Scholarships

Thank you for your interest in the NPELRA Foundation Scholarship Program. The Foundation offers two (2) types of scholarships, Graduate Student Scholarship, and Foundation Event Scholarship.

Graduate Student Scholarships

Who may apply for a Foundation Graduate Student Scholarship? Any U.S. citizen who is a graduate student currently enrolled and seeking a graduate degree in human resources, labor and industrial relations, public administration or political science with a strong and documented interest in the public sector is encouraged to apply. Students currently working in government agencies will receive preference as well as National PELRA members.

Anthony “Tony” Russo was a pioneer and giant in the field of public sector collective bargaining, and in the creation and growth of National PELRA. Click to learn more.

The scholarship I received to take the CLRP exam made all the difference. The process was straightforward and simple, and the cost savings allowed my agency to limit expenses to general funds—always a positive for HR departments consistently asked to do more with less. I highly encourage anyone interested in advancing in labor relations to take the leap and submit their scholarship materials. It’s a rewarding investment in your professional growth! Thank you again!

Dalton Johnson | Senior Human Resource Generalist, Missoula

I consider myself a lifelong learner and this scholarship has been crucial in advancing my personal and professional goals. Upon completing this graduate degree, one of my goals is to become a part-time adjunct professor in HR, LR, and business management courses. I think it is important for students to have access to instructors who are also actively employed in their field of study.

Holland Atkinson |Chief Labor Relations Officer, Hennepin County

I deeply appreciate the NPELRA foundation for awarding me a scholarship for my exam fee for certification. It’s been a goal of mine to take the CLRP exam since I attended all three academies in 2022. Because of the scholarship, I will be sitting for my exam next month (February) and hope to be reported as a newly awarded CLRP at the 2025 NPELRA conference! Thank you again Rick and the Foundation board for my scholarship! Thanks again!

Jade Corley | Labor Relations Consultant and Interim HR Business Partner, Washington

What is the amount of a scholarship? $3,000

Selected recipients of the Russo Scholarship Award should be prepared to briefly share with the membership at the National PELRA Annual Training Conference how the scholarship impacted their educational and professional pursuits.

Ready to learn more? Click the application icon to start your submission:

2026 Application Deadline: Thursday, January 15, 2026

Foundation Event Scholarships

Who may apply for a Foundation Event Scholarship? Any active, National PELRA member who is interested in attending a National PELRA training event when the member’s jurisdiction does not have training dollars to pay for the event.

2026 Charlotte ATC Application Deadline: Wednesday, December 31, 2025
member-only submissions

The Foundation Board will consider Event* scholarship applications for the following National PELRA offerings:

Academy I, II, or III
CLRP® Exam Fee
National PELRA Annual Training Conference (ATC) Registration Fee
National PELRA Webinars

Note:

Members are eligible for one (1) Event Scholarship in a 12-month period
Members may apply for multiple offerings but must designate and rank their order of preference
Event Scholarships are for the authorized member and may not be transferred to another individual
Annual Training Conference (ATC) Event Scholarships must be used for the upcoming ATC and cannot be held over for a future ATC
Event Scholarships do not apply to Certification Week Academies
Event Scholarships are for registration fees only and do not include travel or hotel costs
The Foundation Board will meet quarterly to determine Event Scholarships and they will contact all members and advise of status