The California City Management Foundation (CCMF) is pleased to announce that the city of Vista and city of Rolling Hills have been selected as the recipients of the sixth annual Judy L. Kelsey Memorial Fund grants. 
The Judy L. Kelsey Memorial Fund offers two $5,000 grants to local governments to fund summer internships. Half of the funding for this program comes from the estate of Judy Lyn Kelsey, a longtime California city manager with a passion for uplifting others. At the beginning of her career, Kelsey interned in the city manager’s office in the city of San Dimas and participated in a grant program for the Los Angeles Police Department. She saw great value in these experiences and donated part of her estate to enable internships for individuals with a passion for local government. Kelsey’s estate funds one $5,000 grant annually. CCMF matches her gift to provide a second $5,000 grant.
The city of Vista and the city of Rolling Hills were selected for the 2026 awards based on their detailed plans for meaningful internship programs and their need for additional support within the cities.
“The 2026 recipients of the Judy L. Kelsey Memorial Fund grant reflect the continued promise and dedication of the next generation of public service leaders,” said CCMF Executive Director Ken Pulskamp. “We are proud to support these interns and the cities they serve as they gain hands-on experience, contribute to meaningful local government projects and help strengthen communities across California.”
The city of Vista will use the grant to fund a paid summer internship within its community development department, with additional support provided to city manager’s office initiatives. The intern will assist residents, developers and business owners at the planning public counter, helping answer zoning and permitting questions while supporting projects tied to the city’s Economic Development Strategic Plan, business outreach and city council priorities. The internship will also provide valuable public service experience, while helping the city expand capacity and improve customer service.
The city of Rolling Hills will use the grant to support a structured summer internship focused on digitizing and organizing planning and property records into a centralized system. The project is especially important as the city responds to recent land movement affecting properties in and around the community. The intern will help improve access to critical records, strengthen emergency preparedness efforts and support continuity across city operations. The internship will provide much-needed operational support while offering the intern meaningful hands-on experience in local government.
Visit the Judy L. Kelsey Memorial Fund webpage for more information and contact Scholarship@CACityManagers.org with any questions.
