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This scholarship awarded for attendance at the NATLE Annual Meeting honors the memory of our Past President Tommy Townsend. Tommy served for 23 years as Executive Director of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. He was president of NATLE in 2010-11.
Tommy was a dedicated professional and committed to helping others succeed. He served as Chairman of the Texas Society of Association Executives and Chairman of the Political Action Committee of the American Society of Association Executives. One of his favorite and lesser-known passions was privately funding educational scholarships for young people who demonstrated a love for public service. Tommy was a voracious reader who never stopped wanting to learn. It’s quite fitting that we honor Tommy this way.
The National Association of Trial Lawyer Executives awards scholarships to Regular or Associate Members of NATLE for furthering their knowledge and professionalism. We view continuing education essential for NATLE members who dedicated to the goals and objectives of NATLE and the preservation of the civil justice system.
- Scholarships are awarded only to NATLE members (chief staff executives or association staff). Chief Staff Executives receive priority.
- Recipients must have been a member for at least one year at the time the application is submitted and be a member in good standing.
- Recipients must not have received a scholarship within the last three years.
- The scholarship is for the exclusive use of the recipient and may not be transferred.
- Scholarships are used for travel-related or other expenses incurred to attend the Annual Meeting in a given year. These expenses are reimbursed up to a designated limit for each scholarship (no more than $2,500). Accommodations must be arranged by the recipient and will be reimbursed at the actual rate or at an amount equal to the room block rate, whichever is less; and will cover the night before the first day of plenary session through the night of the last day of plenary session to allow for travel.
- Awardee is responsible for making all travel arrangements; scholarship funds are distributed as a reimbursement. Expenses associated with cancellations are borne by the awardee and are not reimbursed.
- The recipient must attend the entire educational program for which the scholarship is awarded or forfeit the scholarship funds. Requests for modifications to the scholarship must be provided to the Scholarship Committee no less than 45 days before the designated program.
- The number of scholarships given annually is determined by the availability of funds.
- The NATLE registration fee is waived for the recipient.
- Each scholarship may have restrictions and limitations not listed here.
- Recipients are required to set appointments with all Justice Partners and vendor sponsors during the relative program.
- TLA Staff: You are required to receive approval from your TLA ED before submitting an application.
Interested individuals will provide details to the committee of how their participation in a NATLE educational program will both enhance their professionalism and contribute to the success of their organization. They will demonstrate financial need, as well as any other reason they believe would qualify them to receive the scholarship. We assure all applicants confidentiality about any financial disclosures; however, recipients are announced to the membership as scholarship winners.
A call for scholarship applications is issued each year according to the timeline below on the closest business day of each date. The deadline to submit applications is on or about April 10. As applications are accepted, copies are sent by staff to all Scholarship Committee members for review, along with the applicant’s relevant membership participation and activities.
The Scholarship Committee convenes by conference call as often as necessary to discuss applications and determine recipients. Recipients are named no later than the third week of April for the Tommy Townsend Memorial Annual Meeting Scholarship.
Mid March: First call for Tommy Townsend Annual Meeting Scholarship Applications
Mid April: Deadline for Tommy Townsend Annual Meeting Scholarship Applications
Third week of April: Townsend Scholarship Recipient(s) Notified and Announced
