2013 Recipient Announced:
The Ferguson Group, an ICMA Strategic Partner, has graciously agreed to fund an ICMA scholarship to the Harvard Kennedy Senior Executives in Local Government Program. The Ferguson Group has committed to funding one scholarship a year for 3 years. The first scholarship was awarded in 2011.
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 and county 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 scholarship, awarded by ICMA, covers the $11,800 tuition fee. The scholarship recipient will need to cover their own travel expenses.
To apply for the 2013 scholarship, fill out both ICMA’s application and the Harvard Senior Executive application and return them together to flittky@icma.org by Friday, January 11, 2013. Applications received after this date will not be considered for the scholarship.
Program dates for 2013 are:
- June 3 - June 21
- July 8- July 26
Participants choose the session which they would like to attend.
A committee of ICMA members, chaired by Strib Boyton, City Manager of High Point, North Carolina and a participant in the program, will select the recipient for the scholarship. Announcement of this year’s scholarship recipient will be made by March 11, 2013. All committee members are also graduates of the program.
Here is what past participants are saying about the Senior Executives Program:
"I am so grateful to ICMA and The Ferguson Group for giving me the honor of attending the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executive Program. The experience at HKS was without a doubt the best learning experience of my life. While I was completely immersed in all the educational opportunities the program had to offer, I found that I learned just as much about myself, my perspectives, and my values--both professionally and personally. The program completely validated for me the role of government and the local government management profession, and I am more steadfast than ever that the public service is the most rewarding, valuable, and important work one could ever do."
Karen E. Pinkos, recipient of the 2012 scholarship
Assistant City Manager, City of El Cerrito, CA
“I would recommend the Harvard Senior Executive Program for city manager’s and think the scholarship opportunities make it even more attractive. I found the experience very challenging and also personally and professionally rewarding. By attending KSG I am able to better articulate my beliefs and philosophies and my networking capability exploded which has created more public value to the community I represent.”
Peter E. Auger
City Manager, City of Auburn Hills, MI
“The Harvard Senior Executive Program was by far the most thought provoking and educational leadership program that I’ve had the pleasure of attending. The program provided me with lessons in leadership that I use every day in my professional life. Invaluable lessons that I will continue to use throughout the remainder of my life”.
Dale E. Iman
City Manager, City of Fayetteville, NC
Scholarship Awardees must meet the following Criteria:
1. At least 3 years of membership in ICMA.
2. Senior executive experience defined as serving as a city, county, or town manager or assistant manager.
3. 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).
4. 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.
5. Resources to pay for travel
6. Prior approval of the employer to participate in the program
7. 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;
8. 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.
9. 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 99th annual conference in September in Boston, Massachusetts.
For more information on the application process, please contact Felicia Littky, The Ferguson Group-Harvard Scholarship Program Manager, at 202-962-3656 or via email at: flittky@icma.org.