2025 APPLICATION PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED.
CCMF offers three (3) $2,500 scholarships to graduate students attending a California public or private university who are interested in pursuing (or already working in) a career in local government.
Wes McClure Scholarship Overview
Eligibility
Eligibility includes those currently in graduate school or who have been accepted into a graduate program for the Fall semester. Successful applicants will be attending (or graduating from) a public or private university or college in California and interested in pursuing a career in (or be actively working in) local government. Applicants need not be committed to a specific area of academic study to qualify—the Wes McClure Scholarships will be awarded to the applicants who best demonstrate an interest in a career in local government. The $2,500 scholarships will be limited to direct college expenses, such as tuition and books and may be paid to the recipient directly or to the educational institution, at CCMF’s sole discretion.
About the Award
Wes McClure, for whom the annual scholarship was named, worked as City Manager of San Leandro for 28 years. He passed away at the age of 94 on December 20, 2009. Wes had many outstanding attributes, including an unparalleled ability to listen. His patience and skill in this regard contributed enormously to his successful career working with city councils and impacted CCMF directly during the formation of the foundation, in which Wes played an integral part. This award was created in honor of Wes’s outstanding and significant contributions to the City Managers’ Department, League of California Cities, the State of California and the City Management profession.
Application Materials Include
- A cover letter indicating the educational institution you are attending (or will be attending), the number of educational credits attained to date (if any), current GPA, degrees awarded (if any), colleges and universities attended (if any), and your contact information (including email address).
- A short essay (under 750 words) explaining why you are interested in a career in local government, the type of local government work you would like to pursue upon graduation, and any educational/work/volunteer experience you have undertaken in pursuit of this type of career.
- Two (2) reference letters from those who can speak to your interest in pursuing a career in local government.
- All submission materials should be sent electronically to: Ken Pulskamp scholarship@cacitymanagers.org, Subject Line: “2025 Wes McClure Scholarship Application”
Scholarship recipients are responsible for having the funding sent to their school.
Past winners:
2025
Bella Veloz – California State University, Fullerton
Dean Ballantyne – Biola University
Robert Fierro – University of Southern California
2024
Jilla Nadimi – University of Southern California
Jaquelyn Salgado – California State University, Fullerton
Kristin Shigenaga – University of La Verne
2023
Apryl Tovar – California State University, Bakersfield
Cindy Flaro – California State University, Fullerton
Manuel Munoz – University of Southern California
2022
Haley Arata – University of Southern California
Jessica Slawson – San Diego State University
Samantha Johnson – University of Southern California
2021
Cynthia Alba – University of Southern California
Jennifer Lopez – University of Southern California
Katerina (Kate) Polezhaev – California State University, Fullerton
Mohideen (Deen) Faisal Buharie – California State University, Long Beach
2020
Aaron Wodka – California State University, Fullerton
Angela Chavez-Monroy – Cal Poly Pomona
Antony V. López – University of Southern California
Connie Ho – California State University, Long Beach
Jennifer Venema – University of Southern California
2019
Grace Yoon-Taylor – Cal State Fullerton
Spencer Winkle – USC Sol Price School
2018
Christian Beltran – USC Sol Price School
Kelsey Alter – California Lutheran University
2017
Scarlett Santos Leon – Cal Poly Pomona
2016
Natalie Hernandez – University of Southern California – Mark Curran Scholarship winner
Will Provost – University of Southern California – Wes McClure Scholarship winner
2015
Connie Huynh – Stanford University
2014
Anna Guiles – Mills College
Miranda Lutzow – CSU Stanislaus
2013
Louie F. Lacasella – Cal Poly Pomona
Nico De Anda-Scaia – University of Southern California
Sasha Geschwind – Claremont Graduate University
2012
Jason Constantouros – Syracuse University
Joshua Soliz – CSU Long Beach
2011
Sara Russo – CSU Long Beach
Chelsea Wood – USC
