SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PERIOD IS OPEN
Application period: DEC 9, 2024 - JAN 31, 2025
PROGRAM DETAILS
The Harvard Senior Executive Program is a unique opportunity to challenge conventional thinking, thought processes, and the values that drive leadership decisions. It’s an opportunity for senior level city, county and town managers and assistants to experience personal and professional renewal. Participants step away from the daily routine for 3 weeks, engage their intellect and hearts with other executives in team efforts to resolve tough issues and renew the commitment to their life’s work.
The William Ferguson, Jr. Scholarship, awarded by ICMA, and named in honor of The Ferguson Group founder, William Ferguson, Jr., covers the $17,900 tuition fee. The scholarship recipient will need to cover their own travel expenses. Recipients may participate in the June 2-20, 2025 or July 7-25, 2025 class.
Through the generosity of ICMA Corporate Partner, The Ferguson Group, (TFG), ICMA is able offer the William Ferguson, Jr. Scholarship (travel not included) to one ICMA member to attend the 2025 Harvard Senior Executive program. The scholarship was first launched in 2011. We thank our sponsor for their continued support of this program.
SCHEDULE
Application period opens: December 9, 2024
Application closes: January 31, 2025 (Late and incomplete applications will not be accepted.)
William Ferguson, Jr. Scholarship recipient notified early April 2025
SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA
At least three years of membership in ICMA.
Senior executive experience defined as serving as a city, county, or town manager or assistant manager.
A demonstrated commitment to the local government management profession . Evidence of such a commitment includes but is not limited to service to ICMA, state or other professional associations; contributions to the body of knowledge about current issues through writing or teaching about local government issues; support for the ICMA Fund for Professional Management; consistent career professional development; attainment of the ICMA Credentialed Manager designation (desired, but not required).
Exemplary leadership and service to local government. Awards and recognition for programmatic success and leadership and/or recognition by leadership within the organization or community for significant contributions help to define exemplary leadership and service.
Resources to pay for travel.
Prior approval of the employer to participate in the program.
Successful completion of the application including a statement of the most significant strategic challenges in your work and how participation in this program will help address those challenges; description of immediate and long-term career goals and how attending this program help achieve them;
The successful candidate agrees to fulfill any post session requirements as designed by the committee intended to contribute to the advancement of leadership, the profession and its body of knowledge.
- The scholarship recipient is expected to write an article on his/her experience at the Senior Executives in Local Government Program for ICMA’s newsletter and for use on the ICMA website. As well, the recipient is strongly encouraged to attend the ICMA Annual conference.
APPLY NOW: ICMA Application
To be considered for the William Ferguson, Jr. Scholarship, the applicant needs to answer the questions on ICMA's Application webform and upload the following 3 items to ICMA's scholarship application system: a current Resume, answers to the Essay questions, and a Harvard Application.
Do not send the application form to Harvard.
Questions?
For more information about the application process, contact Chris Gendell, William Ferguson, Jr. Scholarship Program Manager, via email at: cgendell@icma.org
PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIALS
Scott Andrews, ICMA-CM, county manager, Doña Ana County, New Mexico - 2024 scholarship recipient
Kelly DiMartino, city manager, Fort Collins, CO - 2023 scholarship recipient
Duane T. Holder, ICMA-CM, deputy county manager, Wake County, NC - 2022 scholarship recipient
Paul J. Brake, CEcD, city manager, Morgantown, WV - 2019 scholarship recipient
Marc Landry, MBA, director of regional projects, Southeast Regional Services Commission, Berry Mills, NB, Canada - 2019 scholarship recipient
Charlie Bush, ICMA-CM, former city manager, Sequim, WA - 2018 scholarship recipient
Opal Mauldin-Jones, ICMA-CM, city manager, Lancaster, TX - 2018 scholarship recipient
David Ellis, ICMA-CM, county manager, Wake County, NC - 2017 scholarship recipient
Kimiko Black Gilmore, former assistant city manager, Kansas City, MO - 2017 scholarship recipient
Peter Agh, former city manager, Dvory, Slovakia - 2016 scholarship recipient
Heather Worthington, former deputy county manager, Ramey County, MN - 2016 scholarship recipient
Norton Bonaparte, Jr, ICMA-CM, city manager, Sanford, FL - 2015 scholarship recipient
Gregory Doyon, city manager, Great Falls, MT - 2014 scholarship recipient
Michael Cernech, former city manager, Tamarac, FL - 2013 scholarship recipient
Karen Pinkos, ICMA-CM, former, assistant city manager, El Cerrito, CA - 2012 scholarship recipient
Douglas Hewett, ICMA-CM, city manager, Fayetteville, NC - 2011 scholarship recipient
Scholarship sponsored by ICMA Annual Corporate Partner
The Life Membership category was established shortly after the association’s founding to recognize longtime members who dedicated their lives to local government service, as well as to the advancement of the profession.
