2026 NAGARA Annual Conference

Travel Scholarships

Reduce barriers for first-time attendees (and help more government professionals join us in Philadelphia).
Support the Travel Scholarship Program
Purchase merch from the new NAGARA Store. 100% of proceeds go directly toward funding Travel Scholarships.
Visit the NAGARA Store
Prepare Your Application
Download the application form questions to plan your responses in advance.
Download the questions
Read Conference Reflections
Hear directly from past scholarship recipients about the impact of attending.
Jump to reflections

Program Overview

NAGARA offers Annual Conference Travel Scholarships to first-time conference attendees. Awards may include full-conference support (registration + travel/lodging), registration-only assistance, or supplemental lodging support.

Travel Scholarship Applications are now closed.
Travel Scholarship applications were due April 10, 2026

Eligibility Requirements

To apply, applicants must:

  • Be in at least their second year of NAGARA membership (consecutive or non-consecutive) at the time of application (Individual, Organizational, or NARA Individual category).
  • Have never attended a previous NAGARA Annual Conference.
  • Work for a government entity with archival or records management responsibilities, where funding is not available to send employees to conferences.
  • Not be a session presenter or panelist for the current year’s NAGARA Annual Conference.

What the Application Includes

Applicants must complete an application (linked on this page), which includes:

  • Information about your organization/agency
  • A personal statement
  • A resume
  • A letter or statement from your current supervisor that includes:
    • Support and approval for you to attend the Annual Conference if selected
    • Why funding is not available from your organization/agency

Recipient Commitments

Those selected must agree to:

  • Attend and be recognized as a Travel Scholarship recipient during a designated General Session.
  • Write an article or conference reflection documenting your experience as a first-time attendee (submitted within two weeks of the conference close).
  • Allow your name, image, and conference write-up to be featured by NAGARA across communication channels as appropriate.
Why this program matters
Travel Scholarships reduce financial barriers and expand access to the educational and networking opportunities offered at the Annual Conference. If you’re eligible, we encourage you to apply (and if you’re able, consider supporting the program through the NAGARA Store).

Reflections from Past Scholarship Recipients

Since its launch in 2022, NAGARA’s Travel Scholarship Program has expanded significantly (both in reach and financial investment) to support first-time conference attendees across the government archives and records management community.

Program Growth by Year
  • 2022: 3 recipients
  • 2023: 6 recipients
  • 2024: 10 recipients
  • 2025: 12 recipients
To date, NAGARA has invested more than $38,000 directly into conference access (registration, travel, and lodging support).
Access & Opportunity
  • I ended up getting to go to a conference that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to go to. (Kirsty Jones)
  • I would not have had this opportunity otherwise. (Tess Thompson)
  • Being selected as a recipient has been a true honor and privilege. (Tamekia Green-Judge)
Workplace & Career Impact
  • I am implementing insights from the sessions to help departments we work with better understand what Records Management has to offer. (Tamekia Green-Judge)
  • The resources and knowledge I learned have positively affected how I coordinate with others in my section. (Cori Pickett)
  • I already applied and shared some of the knowledge in my job and with my colleagues. (Elena Mendoza)
Professional Growth & Learning
  • I was provided a wealth of resources and information from professionals and experts in records/data management and archiving. (Cori Pickett)
  • Almost every session I attended offered thought-provoking ideas (often on topics I’d never considered before). (Sarah Arntz)
  • The classes I attended are informative and useful. (Elena Mendoza)
Confidence & Inspiration
  • Attending this conference gave me the confidence I needed to start projects that seemed daunting before. (Rheannan Pfnister)
  • I gained so much knowledge and had a blast doing so. (Maria Lawler)
  • This experience not only met my expectations but exceeded them. (Nicole Maw)
Networking & Community
  • It was really nice to be with my tribe (people who spoke my language). (Kirsty Jones)
  • I felt like I was finally among people who understood how I worked and why I worked that way. (Rheannan Pfnister)
  • There was a real sense of community everywhere I went. (Katherine Terry)
  • You made me feel welcome to a world of records management info and networking that can feel intimidating at times. (Larysa Feyti)
Continued Engagement & Future Participation
  • I have signed up to volunteer and I am excited to continue my membership with NAGARA. (Tess Thompson)
  • My supervisor has already budgeted for me to attend the conference next year. (Larysa Feyti)
Looking ahead
These reflections show the impact of the Travel Scholarship Program: expanding access, strengthening professional networks, and empowering professionals to bring ideas back to their organizations. NAGARA remains committed to growing this program and investing in the future of the profession through equitable access to education and connection.