Scholarships

Scholarships and support for professional development among our members are a priority for the Sierra Pacific Region. Thanks to the generosity of members who have supported our annual auction and other fundraisers, we are pleased to be able to offer financial support for professional development opportunities for the 2025 Workshop Training Series:

1. Multiple scholarships (up to $120/person) are available for the 2025 Workshop Training Series.
2. Three professional grants for NAI Certification Courses (up to $250/person) are available year-round on a first-come first-served basis.

You are not required to be a member of NAI Sierra Pacific Region to apply for these funds, but if you are selected to receive a scholarship or a grant you will be required to become a member before receiving your reimbursement check.

Application information for both Certification and Workshop scholarships may be found below.  Please see  NAI’s website  for details on NAI’s membership categories.

Current Scholarship opportunities below:

NAI National Conference Scholarship Available

Thanks to a generous donation, plus our regional fundraising, the Sierra Pacific community Board is able to offer a $1,500 scholarship to attend this year’s NAI National Conference in Virginia Beach, VA (Nov 11-15, 2025).  We’re also offering regional scholarships for our final training workshop event. 

Hurry! The deadline for scholarship applications is October 1, 2025, just a few weeks from now. 

Special thanks to long-time interpreter Phil Sexton for his extra support for our National Conference scholarship program. He writes: I have had an amazing career for over 35 years now, working in the interpretive profession. There have been many things connected with NAI and its membership that have been instrumental in giving me the capability of doing this. 

If you are a college student or emerging professional with passion, drive, and interest, who would benefit from attending this year’s conference, we encourage you to apply! Attending a National Conference is a great way to expand your network, learn from nationally recognized presenters, and gain insight into some of the newest trends and applications in interpretation. 

If you are encouraged by Phil’s gift and would like to make a donation of your own to Sierra Pacific scholarships, we welcome your support for our members.  

2025 Sierra Pacific Regional Workshop

For the 2025 season, the Sierra Pacific Region will be offering a unique Workshop Training Series. This series will include 4 in-person Community Events hosted in different locations around the region: Bay Area, North Coast Area, Nevada Area and the Sacramento Area. You can register for one event or multiple events. There will be a discount if you register for more than one Community Event. 

Specific scholarship details will be available when you register for the events. 

Considerations: 

• You do not need to be an NAI member at the time of application, but you will be required to become a member to be eligible to receive scholarship funds if your application is approved. 

• Scholarship recipients are required to submit a short article or video within one month of attending the Workshop Series’ virtual or in-person Community Events about their experience for publication on our Region’s social media sites & newsletter. 

Please fill out & submit this Scholarship Application Form for the 2025 Workshop Training Series.

NAI Professional Certification Grants

In order to support the growth and development of our members as interpreters and change-makers, the Sierra Pacific Region is pleased to offer professional grants of up to $250 for members pursuing certification through any of NAI’s certification courses (CIG, CIH, CIT, CIM, CHI, CIP). You do not need to be a member of NAI in order to apply for a grant; however, if you are selected you will be required to join NAI before receiving your grant funds. Please visit NAI’s site for information on NAI membership categories and on the various certification courses.

Applications may be submitted anytime throughout the year and will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on availability.

Contact Ashley Grenier for a Certification Grant Application form:  agrenier@ebparks.org.