The Tourism, Hospitality, and Outdoor Recreation (THOR) Institute is now accepting applications for our Spring 2025 cohort of THOR Student Fellows! The deadline to apply is January 21, 2025 and the application form can be found here.

Past fellows are eligible to apply.

About the Fellowship

A collaboration among all seven of Maine’s public universities, the THOR Institute aims to strengthen workforce development and educational opportunities related to the tourism, hospitality, and outdoor recreation industries. This fellowship is intended to support students committed to applying their experience and interest within the THOR related academic disciplines to connect more broadly with the community.

All undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree, major, minor, or certificate related to the THOR academic disciplines at any of the University of Maine System institutions are eligible.

To learn more about the projects previous fellows have worked on, visit our THOR Student Fellowship page here.

We are currently accepting applications for our summer cohort of fellows!

Fellows will work on project-based outreach and research initiatives during the semester. Some examples of possible projects:

  • Connecting with Maine’s K-12 schools by organizing an event (class visit, field trip, career fair, etc.) designed to share more about careers in THOR and the University of Maine System pathways
    • For example, some fellows might design a presentation to give at a local school that highlights the many different jobs in Maine related to tourism, hospitality, and outdoor recreation while sharing more about their own educational experiences within the University of Maine System.
  • Working with the THOR Institute and/or industry partners analyzing industry trends, conducting research, and problem solving
    • For example, some fellows might work on developing a survey to be completed by local businesses to identify workforce development and training needs within the industry.
  • Pursuing your own project! Students are welcome (and encouraged!) to submit their own ideas for a fellowship project aligned with their own interests and creative outlets

Fellows will meet with the THOR Institute Program Manager to discuss and outline a plan to complete the fellowship. Since there are a variety of different projects and activities students may work on, and there is flexibility for students to pursue projects that align with their specific interests, fellowship plans won’t all look the same and will be unique to each student.

Expectations

During this spring term commitment, students are expected to:

  • Attend monthly meetings with THOR Program Manager
  • Actively participate in fellowship project throughout the semester (specifics to be determined at the beginning of the fellowship) and attending periodic meetings with mentor or other collaborators
  • Participate in culminating event at the end of the term to share their work and accomplishments

Award Details

Accepted students working on projects that average about 5-10 hrs/week will receive a $1000 tuition scholarship as well as a $1000 stipend for their work throughout the semester.

How to Apply

To apply, complete this short application by January 21, 2025.

Questions?

If you have questions, please reach out to Emily Zider, emily.zider@maine.edu