Judy Ikerd Endowed Scholarship Program - Applications Now Open!

We are pleased to open the first application period for the Judy Ikerd Endowed Scholarship program! This is an exciting opportunity for students pursuing MPA/P degrees at accredited North Carolina universities. In partnership with CIVIC Federal Credit Union, the $1,000 scholarship is dedicated to advancing students pursuing degrees in accredited North Carolina Master of Public Administration/Affairs/Policy programs. Any active full-time student is eligible to apply. The scholarship will provide $1,000 for the student in addition to attendance and lodging costs at the Winter Conference in Winston-Salem, NC December 7-9, 2022.  The awarded student is expected to attend the conference to receive the award and check. Applications are due to ikerdscholar@nclgba.org no later than October 28, 2022, at 5:00pm EST. Please title the subject line “Ikerd Scholar 2022”. The application form is available here.
 
This scholarship is named for Judy Ikerd, (retired) Budget Manager of Catawba County and our third Jack Vogt award winner in 2008. She is one of the first members of the Association, joining in 1989, and has served on the Board of Directors from 1992 through 1997, when she was President. Speaking with those who knew her, Judy was an early adopter of new ideas and was one to innovate. She started the outcome-based budgeting (reinventing government) program in Catawba County which still has some facets in place today. She went on to teach this method to other governments in North Carolina. She served on the original steering committee for the UNC SOG performance management project. She applied for and received the first GFOA Distinguished Budget Award for Catawba County. She has taught classes at the UNC School of Government, and she has mentored many NC local government professionals, including Mick Berry, Jennifer Mace, Keith Lane, Justin Hembree, Ronda Tatum, and Steve Wyatt. This scholarship reflects her efforts to advance good local government in North Carolina and we are excited to share this opportunity with students. 

Please encourage their interest and applications and direct any questions or comments to ikerdscholar@nclgba.org.