Team San Jose Awards $10K Hospitality Scholarship to San Jose State Student in Honor of Late CEO

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Team San Jose, the economic development nonprofit organization promoting San Jose as a travel and meetings destination under the consumer brand Visit San Jose, has awarded the inaugural Team San Jose Kirchgesler Scholarship to Klaire Wolford, a senior at San Jose Staté University.

The scholarship honors Karolyn Kirchgesler, Team San Jose's former president & CEO who, up until her passing in 2020 from cancer, championed for women in the hospitality and travel industry. Team San Jose's scholarship awards $10,000 annually to a third- or fourth-year SJSU student pursuing a degree in hospitality, tourism and event management and who is also actively involved in the Women in Business organization at the university.

Wolford has extensive background in leadership both on and off campus. She is Captain of the San José State Dance Team and has worked at various large-scale events in the Bay Area. The money from the Team San Jose scholarship will support Wolford's ultimate dream career in the professional sports events industry. To further build the foundation for her career, Wolford will return to SJSU to earn her master's degree in Sports Management.

"We are proud to support the next generation of hospitality leaders in honor of our dear friend and San Jose tourism legend, Karolyn Kirchgesler," says John LaFortune, president & CEO of Team San Jose. "Karolyn's legacy lives on in our organization and she would be happy to see someone as bright and passionate as Klaire begin in the industry with our help."

"The scholarship is another way Team San Jose's mission of giving back to the community builds bridges across the travel industry," says Michael Mulcahy, Councilmember, City of San Jose District 6 and Team San Jose founding board member. "Tourism is a vital driver of our local economy and supporting San José State hospitality students is one way we can set up our city to succeed."

"The Team San Jose Kirchgesler Scholarship represents more than financial aid—it symbolizes a vital partnership between higher education and industry," says Rangapriya (Priya) Kannan, Ph.D, dean of the Lucas College & Graduate School of Business at San José State University. "When our students are selected for this scholarship, it signals to them that their hard work, aspirations, and potential are being recognized by leaders in the very field they hope to enter. This continued engagement with our college helps create a stronger, more connected talent pipeline for our region."

"It's significant to know that a respected organization sees something in me worth investing in," says Klaire Wolford, inaugural Team San Jose Kirchgesler Scholarship recipient. "The scholarship will allow me to focus more on my academic and professional development rather than worrying about how to cover tuition and other related expenses. I'll remember it as a vote of confidence when I was first beginning to build my path. I'll be inspired to pay it forward by mentoring and supporting the next generation, just as Team San Jose supported me."

For up-to-date information about the San Jose McEnery Convention Center and Team San Jose, visit www.sanjose.org.

Hi-Res Photos Available: https://bit.ly/tsjscholarship25

ABOUT TEAM SAN JOSE
Team San Jose is an innovative partnership unifying the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau, hotels, arts, community business leaders, labor and public venues to deliver an exceptional visitor experience and serve as the gateway to San Jose as a destination. Team San Jose is the parent company of consumer travel brand Visit San Jose, the city's official destination marketing organization. Team San Jose also manages the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, South Hall, and arts and entertainment venues including the California Theatre, the Center for Performing Arts, Montgomery Theater, and San Jose Civic. In addition, Team San Jose created and operates a full-service catering facility that serves as the official caterer in all TSJ managed venues. Team San Jose is a non-profit, economic development organization and the primary driver in generating economic impact to San Jose's local economy through leisure and business travel. For more information, visit www.sanjose.org.

CONTACT
Frances Wong
Director of Marketing & Communications
Team San Jose
E: [email protected]  C: (510) 396-8367

SOURCE Team San Jose