-time basis, and have been so for at least one year, with his/her current employer (e.g., a convention and visitors bureau/destination marketing organization located in the western United States or western Canada).
- Applicant may not have received a DMA West Foundation scholarship within the past three years.
- Applicant employer (destination marketing organization) must be financially unable to pay the registration fee and associated lodging costs for the scholarship applicant. (No financial documentation required.)
- Each scholarship recipient must attend the entire Education Summit—barring any unforeseen emergencies.
- Scholarships are nontransferable.
See application for deadline. Each applicant will be notified of the Committee’s decision no later than 30 days after the application deadline.
DMA West Foundation Establishes “Brad Burlingame Honorary Scholarship” at Cal Poly Pomona
In recognition of Brad Burlingame’s commitment to the destination marketing industry, the DMA West Education & Research Foundation established a legacy scholarship in his name. The “Brad Burlingame Honorary Scholarship” is awarded annually to a sophomore or junior studying at Cal Poly Pomona in California.
Burlingame served as President & CEO of what now is Visit West Hollywood for 18 years. Under his leadership, West Hollywood become a major travel destination. He passed away in December 2015.
He gave many years of dedicated service to the Association and Foundation. Burlingame served six years on the WACVB (now DMA West) Board of Directors, including service as its Board President. He also served as President of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation. Burlingame believed in introducing young people to the destination marketing profession and was a widely respected leader in the industry.
When Burlingame was honored in 2013 with the Association’s “Spirit of Leadership Award,” he penned post-award comments about receiving the award. These are just some of his comments: "It is always nice to be honored even though my personal philosophy is not to seek the spotlight. Simply Accept the Big Challenge and Be a Leader. That kind of professional attitude is one of the many rewards I have received from WACVB (now DMA West) throughout the years.”
Each year, a $2,500 scholarship is awarded to a sophomore or junior enrolled at Cal Poly Pomona. Please join us in celebrating Brad Burlingame’s contributions to the destination marketing industry and his commitment to encouraging young people to explore career paths in our profession. We invite you to make a tax-deductible contribution to the DMA West Foundation for the “Brad Burlingame Honorary Scholarship” fund. For more information, contact DMA West Foundation staff at (916) 443-9012 or info@dmawest.org.
