Scholarships

Special District Leadership Foundation

SDLF offers a number of scholarships, designed to help special district elected/appointed officials and staff participate in the foundation’s programs and other educational offerings.

James Kohnen

Dr. James Kohnen, Special District Leadership Academy, Scholarship

This scholarship fund is no longer available for 2018.

This scholarship is for registration fees for the Special District Leadership Academy Conference or Governance Foundations module and is open to elected/appointed special district board members from districts with budgets of less than $8 million, who have not previously completed the Special District Leadership Academy. ​

A rolling deadline is the 15th of each month and award notification will be made by the 30th of each month as funds are available.

Dr. Kohnen spent much of his life in public service and always promoted the importance of education. He served on the boards of Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District, Dublin San Ramon Services District, Alameda County Water Conservation and Flood Control District and the California Special Districts Association. While serving on the CSDA Board, he chaired the professional development committee and also served on the SDLF Board of Directors.

John Yeakley

John Yeakley, Special District Administrator, Scholarship

This scholarship is for registration fees for continuing education related to special district governance and operations for general managers and executive staff of districts with budgets of less than $8 million. Applicants must be currently pursuing their Special District Administrator (SDA) designation. ​

A rolling deadline is the 15th of each month and award notification will be made by the 30th of each month as funds are available.

Application

John Yeakley served as general manager of Bear Valley Community Services District for almost 20 years and as a highly valued member of the Special District Risk Management Authority Board of Directors. He was one of the first individuals to earn the Special District Administrator certification through SDLF in 2001 and the Recognition in Special District Governance from SDLF in 2004.