Applications now open for a limited time through April 30

The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau (PMVB) and other local organizations continue to encourage and invest in future leaders of the tourism and hospitality industry, as well as related fields, by awarding annual scholarship funding to high school seniors and undergraduate students.

Applications for the 2026 program are now open at PoconoMountains.com/Scholarships, and most scholarships have an application deadline of Thursday, April 30.

Scholarships are available to East Stroudsburg University (ESU) and Northampton Community College (NCC) students, as well as high school or technical institute seniors from the four-county Pocono region who are entering a two-year or four-year college or university.

“We are Pocono Proud to inspire and support our future workforce in various ways, including through scholarships,” said Chris Barrett, President/CEO, Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau. “The Pocono Mountains is a great destination to pursue a hospitality career with endless opportunities to learn from seasoned mentors, advance over time, and earn competitive wages.”

The PMVB also offers a Student Membership Program to help students gain career insights, network with area professionals in the hospitality industry, and access various PMVB benefits at no cost. In addition, the Poconos Ambassador Program is a complimentary online course for students, hospitality employees, and the public to learn about the region and help make a positive impact on the community.

Awardees will be announced by mid-May. Visit PoconoMountains.com/Scholarships or email [email protected] to learn more about scholarship opportunities or make a contribution.

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2025 PMVB Scholarship Recipients:

County

Student Name

HS/CTC

Major

College

Scholarship Type

Award

Carbon

Jonathan Duffy

Jim Thorpe Area High School

Marketing

East Stroudsburg University

PMVB General

$1,000.00

Monroe

Austin Herman

Stroudsburg High School

Business Analytics

Bucknell University

PMVB General

$1,000.00

Pike

Briana Blaszczyk

Wallenpaupack Area High School

Business

Manhattan College

Harry and Mary Kiesendahl

$1,000.00

Carbon

Jaxson Strauss

Lehighton Area High School

Business

St. Joseph's University

PMVB General

$1,000.00

Monroe

Neylla Joseph

East Stroudsburg South High School

Hotel Management

Wilkes or East Stroudsburg University

Robert Uguccioni

$1,000.00

Monroe

Shelbi Calligari

Stroudsburg High School

Marketing

Penn State University

PMVB General

$1,000.00

Carbon

Jalin Burns

Carbon Career & Technical Institute

Hotel Management

Not Specified

Robert Uguccioni

$1,000.00

             

Monroe

Emma Miller

   

East Stroudsburg University

PMVB Recreation Annual

$1,000.00

Monroe

Teagan Franchetti

   

East Stroudsburg University

Robert Uguccioni

$1,800.00

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Pocono Mountains visitor information is available online at PoconoMountains.com or by phone at (570) 421-5791. Established in 1934, the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau is a private, non-profit membership organization. The PMVB is the official destination marketing organization for the four counties of Wayne, Pike, Monroe, and Carbon in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The PMVB operates the 24/7 Pocono Television Network which can be found on streaming, broadcast and cable.

The PMVB supports future leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry with a variety of scholarships for high school…