Gold Flame Scholarship | Virtual Academy

NENA & APCO Gold Flame Scholarship Application

Investing in the Voices Behind the Call
Every 9-1-1 professional deserves access to learning, connection, and growth—regardless of budget size or agency resources.

The Virtual Academy NENA & APCO Scholarship Program was created to remove barriers and open doors for dedicated telecommunicators who are making a difference every day.

This scholarship supports first-time attendees to either the NENA Conference or APCO International Conference, covering conference registration and up to $2,500 in travel expenses.

Who Should Apply
This opportunity is for 9-1-1 professionals who:

Are first-time attendees of a NENA or APCO national conference

Are active users of Virtual Academy

Demonstrate dedication to professional growth despite limited funding

Positively impact their center, peers, and community

Are committed to bringing knowledge back to strengthen their agency

If you’ve ever thought, “I wish I could attend, but it’s just not in the budget,”—this scholarship was built with you in mind.

What the Scholarship Covers:

Selected recipients will receive:

Conference registration for NENA or APCO

Up to $2,500 in travel expenses, which may include airfare, hotel, meals, and ground transportation

Recognition as a Virtual Academy Scholarship Recipient

This is more than attendance—it’s an investment in your voice, your growth, and your center.

Application Deadline is April 15, 2026

First name

Last name

Department Name

Phone

Which scholarship are you applying for?

NENA

APCO

Both (you will be evaluated for both and only selected for one)

2. Overcoming Limited Training Resources. Share a real example of how you or your agency navigated limited funding for training and still found ways to grow professionally.

3. Conference Impact & Knowledge Sharing. Explain how attending a NENA or APCO conference will support your development--and how you'll bring that knowledge back to uplift your center and colleagues.

4. Meaningful Impact in 9-1-1. Describe a moment where your work made a meaningful difference. This can be a call, a connection, or a quiet moment that mattered.

5. Strengthening Your Center. Tell us how you contribute to teamwork, culture, peer support, or positive change within your agency.

VIDEO SUBMISSION. Please submit a short video answering: What does it mean to you to be the reason people trust 9-1-1?