Russo Scholarship Award
Scholarship Sponsored by National Public Employer Labor Relations Association Foundation
Graduate Student Scholarships — Russo Award
Overview
The Russo Graduate Student Scholarship supports U.S. citizens who are enrolled in graduate programs and pursuing advanced degrees in human resources, labor and industrial relations, public administration, or political science, and who can demonstrate a strong interest in public sector work. Preference is given to applicants who are employed by government agencies and to National PELRA members.
About Anthony “Tony” Russo
Anthony C. Russo, known as Tony, was a leading figure in public sector collective bargaining and played a significant role in founding and expanding National PELRA. The scholarship honors his contributions to the field.
Applicant testimonials
- “Receiving a scholarship to pay for the CLRP exam was transformational. The application process was straightforward, and the financial support allowed my agency to avoid using general funds—always helpful for HR teams asked to do more with less. I strongly encourage anyone pursuing a career in labor relations to apply. It was a meaningful investment in my development.” — Dalton Johnson, Senior Human Resource Generalist, Missoula
- “As a lifelong learner, this scholarship has been vital to reaching my personal and professional objectives. After I complete this graduate degree, I plan to teach part-time as an adjunct in HR, labor relations, and business management. It’s important for students to learn from instructors who are actively working in the field.” — Holland Atkinson, Chief Labor Relations Officer, Hennepin County
- “I’m very grateful to the NPELRA Foundation for covering my certification exam fee. After attending all three academies in 2022, taking the CLRP had been a goal of mine. Because of the scholarship, I plan to sit for the exam in February and hope to be recognized as a newly certified CLRP at the 2025 NPELRA conference. Thank you to Rick and the Foundation board for this support.” — Jade Corley, Labor Relations Consultant and Interim HR Business Partner, Washington
Award amount and recipient expectation
- Scholarship amount: $3,000
- Recipients of the Russo Scholarship should be prepared to give a brief account to National PELRA Annual Training Conference attendees about how the award influenced their educational path and professional development.