SCACE Annual Conference

Leah Hughes Graduate Student Scholarship: 2026

Application Information

In honor and memory of Leah Hughes, our three time past-president and longtime member and tireless advocate of SCACE, and in an effort to expand interest and knowledge of the career counseling and college recruiting fields, the SC Association of Colleges and Employers (SCACE) has created graduate student scholarships to encourage graduate students in relevant programs to assume a professional identity and leadership following graduation.

The scholarship application is now closed!

Qualifications of Scholarship Applicants:

• Current graduate student in South Carolina or accepted into a related South Carolina graduate program at the time of application
• First time attendee at a SCACE Conference
• Interest in career services, recruiting, and/or human resources as a future career
• Commitment to professional development
• Availability to attend the conference scheduled in May of the year of the award.

Application Requirements:

• Resume
• Answering these questions:
• • Why are you interested in attending the SCACE Annual Conference?
  • What do you hope to gain by attending this conference?
• Recommendation Letter (1) – from supervisor or professor
• If entering a graduate program for Fall 2026, must provide a copy of admittance letter or other verification proof, containing name of the school and program.

Application Procedure:

• Submit the documents detailed above to the SCACE Conference Graduate Student Scholarship Committee by April 1, 2026 (see email address above).
• The scholarship recipient will be notified by April 15, 2026.
• The scholarship recipient will have until April 24, 2026 to accept the scholarship with the acknowledgement of their duties as a recipient.
• The scholarship recipient will then receive information about membership, conference registration, and virtual conference details.

Duties of Scholarship Recipient:

• Attend the conference and participate in programs and breakout sessions
• Compose a submission for the SCACE newsletter (within one month of the conference) describing their experience and what they learned
• Carry out a social media take-over during the conference
• Act as a room host for at least one program during the conference

Benefits for Scholarship Recipient:

• 1 year SCACE Membership
• Conference Registration Fee
• Hotel Accommodations*
  
  * For up to two nights.  Does not include incidental fees the recipient may incur for additional services or amenities such as room service, in-room movies, mini bar items, etc.