Governor's School of Tourism (GST)
Hey 9th - 10th Grades Students — Ready to Explore the World of Tourism & Hospitality? 
Do you love meeting new people, exploring new places, or dreaming about a career in travel, hotels, events, or customer service?
Here’s your chance! 
And it's totally FREE
The GST provides selected 9th- and 10th-grade students with opportunities to tour West Virginia for 10 days, learning about the tourism and hospitality sectors of our economy through hands-on experiences and introducing various career paths in one of the state’s fastest-growing industries.
Students will stay at multiple state park lodges and visit historical and other significant landmarks across Almost Heaven. This exciting experience is being planned as a collaboration between the West Virginia Department of Tourism and the West Virginia Department of Education.
The GST will take place on June 20 - 29, 2026.
APPLICATION DUE TO MS. PATTY BLAKE BY APRIL 16TH.
Required Qualifications:
Must be a current high school student in West Virginia with plans to attend next year.
Must be a West Virginia resident.
Must be a freshman or sophomore at the time of application.
Must have a grade-point average of at least 3.0.
Must satisfy all immunization requirements according to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR). Non-public school and homeschooled students must provide proof of immunizations.
The school counselor must be involved in the application process for the GST. Please provide sufficient time for school personnel to secure the required documents for the application.
Within the application, students will be required to secure TWO teacher recommendations. Please provide sufficient notice to teachers prior to submitting the application.
