The California City Management Foundation (CCMF) is pleased to announce the creation of the “Judy L. Kelsey Memorial Fund” scholarship program. This new scholarship program will fund internships in local government, and CCMF needs your insight on what the application process should be like.
About Judy Lyn Kelsey
Judy L. Kelsey was a longtime California city manager with a passion for uplifting others. She joined the Junior Statesmen of America (now the Junior State of America) in high school and acted as the team’s city manager during the program. After this experience, she was set on her career path toward the management profession. Judy attended the University of Southern California, graduating with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. She then took on the mantle of City Manager in the cities of Eureka, Atherton, and Fountain Valley.
Kicking off her career, Judy interned in the City Manager’s Office in the City of San Dimas and in a grant program for the Los Angeles Police Department. She also later interned in Coventry, England and Hiddenburg, Germany. Judy saw great value in these experiences and wanted others to have the same opportunities. As a result, Judy donated part of her estate to set up this scholarship fund so individuals with a passion for local government could immerse themselves directly in the work.
The Scholarship Program
CCMF will launch the Judy L. Kelsey Memorial Fund scholarship program in Summer 2020. Each year, CCMF will award two scholarships of $5,000 each to enable summer/seasonal internships: $5,000 will come from Judy’s estate, and CCMF will match another $5,000.
CCMF is inviting its members and interested applicants to help establish guidelines for this scholarship fund’s application process. For example: Do you think it would be better for the scholarship to go to the individual or to the public agency employing them? What ‘proof’ should applicants have to provide in order to receive the funding?
You can send in your ideas via the CCMF website or through our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn).
Please submit your ideas to CCMF by September 1, 2019.