Life Membership Eligibility and Criteria
Must be a Full Member who at the time of retirement from full-time, active local government service, meets the following criteria:
Full Member (65 years or older) -15 years as an ICMA Full (Corporate) member, in-service, who during that time was eligible to serve on the board.
Full Member (under 65 years old) - 25 years as an ICMA Full (Corporate) member, in-service, who during that time was eligible to serve on the board.
Life Membership as written in Article VIII, Section 3c of the ICMA Constitution:
“Upon retiring from active service with a local government, any Full Member who has completed twenty-five years of membership and, for those same twenty-five years, has been eligible to be an officer of the Association shall become a Life Member. Also, any Full Member who has been eligible to be an officer of the Association for at least fifteen years and retires from active service with a local government at age sixty-five or older shall become a Life Member. In addition, any Full Member who has retired from active service with a local government and who, in the opinion of the Executive Board, has made an outstanding contribution to the development of the profession may be granted a Life Membership by vote of the Executive Board.”
Are you about to retire and think you might be eligible for Life Membership? Any member who believes they meet the requirements for Life Membership can contact membership@icma.org.
Life Membership FAQ
What is the process to become a Life Member?
When a member announces his/her retirement and/or contacts ICMA, staff will check Life Membership eligibility. Once eligibility is confirmed, ICMA will update the member’s account to reflect Life Member category. Any member who believes he or she meets the requirements for Life Membership can contact membership@icma.org.
How is individual Life Membership recognized?
ICMA wants to ensure Life Members are recognized for their commitment to ICMA and the profession. ICMA will recognize new Life Members in the weekly member newsletter, Leadership Matters. Each Life Member will be mailed a certificate and Life lapel pin. Upon request, ICMA will send the Life materials to a designee to be presented during a retirement ceremony.
Are Life Members allowed to work and still retain Life Membership?
A Life Member may not work full-time for private sector or a university or as a consultant and retain Life status. In this scenario, the Life member should pay the appropriate 'not in service to a local government" rate of $200. Working part-time for a local government or serving in an interim position is permitted as a Life Member. However, if the Life Member returns to full-time local government service, his/her membership is changed back to Full Member for the duration of employment, paying appropriate salary-based dues. Life Membership status is reinstated once the member leaves the full-time local government position.
What are the benefits of being a Life Member?
Life Members retain all the benefits of Full Membership such as eligibility to vote and credentialed status (as applicable and if maintained). As part of the benefit package, membership dues are waived, the registration rate to the annual conference is significantly discounted and website access for all content, including PM magazine, continues. Members who want to receive the print edition of PM have the option to pay a $25 annual fee to cover mailing costs.
Nominations Open March 31, 2025—April 25, 2025
Honorary membership in ICMA is awarded to an individual outside of the profession of local government management because of his or her distinguished public service and contributions to the improvement and strengthening of local government.
Individuals eligible for Honorary membership include, but are not limited to, academic leaders, elected officials, and civic leaders. Criteria include:
- Contributions to strengthening the structure of local government.
- Leadership in increasing citizen understanding of the governance and management of local government.
- Initiatives that brought about improvement and development of local government managers.
- Programs, writing, or general career contributions that have enhanced the responsiveness and effectiveness of local government.
In summary, the candidate must have made a considerable contribution either to the improvement of local government and local government management or to the public's understanding and appreciation of responsive and well-managed local government.
A nomination for Honorary membership can be made by any voting member of ICMA and should be e-mailed to awards@icma.org. See the list of past recipients, including the 2022 recipient: Alison McKenney Brown (Lakewood, Colorado).
Honorary Membership Nomination Form
Honorary membership is conferred by a vote of ICMA Corporate members, and nominations are solicited annually in the spring. In June, a vote of the ICMA Executive Board determines which nominee or nominees will be proposed to members for formal acceptance by a vote of the membership. Recipients are honored during the ICMA Annual Conference.
Contact Joyce Lee, senior program manager, at 202/962-3625 or jlee@icma.org with questions or for more information.
