Be the Change
Annual Conference Scholarship

Purpose

The Be the Change Annual Conference Scholarship is an opportunity specifically for an employee of a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) to gain valuable educational and networking opportunities as a higher education risk management professional who could not attend the URMIA annual conference without this financial support. One scholarship of up to $2,000 is available.

Applications Are Currently Closed

The application period for 2025 is expected to open in March 2025.

Acknowledgement

URMIA is grateful to FM for grant support that makes this opportunity possible.

Eligibility

Only employees of MSIs are eligible to apply. The institution may or may not be a current member of URMIA. Applicants must have risk management and/or insurance responsibilities, work in the risk management department, or work in other related departments to qualify.

Preference will be given to applicants who have not attended any URMIA annual or regional conferences in person. URMIA peers serving on Strategic Goal 4 Task Force will select the scholarship recipient.

2021-2022 President Courtney Davis Curtis discusses URMIA's four strategic goals during the 2021 Annual Conference, including diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).

2023 Recipients from left: Bianca Schonberg, Melissa Holloway, and Nels Pate. Not pictured: Rolundus Rice.

Expectations for Recipient

Attendance

The scholarship recipient will be encouraged to engage with a peer serving as an engagement ambassador and is expected to participate in the following conference events:

• URMIA President's Reception on Saturday evening
• Newcomers Welcome & Orientation session late Sunday afternoon
• Opening Reception on Sunday evening
• General Sessions on Monday & Tuesday

Reporting

The scholarship recipient is expected to submit a testimonial in writing or on video within two weeks after the conference.

Use of Funds

The recipient of the Be the Change Annual Conference Scholarship may only use the funds to attend URMIA’s 2024 Annual Conference in New Orleans. The recipient is expected to submit receipts for eligible expenses up to $2,000. Eligible expenses include the following and will be covered in this order:

• The registration fee for the Full Conference Experience
• A maximum of four nights at the conference hotel
• Travel expenses to, from, and in the conference city
• Other expenses (e.g., Meet & Greet meal, parking garage, etc.)

Reimbursements will be made in the order above. Receipts will be required. Please review URMIA's travel policy.