TMCA Major Scholarship Awards

Scholarship Committee will consider all applications, deliberate on the factors of eligibility, and designate the scholarship awards for all of one calendar year. The actual presentation of the awards will occur at the Annual TMCA Awards Banquet, held in conjunction with the TMCCP Advanced Institute. Scholarship winners will be notified that they have received a scholarship.

The deadline for annual scholarship applications is June 15. 

The recipient(s) will be notified by the end of August and attendance at the TMCA Annual Awards event confirmed.

NOTE: Members apply for TMCA Major Scholarships in the current calendar year and, if awarded, must use the funds in the following calendar year. TMCA Major Scholarships are awarded at the TMCA Annual Banquet.

Purpose of Scholarships

The purpose of the TMCA major scholarship program is to advance the education, professional development, and job performance of Texas Municipal Clerks by providing financial assistance to the members who are enrolled in the Texas Municipal Clerks Certification or Recertification Program.

Scholarships will be used toward pursuit of the Texas Registered Municipal Clerk Certification or Recertification. Scholarships are also available for eligible Texas Registered Municipal Clerks (TRMCs) who are pursuing a bachelor’s or graduate degree in a program of study that directly enhances the recipient’s professional job performance.

Scholarship Sources

Depending on the applicant’s intended use of the scholarship—TMCCP or college/university study—the applicant may be granted a scholarship from one of the following sources, chosen by the Scholarship Committee.

1. Dorothy F. Byrd Scholarship
   Maximum amount awarded: $500 each
   Intended use: Pursuit of either the Texas Registered Municipal Clerk Certification/Recertification (TRMC) or eligible college/university study
   History: The Dorothy F. Byrd Scholarship was established in 1993 by the members of the Texas Municipal Clerks Association, Inc., to honor Dorothy Byrd. Dorothy Byrd was the founding Executive Director of the Texas Municipal Clerks Certification Program and Texas Municipal Clerks Association, Inc.

   
   In recognition of Dorothy Byrd's exemplary contributions and years of dedicated service to the office of the municipal clerk and to local government, the TMCA, Inc., founded this scholarship to promote the education and professional development of the Texas municipal clerk.

2. Dr. Joyce Snay Scholarship
   Maximum amount awarded: $500
   Intended use: Pursuit of the Texas Registered Municipal Clerk Certification (TRMC) or Recertification
   History: The Dr. Joyce Snay Scholarship was established in 2008 to honor former TMCCP/TMCA Education Director Dr. Joyce Snay.

3. Vendor Scholarships
   Maximum amount awarded: $500
   Intended use: Pursuit of the Texas Registered Municipal Clerk Certification (TRMC) or Recertification
   History: Various donors contribute funds toward Texas Municipal Clerks scholarships in recognition of the mission of TMCA, Inc., and TMCCP, which states, “The Texas Municipal Clerks Association, Inc., and the Texas Municipal Clerks Certification Program are dedicated to providing an educational and professional development program for novice and experienced municipal clerks.”

Scholarship Administration

The Chair of the Scholarship Committee must receive all scholarship applications by June 15 of each year.

The TMCA, Inc., treasurer disburses scholarship funds to the recipient(s) on a cost-reimbursement basis not to exceed the amount(s) awarded. The recipient(s) shall be reimbursed for qualifying expenses incurred between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 of the year following the award of scholarship.

The recipient must submit the Request for Reimbursement Form along with a copy of receipt(s) to receive payment for reimbursable expenses.

Reimbursable expenses depend upon the scholarship awarded. Each scholarship and eligible expenses are listed below:

• Dorothy F. Byrd Scholarship (for TMCCP certification/recertification or college) Reimbursable expenses are exclusive to 

• TMCCP expenses: cost of enrollment, textbooks, exam fees, and TMCCP seminar registration fees and travel expenses
• College expenses: credit-hour tuition fees, (extension and correspondence courses listed in the institutional catalog that apply to the recipient(s) degree plan are acceptable), building use fees, student service fees, identification card fees, publications fees, union building fees, property damage fees, science laboratory fees, and academic department fees
• Dr. Joyce Snay Scholarship (for TMCCP certification/recertification)
  Reimbursable expenses are exclusive to: enrollment fees, textbooks, exam fees, TMCCP seminar registration fees and travel expenses
• Vendor Scholarships
  Reimbursable expenses are exclusive to: enrollment fees, textbooks, exam fees, TMCCP seminar registration fees and travel expenses