Scholarships
To submit a scholarship application, follow the instructions on the application, apply online or mail the completed application to the following address. Make sure you attach any documents indicated as needed per the application.
Kevin Retchless
Scholarship Committee Chairman for FVMA
| IAVM VenueConnect Annual Conference | Annual Conference Intern |
Hunter MacKenzie | Bailee Robinson |
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$500 FVMA Annual Conference Internship
| Purpose: To provide a student who is interested in the public assembly facility management profession and/or a related field an opportunity to learn more about the profession and industry by attending the Annual FVMA Conference. Also, it will provide the chance to network with practitioners within the field to learn of internship and job opportunities in the State of Florida. This year's conference will be held June 16-18, 2024 in Jensen Beach, Florida Deadline to apply is on or before May 15, 2024. | Scholarship Info Apply HERE |  |
$1000 College Scholarship
| Purpose: To provide a scholarship to a graduating high school senior or to a student attending an accredited university, college or community college, undergraduate or graduate school program who is interested in pursuing a career in the public assembly facility management and/or related field. To be a viable candidate your studies should include: Food & Beverage, Audio-Visual, Sports Management, Hospitality, or Engineering, etc. Deadline to apply is on or before May 15, 2024. | Scholarship Info Apply HERE |  |
$1000 IAVM VenueConnect Annual Conference & Tradeshow Scholarship
| Purpose: To provide a student who is interested in the public assembly facility management profession and/or a related field an opportunity to learn more about the profession and industry by attending the Annual IAVM VenueConnect Conference & Tradeshow. Also, it will provide the chance to network with practitioners within the field to learn of internship and job opportunities in the industry. The conference will be held July 31 – August 3, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA Deadline to apply is on or before May 15, 2024. | Scholarship Info Apply HERE |  |
FFMA Operations Seminar Scholarship
| Purpose: To provide a student who is interested in the public assembly facility management profession and/or a related field an opportunity to learn more about the profession and industry by attending the Annual FVMA Operations Seminar. Also, it will provide the chance to network with practitioners within the field to learn of internship and job opportunities in the State of Florida. Date: September 2024 Location: TBD Deadline to apply is on or before September 1, 2024. |  | |
The Barry Strafacci Scholarship Purpose: To provide an opportunity for an industry professional who is interested in the public assembly facility management profession and/or a related field pick an area to learn more. The individual will choose the class, training or session of their choosing and present it on their application. This is an open deadline scholarship. It will be money available when the individual is ready. Simply apply and the Committee will decide! APPLY |  | |
Past Scholarship Recipients:A comment from a past recipient of our scholarship.
After working my way up the ranks at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, formerly known as the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, I knew I stumbled on a potential career path that was fun, challenging and I was good at. The more involved I became with the building, the more I wanted to know about the industry. Then in 2006 I was given the opportunity to win the IAVM Venue Connect Scholarship and I won. Not knowing what that truly meant, I excitedly flew out to San Antonio with my building directors for the conference. What I saw was hundreds of professionals, who I aspired to become, teaching and sharing industry experiences and concerns to make each of their facilities the best it could be. Winning the scholarship and taking the trip gave me first hand knowledge of just how large the facility industry is and also gave me the opportunity to make connections with people from all over. To anyone who has the opportunity to win the IAVM Venue Connect Scholarship, take it and run with it because after attending the conference all I wanted to do was learn more and grow into a leader in the industry. Since then I have done that and strive to continue that success story.
- Lavar Smith
| Year | College Scholarship | IAVM Venue Scholarship | Operations Seminar | FFMA Annual Conference |
| 2005 | Kathlene Dayton | Kathlene Dayton | Lori Graham | David Lucier |
| 2006 | Lori Graham | Lavar Smith (UF) | Charissa Matos (UCF) | |
| 2007 | Dean Easterling, (UCF) | Daniel Larson (Brevard Community College) | Noelle Nardello (FGCU) | |
| 2008 | Christopher Topping (UF) | Daniel Larson (Brevard Community College) | Karen Williams (UF) | |
| 2009 | Stephanie Jarred | Carrey Steusen | 4 given | |
| 2010 | Justin Andrew | Casey McClear | ||
| 2011 | Michael Rogalsky (UF) | Kevin Ang (UCF) | 5 given | Alexandra Richter (UFPAC) |
| 2012 | Emmanuel Ortiz (UCF) | Andrea Wherry (UF) | 0 given | Andrew Echanique (UF) |
| 2013 | Marryam Khan (UF) | Andrew Echanique (UF) | Shari Nahr, Melissa Williams, Daniela Higuera, Esteban Urrea | Mikala Porcano (FGCU) |
| 2014 | Christina Miller | Shane Randall | Con Bailey, David Lynard | Candace Johnson |
| 2015 | Stavros Triantafyllidis | 25 given (not charged) | Joshua Hendricks (UF) | |
| 2016 | Kacey Musson | Zakiya Smith-Dore | 3 given | Shane Cummings (FAU) |
| 2017 | Yuhua Xu | Jeff Paszternak (Nova SE) | (not held) | Brendon Clough (UF) |
| 2018 | Not offered | Kayla Ann Bond | (not held) | Tony Clement (UF) |
| 2019 | Daniel Straley (UF) | Maria Tolzmann | Kathy Nguyen (UF) | Tad Boyette (UF) |
| 2020 | Tommy Soto | (not presented) | (not presented) | (not presented) |
| 2021 | (not presented) | (not presented) | (not presented) | (not presented) |
| 2022 | Gabriel Martinez | (not presented) | (not presented) | Hunter MacKenzie |
| 2023 | (not presented) | Hunter MacKenzie | (not presented) | Bailee Robinson |
| 2024 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
