The KEMA Conference Student Scholarship is dedicated to fostering the next generation of emergency management and homeland security professionals within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. By removing financial barriers to attendance, KEMA aims to provide high-achieving student members with invaluable opportunities for professional networking, mentorship, and exposure to the evolving best practices of the field. This program invests in the academic and professional excellence of our students to ensure a resilient and well-prepared future for Pennsylvania’s communities.

Scholarship Tiers and Award Structure

A total of five scholarships are available: three for Undergraduate students, one for Masters, and one for Doctoral students. From these five recipients, the KEMA Executive Board will select one Full Scholarship. The remaining four recipients will receive a Registration Scholarship. All awardees will receive a complimentary KEMA Student Membership for the following year.

  • Full Scholarship: This scholarship includes full conference registration and 2 nights of lodging (reimbursed up to the current GSA rate for the conference location).
  • Registration Scholarships: This scholarship includes complimentary conference registration.

As a consolation, applicants who are not selected for the above awards may be offered a 50% registration discount in exchange for committing to 8 hours of volunteer service assisting the Conference Committee during the event.

  • Volunteer opportunities are limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis to qualified applicants as recommended by the Executive Board.
  • Bonus: Students who complete their 8-hour volunteer commitment will receive a complimentary KEMA Student Membership for the following calendar year.

Selection Criteria

  • The student must be a member of KEMA and either be a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or be attending a Pennsylvania college or university.
    • Undergraduate: At least 12 credits a semester
    • Master: At least 9 credits a semester
    • Doctoral: At least 6 credits a semester
  • Student must be currently enrolled in an accredited college or university (may be online) and have declared a major or minor in Emergency Management (EM), Homeland Security (HS), or a related field.
    • Examples of related fields include Public Health, Public Administration, Environmental Science, Cyber Security, or Criminal Justice.
    • Acceptance of related fields is at the discretion of the KEMA Executive Board.
  • Students must obtain an overall grade point average of at least 2.5 on all EM/HS coursework for undergraduate work and a 3.0 for graduate work.
  • Student must provide evidence (per the application document) of a commitment to a career in emergency management, or a related field, such as participation in appropriate professional development opportunities (seminars, workshops, professional meetings).
  • Students must demonstrate leadership qualities and involvement in community service activities.
  • Student must submit a complete application per the application document on the website.

CLICK HERE to Download the Application