Kaleb Thompson, a senior hospitality, resort and tourism major in the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration at Coastal Carolina University, is one of nine South Carolina college student recipients of the S.C. Tourism Student Award sponsored by the South Carolina Travel and Tourism Coalition.

Thompson and his fellow award recipients were recognized because of outstanding academic achievement related to hospitality and tourism in South Carolina, including culinary arts. Students are nominated by faculty members from their respective universities. Thompson was nominated by Jennifer Calhoun, Bomi Kang and Taylor Damonte.

"Kaleb Thompson deserves this award because of his superior performance in the classroom and his dedication to positively impacting the tourism industry and the tourist experience in South Carolina," said Damonte, professor of hospitality, resort and tourism management and director of the Clay Brittain Jr. Center for Resort Tourism at CCU.

Award recipients received a plaque and a $1,000 scholarship during a ceremony in Columbia on Oct. 31.

"Earning this award shows me that the hard work, dedication and passion I put forth within my education and throughout the hospitality industry have not been in vain," said Thompson, a North Myrtle Beach native. "This award symbolizes the passion and persistence I have to be an asset to the hospitality and tourism industry and inspire others."

Thompson has been involved with the Hospitality Adventure student organization at CCU since his freshman year. He is finishing his third internship this semester at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel, and aspires to become a general manager of a Marriott-brand hotel before opening up his own hotel chain.

Other S.C. recipients of the award are Hailey Hunter, Clemson University; Lauren Furey, College of Charleston; Alexis Ryan, Culinary Institute of Charleston at Trident Technical College; Christopher Rosensteel, Culinary Institute of the Carolinas; D'Arius Tucker, Spartanburg Community College; Megan Ann Feeney, University of South Carolina - Beaufort; and Elizabeth Brown, Culinary Institute of Myrtle Beach.

The Tourism Student Awards are sponsored by the South Carolina Travel and Tourism Coalition.

Learn more about the Wall College of Business programs at coastal.edu/business.