Elizabeth Duncan, a junior hospitality management student in the Parker College of Business, now has an extra $1,000 for her education thanks to the Savannah Tourism Leadership Council (TLC). 

Duncan was one of five area students to receive a scholarship from the TLC during its annual Awards and Scholarship Dinner in early March to further her studies in the tourism and hospitality field. The TLC has awarded more than $100,000 to students in Savannah and the surrounding areas, ranging in amounts from $500 to $3,000.

Duncan, who was drawn to Georgia Southern University and its proximity to the booming hospitality industry in Savannah, said majoring in hospitality management has opened her eyes to the full scope of the industry. 

“I didn’t know in what capacity I wanted to be in the industry, but I knew I didn’t want to limit myself to a culinary school,” stated Duncan.“Being a hospitality student has shown me many aspects of the field I wouldn’t have otherwise known about or thought about.”

Duncan first became involved with the TLC through the Parker College of Business, and she credits her experiences with TLC as the inspiration for her career choice. 

“The TLC hosts some of the largest events in Savannah,” stated Duncan. “This year, I volunteered at the Savannah Food and Wine Festival, one of TLC’s many events. That experience and the people I met were all amazing, and ultimately led me to finally decide that my career goal is event planning. Now, to receive this scholarship from TLC feels like I have come full circle. This is the organization that put me on my career path, and now I have a scholarship from it to help get me there.”

The TLC, founded in 1998, serves as the leading trade organization for tourism in Savannah, representing thousands of people and hundreds of businesses that work in tourism and hospitality. As the largest member organization of its kind, the TLC strives to make the community better every day through education, advocacy and training.