NIRSA Foundation logo

Financial Assistance through
Scholarships & Grants

The NIRSA Foundation is dedicated to the personal and professional development of NIRSA members.

Committed to the future of campus recreation, the NIRSA Foundation proudly offers a variety of scholarships and travel grants to ensure NIRSA’s premier educational events are accessible to all NIRSA students and professionals. Members at all stages of their careers benefit from the learning, innovation, and networking experiences at these events. 

Through the generosity of the NIRSA membership and corporate contributions, several endowments have been established to further fund scholarships to the NIRSA Conference, Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders (ERSL) Conference, NIRSA Recreation Facilities Institute, and NIRSA School for Early Career Professionals. 

NIRSA Conference

Scholarships are available to students and professionals to attend the NIRSA Conference and Campus Rec Expo.

ERSL Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students and professionals to attend the Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders (ERSL) Conference.

NIRSA Recreation Facilities Institute Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students and professionals to attend the NIRSA Recreational Facilities Institute.

NIRSA School for Early Career Professionals Scholarships

Scholarships are available to professionals to attend the NIRSA Recreational Facilities Institute.

Regional Endowments and Conferences

Some NIRSA regions have scholarships available for students and professionals to attend regional conferences.

0
number of recipients for 2024

The scholarship gave me the ability to travel where otherwise I wouldn’t have gone. The scholarships provide so much value beyond the monetary donation. The experiences that are had because of the scholarship are priceless. I had a great experience, and I am very thankful for the opportunity that I was given to attend.

Sean Foley, 2023 Region VI Endowed Scholarship Recipient, University of Arizona

As a graduating senior, I applied to scholarships banking on a dream and those all came true plus more by being sponsored to go. I had been cultivating fitness/wellness in my rural school’s community for all of my undergrad and sometimes it got a little disheartening. NIRSA was a space I felt I could connect and continue to learn in a space where others were enthusiastic to do the same. 

Samarah Zamora, 2023 J. Michael Dunn Preconference Scholarship & 2023 Jennifer R. de-Vries Endowment Scholarship Recipient, East Tennessee State University

Being a part of NIRSA has completely altered my career. I entered campus rec as an undergrad student with no clue what the field really was. As a Graduate Assistant I have gotten so many opportunities to be a part of NIRSA and I am striving to be a leader in campus recreation. Next year I will serve as the Region VI student leader, and I would have not known how passionate I was about that role if I was not involved in NIRSA. It has quite literally altered my life. 

Kayla Irlbeck, 2023 Region VI Endowment Scholarship Recipient, Utah State University

I am very appreciative of my award as it made it possible to attend the conference financially. Without the support for many generous donors, I may not have even considered attending this year’s conference. I was able to reconnect with former colleagues and peers from my previous institution, and I got to connect with a lot of new students and professionals as well. The educational sessions provided me with a lot of information that I can take with me as I grow and develop as a professional. 

Jarin Bontrager, 2023 NIRSA Foundation Scholarship for Region III Recipient, Indiana State University
NIRSA Foundation Logo

Scholarships for the NIRSA Family are possible thanks to NIRSA Foundation donors. The NIRSA Foundation proudly supports the future leaders of campus rec.

For More Info

Have questions about an application? Want to learn how you can help expand scholarship opportunities? Contact NIRSA Director of Philanthropy, Becky Sowers.

For additional scholarship opportunities offered in your area, please check your state association webpages. These scholarships are separate from the NIRSA Foundation scholarship program.

Previously …

Event Scholarships for Students & Professionals

With scholarships available to students for the NIRSA Annual Conference and to professionals for all NIRSA-run institutes and education events, the NIRSA Foundation is committed to investing in the personal and professional development of the NIRSA Family at all stages of their careers. Follow the links below to learn more about the scholarships available through the NIRSA Foundation.

Travel Grants for Professionals

NIRSA Foundation Travel Grant, presented by CORE Health & Fitness, allows NIRSA professionals the opportunity to advance their careers in campus recreation without shouldering the expenses of travel and lodging. The $1,000 (USD) grant is specifically designed to cover travel expenses associated with attending the NIRSA Annual Conference and Campus Rec & Wellness Expo. Travel grants are possible because of corporate sponsorship.

2019 Jennifer R. De-Vries Scholarship Recipient

“I would not be where I am in the field of campus recreation if it were not for the opportunities provided to me through this program.”

Brianna Lee, Coordinator of Fitness and Wellness at CENTERS LLC, University of Alabama at Birmingham

2017 Region I Scholarship Recipient

“Being recognized with a NIRSA scholarship is something I will always be proud of. It solidified my love of working in campus recreation and gave me the drive to work hard and keep faith that I would find a future in this field.”

Jennifer De La Rosa, Assistant Director of Marketing at George Mason University Recreation

2018 Mark E. Fletcher Scholarship Recipient

“I would not have been able to attend my first conference without the help from the NIRSA Foundation. They embody every sense of the word ‘serving,’ which makes me proud and appreciative to be a part of the NIRSA family.”

Aneury Pichardo, Assistant Director of Intramural Sports at Providence College

2019 Frederick R. Braden Scholarship for Social Justice in Collegiate Recreation Recipient

“Receiving this scholarship allowed me to see and feel why NIRSA is so important to student development and the importance of support during selecting a career path for life.”

Brittney Justice Holloman, Fitness & Wellness Coordinator at San Francisco State University

The NIRSA Foundation is dedicated to the personal and professional development of NIRSA members.

Committed to the future of campus recreation, the NIRSA Foundation proudly offers a variety of scholarships and travel grants to ensure NIRSA’s premier educational events are accessible to all NIRSA students and professionals. Members at all stages of their careers benefit from the learning, innovation, and networking experiences at these events. 

Through the generosity of the NIRSA membership and corporate contributions, several endowments have been established to further fund scholarships to the NIRSA Annual Conference. These are available to both students and professionals.  

General Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

Applicants do not need to be a NIRSA member to apply for scholarships; however, recipients will be required to become a NIRSA member upon accepting a scholarship. All application materials must be submitted by the deadline.

See all of our past Scholarship & Travel Grant recipients

Need-based Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

  • Applicants have had 2+ years as a professional member
  • You are a member of one of NIRSA’s established regions or Canada
  • The application must be complete by the deadline

NIRSA Foundation Travel Grant Eligibility Requirements

  • Applicants have had 2+ years as a professional member
  • Travel grants will be awarded based on need to one NIRSA professional member from each NIRSA region and Canada
  • The application must be complete by the deadline
Professional Scholarship Application
Student Scholarship Application
NIRSA Foundation Travel Grant Application
Need Based Scholarship Form

Hidden Content

The NIRSA Foundation is dedicated to the personal and professional development of NIRSA members.

Committed to the future of campus recreation, the NIRSA Foundation proudly offers a variety of scholarships and travel grants to ensure NIRSA’s premier educational events are accessible to all NIRSA students and professionals. Members at all stages of their careers benefit from the learning, innovation, and networking experiences at these events. 

Through the generosity of the NIRSA membership and corporate contributions, several endowments have been established to further fund scholarships to the NIRSA Conference, Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders (ERSL) Conference, NIRSA Recreation Facilities Institute, and NIRSA School for Early Career Professionals.