Purpose

The League Young Professionals Legacy Scholarship Program is designed to support first-time attendees employed in facility or event operations by covering the cost of registration for the League’s Annual Symposium. Awards may be either Full or Partial Scholarships.

The program is funded through a designated portion of membership dues contributed by retired Allied members, providing a meaningful opportunity for long-standing members and/or long-serving industry professionals to invest in the next generation of industry professionals.

League Scholarship Application Fall 2026 (Winter 2027).pdf

Application Deadline: October 15, 2026

Awarded by: November 15, 2026

Program Objectives

The Legacy Scholarship Program is intended to:

• ·         Encourage new participation in the League’s Annual Symposium.
• ·         Reduce financial barriers for first-time attendees.
• ·         Foster industry engagement and professional development.
• ·         Provide retired members with a meaningful legacy contribution opportunity.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for consideration, applicants must:

• 1.       Be a first-time attendee of the League’s Annual Symposium.
• 2.       Be employed by, affiliated with, or actively engaged in an agricultural, equine, or related facility or organization that has been a League member for at least one calendar year.
• 3.       Demonstrate a professional interest in and potential benefit from participation in the Annual Symposium.
• 4.       Have not previously received a Young Professionals Legacy Scholarship.
• 5.       Submit a complete application by the stated deadline.

Preferred Qualifications

The following factors are preferred, but are not required for eligibility:

• ·         Early-career professionals, generally defined as individuals with fewer than 5–7 years of industry experience.
• ·         Individuals employed by organizations with limited professional development budgets.

Application Requirements

To be considered for a Legacy Scholarship, applicants must submit:

• ·         A completed scholarship application form.
• ·         A 300–500 word personal statement addressing:
• ·         Professional background.
• ·         Professional goals.
• ·         Interest in attending the Annual Symposium.
• ·         Expected benefits of attending the Symposium and how the knowledge gained will be applied.
• ·         A letter of support from the applicant’s employer or a professional reference.

Selection Criteria

Scholarship recipients will be selected based on the following considerations:

1. Commitment to the Industry

Demonstrated commitment to the agricultural, equine, and/or event facility industry through professional experience, expressed interest in industry education, and the potential application of knowledge gained through Symposium participation.

2. Alignment with The League

Demonstrated alignment with The League’s mission, vision, and core values.

3. Professional Goals & Anticipated Impact

Clarity of professional goals and the anticipated impact of participation in the Annual Symposium on the applicant, their organization, and/or the broader industry.

4. Financial Need

Financial need may be considered when evaluating applications.

5. Geographic & Organizational Diversity

Geographic and organizational diversity may be considered, as feasible, to encourage broad participation across the League membership.

2026–2027 Timeline & Key Deadlines

Date	Milestone
September 2026	Scholarship announced and applications made available
October 15, 2026	Applications due to the League Office and Awards Chair
November 15, 2026	Recipient(s) notified of award
November 30, 2026	Deadline for recipients to confirm attendance and provide proof of travel arrangements to the League Office and Awards Chair
December 1, 2026	Public announcement of scholarship recipient(s)

Award Structure

Full Scholarship

Covers 100% of the Annual Symposium registration fee.

Partial Scholarship

Covers a defined portion of the Annual Symposium registration fee, up to 50% of the registration fee.

Additional Program Provisions

• ·         Scholarships apply to registration fees only.
• ·         Travel, lodging, meals, and other personal expenses are the responsibility of the scholarship recipient.
• ·         Scholarship funds are applied directly to the recipient’s Symposium registration and are not disbursed as cash.
• ·         Scholarships are non-transferable and may only be used by the individual named in the scholarship award.
• ·         The League reserves the right to determine the number and amount of scholarships awarded based on available funding and the quality of applications received.

Recipient Expectations

Legacy Scholarship recipients are expected to:

• ·         Attend the full Annual Symposium.
• ·         Participate actively in key educational sessions and networking opportunities.
• ·         Apply knowledge gained through the Symposium to their professional responsibilities when appropriate.
• ·         Provide a brief post-event summary, testimonial, or other feedback regarding their Symposium experience.
• ·         Optionally serve as an ambassador for the Legacy Scholarship Program by encouraging future participation by young and emerging industry professionals.