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NEC Scholarships
 The Rance R. Willis Planner Development Scholarship program is named in honor of our 1989 Sam Gilmer Planner of the Year awardee and national president from 1991-1993. The Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) Gilmer Institute of Learning provides financial assistance to meeting planner members attending the National Education Conference (NEC). Scholarship awards are available to eligible planners from revenue raised through the Silent Auction held at NEC. Scholarships are awarded on a point-based system as evaluated by the Gilmer Institute of Learning Trustees, and the number of scholarships awarded is based on available funding.
Scholarships may cover part, or all of a planner's registration, travel, or lodging expenses to the National Education Conference.
Many SGMP Chapters also offer scholarship funding. Chapter scholarship programs open following the national scholarship deadline. Be sure to check with your chapter on the application process, deadlines, and additional information.
deadline October 31, 2025
The Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) Gilmer Institute of Learning provides financial assistance to meeting planner members wanting to attend the National Education Conference (NEC). Scholarship awards are available to eligible planners from revenue raised through the Silent Auction held at NEC.
Eligibility
- Before submitting this application, please confirm with your agency or employer that you are allowed to accept scholarship funding to attend NEC.
- Scholarships are intended for planner members who would not otherwise be able to attend the NEC without financial assistance.
- Planners whose agency or chapter would otherwise provide full funding for them to attend are not eligible.
- Applications are evaluated based on the number/scope of meetings planned from January 1 – December 31, 2025, not solely based on activity in SGMP.
- Applicants who have never attended the National Education Conference will be awarded extra points.
- Applicants who have received a scholarship in the prior year may not apply. Scholarships will not be awarded in back-to-back years.
- Retired members are not eligible.
- Chapter board members whose agency or chapter would otherwise provide full funding for them to attend are not eligible. Chapter may appeal to the National Board for consideration based on their financials and inability to send representation.
Responsibilities of Recipients
- Must be able to attend the entire conference, beginning with Scholarship Orientation on Tuesday afternoon, June 9, 2026, and stay through the last session with the closing keynote speaker on Thursday afternoon, June 11, 2026.
- Attend daily briefings with scholarship team.
- Attend Sponsors Row activities.
- Attend the Wednesday evening Sam Gilmer Awards Banquet.
- Moderate at least three breakout sessions at the conference and perform other duties as assigned by the Gilmer Trustees.
- Moderator duties include introduction of speakers and to help as needed, announce in/out session codes for CEU, complete/submit Moderator Session Summary Sheet, and be timekeeper for speaker so the session ends on schedule.
- Meet all deadlines provided by Gilmer Trustees and SGMP Headquarters staff.
Scholarship Application Form Instructions
- Answer each question thoroughly; if it is not applicable, enter “N/A.”
- The scholarship application covers meeting planning activity from January 1 - December 31, 2025.
- For Question 7, you must provide the phone number of the property and name of the contact person even if they are no longer at the property.
- Your application must be submitted by 5 p.m. EST Friday, October 31, 2025. Late applications will not be accepted, and there is no allowance for time zone differences.
- Do not register for the NEC or make airline reservations prior to receiving notification regarding your scholarship application (if selected, those arrangements will be handled internally). You will not be reimbursed for expenses incurred before notification of scholarship award.
2025 Scholarship Recipients
Congratulations to the 2025 NEC Scholarship Recipients!
Stephanie Crews, CGMP - NATCAP
Christopher Evans - Rocket City Alabama
Lisa Gail, CGMP - NATCAP
Catherine Jensen, CGMP - Louisiana
Lorna Kipfer, CGMP - NATCAP
Jamar D. Little, CGMP - Louisiana
Jessica Robinson, CMP, CGMP - NATCAP
Anne Wilson, CGMP, GMS, CTA - Michigan
2024 Scholarship Recipients
Congratulations to the 2024 NEC Scholarship Recipients!
Darrian Campbell
Margaret Pletta
Christina Lewis
Anne Wilson
Karen Holsendorff
Fredda Olivares
Candi Thomas
Deidra Young
Tasha Rowe
Amanda Ratcliff
Sarah Lyke
LaJone McClinton
Nicholas Stratton
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