In 2010, GFOA's Executive Board voted to create the Government Finance Professional Development Scholarship to support the studies of students with a career interest in state and local government finance. The scholarship was renamed to the Betty Jo Harker Professional Development Scholarship in 2024. The required courses of study are public administration, (governmental) accounting, finance, economics, or business administration (with specific focus on government). Applicants must have been employed for at least two years by one or more state or local governments. Two letters of recommendation from an employer, and someone who can speak to the applicant's commitment to the public sector must be submitted. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Government Finance Officers Association for more information.