APPLICATION PERIOD CLOSES MAY 3, 2024.

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.

Past winners:

2022

Jessica Slawson – San Diego State University
Haley Arata – University of Southern California
Samantha Johnson – University of Southern California

2021

Cynthia Alba – University of Southern California
Katerina (Kate) Polezhaev – California State University, Fullerton
Jennifer Lopez – University of Southern California
Mohideen (Deen) Faisal Buharie – California State University, Long Beach

2020

Angela Chavez-Monroy – Cal Poly Pomona
Connie Ho – California State University, Long Beach
Antony V. López – University of Southern California
Jennifer Venema – University of Southern California
Aaron Wodka – California State University, Fullerton

2019

Spencer Winkle – USC Sol Price School
Grace Yoon-Taylor – Cal State Fullerton

2018

Christian Beltran – USC Sol Price School
Kelsey Alter – California Lutheran University

2017

Scarlett Santos Leon – Cal Poly Pomona

2016

Will Provost – USC – Wes McClure Scholarship winner
Natalie Hernandez – USC – Mark Curran Scholarship winner

2015

Connie Huynh – Stanford University

2014

Anna Guiles – Mills College
Miranda Lutzow – CSU Stanislaus

2013

Sasha Geschwind – Claremont Graduate University
Nico De Anda-Scaia – USC
Louie F. Lacasella – Cal Poly Pomona

2012

Jason Constantouros – Syracuse University
Joshua Soliz – CSU Long Beach

2011

Sara Russo – CSU Long Beach
Chelsea Wood – USC