NIRSA Foundation scholarships and travel stipends provide a great opportunity to further your growth whether you’re a seasoned campus rec professional or an aspiring professional in the field. The number of available scholarships continues to grow thanks to the support of generous NIRSA Foundation donors. Throughout the years, the NIRSA Foundation has proudly recognized and supported hundreds of campus recreation students and professionals through this wonderful program.
Scholarship and travel stipend applications for the 2023 NIRSA Annual Conference & Campus Rec and Wellness Expo taking place in Pittsburgh, PA from March 23–26 are open; the application period will close on Wednesday, November 30.
Applicants simply fill out the application for either student scholarships or professional scholarships.
Scholarships for student members
Student scholarships cover registration fees for future campus rec leaders to attend the NIRSA Annual Conference & Campus Rec and Wellness Expo and/or the J. Michael Dunn Student Professional Development Preconference Workshop. The NIRSA Annual Conference and this particular preconference workshop provide students with the opportunity to develop personally and professionally, network with current leaders in the field, and establish connections with other student members from across the Association.
There are over 50 student scholarships available for NIRSA 2023, as well as 30 scholarships that cover the registration fee for the J. Michael Dunn Professional Development Preconference Workshop. Students can apply for general scholarships (available to any student), the Founder’s Scholarship (specifically open to students working at an HBCU), the Braden Scholarship (available to members of the LGBQT community), “Small Program” Scholarships, or the Gartenberg Scholarship (to be awarded to a student member of a racial or ethnic minority group). Recipients of Founder’s Scholarships, Braden Scholarships, and “Small Program” Scholarships will also receive a $500 travel stipend.
Additionally, individual NIRSA regions have scholarships available for students. Please contact your local regional representative for information on how to apply.
Scholarships for professional members
Professional scholarships ensure that our emerging and established professional members can take advantage of NIRSA’s educational opportunities without worrying about the cost of event registration. There are over 40 scholarships available to professional members who plan on attending the 2023 NIRSA Annual Conference in Pittsburgh. There are also a number of available travel assistance stipends.
Scholarships for professional members include general scholarships, Founder’s Scholarship (for professionals working at an HBCU), and the Braden Scholarship (for professionals who are members of the LGBQT community). Recipients of the Braden and Founder’s awards will also receive a $500 travel stipend. Scholarships are available to professional members who work at a “Small Program” college or university. Eligibility guidelines for all forms of NIRSA Foundation financial assistance can be found on the NIRSA website.
Some NIRSA regions also offer additional scholarships for professionals. Please contact your regional representative for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
Travel stipends
Travel Assistance Stipends are awarded to a professional member from each of NIRSA’s seven regions to attend the NIRSA Annual Conference. The $1,000 (USD) stipend defrays the cost of travel as a reimbursement for expenses affiliated with airfare, mileage, and lodging.
All scholarship and stipend recipients attending the Annual Conference are asked to volunteer at NIRSA Foundation activities. This allows them to network with their peers, learn more about the NIRSA Foundation, and meet some of the incredible donors who make the scholarship and travel stipends program possible.
Be sure to apply before the Wednesday, November 30 deadline, and help spread the word to your network!
- Have questions about an application? Want to learn how you can help expand scholarship opportunities? Contact NIRSA Director of Philanthropy Becky Sowers.
Becky Sowers is currently NIRSA's Director of Philanthropy; you can email her at becky.sowers@nirsa.org.
