This scholarship provides future professionals interested in pursuing a career in the recreation field with financial assistance to attend the 2026 NYSRPS Annual Conference. Attending the conference and being a member of the society provides amazing opportunities to students who are interested in entering the field. Participants will have the opportunity to network with recreation professionals from across New York State, attend educational sessions on current trends and issues impacting the field, and build connections that support their future careers in parks and recreation.
Scholarship recipients will receive complimentary conference registration to the NYSRPS Annual Conference and NYSRPS student membership for the 2026-2027 year. Additional assistance for lodging or conference-related expenses may be available based on sponsorship funding and scholarship availability.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be currently enrolled in an accredited college or university program
- Be pursuing a degree in parks and recreation, therapeutic recreation, leisure studies, sports management, public administration, education, or a related field.
Application Procedure
- Complete the official Student Conference Scholarship Application Form.
- Submit all required supporting documents through the application portal.
- All application materials must be received by the published deadline. Incomplete applications or applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
- Applications will be reviewed by a Future Professional Scholarship Review Committee appointed by NYSRPS.
- Scholarship recipients will be notified following the review process.
- If selected as a scholarship recipient, complete conference registration through the NYSRPS online registration system by the specified deadline.
- Application Deadline: September 25th
- Scholarship Recipient Notification: October 2nd
- NYSRPS Annual Conference: November 3rd - 6th
Required Submittals
1. Completed Scholarship Application: Please complete all sections of the scholarship application in their entirety. Responses should be thoughtful, reflective, and demonstrate your passion for the parks, recreation, and therapeutic recreation profession. Applicants are encouraged to provide detailed examples and meaningful insights.
2. Current Resume: Applicants must submit a current résumé that includes:
- Educational background
- Work experience
- Internship experience
- Volunteer service
- Leadership positions
- Campus involvement
- Professional involvement
- Awards and recognitions
3. Proof of enrollment: Upload documentation verifying your current enrollment status. Documentation must clearly indicate your school, enrollment status (full-time or part-time), major, academic year, and number of enrolled credits. Acceptable forms of verification include an official or unofficial transcript, student portal screenshot, enrollment verification letter, or other documentation issued by your institution.
4. Optional - Letter of Recommendation: Applicants can submit one letter of recommendation from a faculty member, advisor, employer, supervisor, or other individual familiar with their academic performance, leadership abilities, work ethic, or professional potential.
Selection Criteria
The Future Professional Scholarship Review Committee will evaluate applicants based on the materials submitted. Applications will be judged on:
- Completeness of application materials
- Quality of résumé and supporting documents
- Quality, clarity, and thoughtfulness of responses
- Demonstrated passion for the parks, recreation, and therapeutic recreation profession
- Potential impact of conference attendance on the applicant's future career
- Other attributes deemed relevant by the Scholarship Review Committee
Scholarship Recipient Expectations
In return for receiving scholarship support, recipients are expected to:
- Attend and actively participate in the NYSRPS Annual Conference.
- Participate in educational sessions, networking opportunities, mentoring program and conference activities.
- Assist NYSRPS in a volunteer capacity during the conference if requested.
- Attend the student roundtable session
- Attend the NYSRPS Board meeting
- Provide a thank-you letter to the sponsor describing your experience, key takeaways, and how they intend to apply what they learned.
- Complete the requested post-conference evaluation
Other
Recipients must complete conference registration within the designated timeframe. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of the scholarship and reassignment of the award to another applicant.
Recipients are also expected to fulfill all scholarship requirements and recipient expectations. Failure to meet these obligations may affect eligibility for future NYSRPS scholarship opportunities and awards.
Thank you to Parkitects for their continued support and for helping shape the future of parks and recreation. 