Scholarships

NCLGBA is proud to offer two scholarship opportunities to its members!

Biannual Conference Scholarship

Applications for the Winter 2024 conference are due on October 18, 2024. 

In coordination with its biannual conferences, NCLGBA offers a scholarship to one or more graduate student(s) or first time conference attendee(s). Scholarship recipient(s) receive registration and lodging accommodations for the conference. The application process is a short answer essay submission and is judged by a committee of NCLGBA Board members. Information about each scholarship application process is distributed in advance of the conference, usually around the time of registration. If you or someone you know is interested in attending a NCLGBA Conference as a scholarship winner, please send in this application. Feel free to email the committee with any questions.
 

Judy Ikerd Endowed Scholarship Program

Applications for the 2024 Judy Ikerd Endowed Scholarship are due on October 20, 2024. 

In partnership with CIVIC Federal Credit Union, NCLGBA was proud to establish an endowed scholarship program in December 2021. This scholarship was established with generous seed funding of $25,000 from CIVIC and over $13,000 in matching funds from the NCLGBA Board, and is for North Carolina students pursuing careers in local government. The scholarship is intended to support a student's educational expenses in pursuing a Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Affairs, or Master of Public Policy degree. There will be several opportunities to raise more funding for this cause, including raffles. A policy governing the establishment, funding, growth, and implementation of this scholarship will be presented for approval by the NCLGBA membership in July 2022.

We are pleased to open the first application period for the Judy Ikerd Endowed Scholarship program. 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 one of the biannual NCLGBA conferences.  The awarded student is expected to attend the conference to receive the award and check. Applications should be submitted to ikerdscholar@nclgba.org by the published deadline.  Please title the subject line “Ikerd Scholar [Current Year]”. 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.