Robert M. Odell Endowed Scholarship In Public Administration

The California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO) established the Robert M. Odell endowed scholarship fund in April 1987 to honor the former city treasurer of Los Angeles. The scholarships are awarded on an alternating basis between northern and southern geographic regions of California to the seventeen campuses offering degree programs in public administration.

Four (4) scholarships for the amount of $2,500 each will be awarded.

Applicants must:
 Be in a degree program in public administration
 Be in good standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
 Be currently enrolled as a full-time, upper division undergraduate or graduate student in public administration and must remain a full-time student in good standing during the academic year in which the award is received.
 Not be a previous recipient of this award.

Strong consideration will be given to an applicant who is also:
 A public administration major specializing in finance.
 A first generation college student.

Award
$2,500
Deadline
03/03/2025
Supplemental Questions
  1. Are you a previous recipient of this scholarship?
  2. Personal Statement. Please provide a response to each of the four questions below (300 word count for each).
    • 1. What experience has impacted your personal growth?
    • 2. Tell us about a time you failed. What did you learn from that experience?
    • 3. Why are you pursuing your major? How does it relate to your career aspirations?
    • 4. Provide an example of service beyond the classroom (i.e., have you taken on significant family obligations, helped others in a specific way, been involved in political action, worked/volunteered/interned at a particular organization, etc.). Why is this example significant to you?