CFPR Student Scholarships

2027 CFPR Student Scholarships

Application Opens:
Friday, September 25, 2026

Application deadline: 
Monday, December 7, 2026

Award notifications sent:  
January 2027

Scholarship Award Recognition:  
Rising Stars and Guiding Lights Recognition Breakfast
CPRS Conference Week in Sacramento

Who is eligible?

Scholarships are available for students majoring in all aspects of recreation, parks, park operations, natural resources management, recreation therapy, commercial recreation, tourism, community recreation, recreation/aquatic management, recreational sports management and recreation leadership. If you are not in a degree program of a related field, you must be actively working in a field mentioned above.

Evaluation Criteria

Scholarship applications are evaluated based on four overall criteria:

  • Experience in the field; paid and/or volunteer (CPRS, on-campus, etc.)
  • Demonstrated financial need and/or hardship
  • Academic and professional achievements
  • Leadership and professional potential

General Guidelines

  • Undergraduate applicants must have:
    • Completed or be enrolled in courses that add up to a minimum of 60 units with at least 12 units in their major.
  • Graduate applicants must have:
    • Completed at least 9 units
  • Only completed applications with professional recommendation, and transcripts to verify GPA will be eligible for review.
  • Scholarship winners may only be eligible to be awarded twice (2 years) per degree.

Review and Award

Applications are reviewed in December by the CFPR Scholarship Committee. The Committee is comprised of professionals and educators from Northern and Southern California, a representative from the CPRS Board of Directors, and the Executive Director of California Park & Recreation Society.

  • Recipients will be notified by email in January
  • Recipients will be recognized throughout the year and at the Rising Stars and Guiding Lights Recognition Breakfast in Sacramento during CPRS Conference

Questions?

For general Scholarship Program questions, please contact our CFPR Scholarship Chair: Justin Schmillen

For website, submission form questions or technical assistance, please contact CPRS HQ: Stephanie Stephens