For the seventh year in a row, the California City Management Foundation (CCMF) is offering at least one $1,500 academic scholarship in honor of longtime San Leandro City Manager Wes McClure, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 94.

Wes McClure served as City Manager of San Leandro for 28 years. His patience and empathy were keys to a successful career working with city councils, and he played an integral part during the formation of the California City Management Foundation. This award was created in honor of Wes’s outstanding and significant contributions to the City Manager’s Department, League of California Cities, the State of California and the City Management profession. Will Provost of the University of Southern California (USC) was the latest recipient of the Wes McClure Scholarship in 2016.

CCMF is encouraging any gradate student who is currently attending (or graduating from) a California public or private university to apply. (Eligibility includes those currently in graduate school or who have been accepted into a graduate program for Fall Semester 2017.) Students will need to demonstrate how their academic pursuits and/or extracurricular activities reflects their interest in pursuing a career in local government.

The submission period for the 2017 Wes McClure Scholarship ends on May 12. To apply, applicants must submit: a cover letter, basic academic information, contact information, a 750-word (or less) essay, and two reference letters. Applicants can learn more on the Wes McClure Scholarship page of the CCMF website. CCMF is asking all local government leaders to let their networks and local higher ed institutions know about this scholarship opportunity.

CCMF is committed to supporting excellence in city management through a number of programs including scholarships for the next generation of city managers, and seminar programs such as the New and Future City Managers Seminar. Through best practices, support of ethical standards and creation of a peer network, CCMF supports hundreds of city managers across the state of California and aids retired city managers in staying connected to the profession.