Conference and Travel Stipend
The Cooke Conference and Travel Stipend provides Scholars with financial support to develop their academic expertise and their professional networks. Scholars are eligible to receive a one-time stipend of up to $1,800 to cover travel and conference fees to support their career readiness.
The Cooke Conference and Travel Stipend application is now open for Scholars to request funding for spring travel (occurring February 16-May 31). Click below to apply:
Only actively enrolled Cooke Undergraduate and Graduate Scholars are eligible for this funding.
Graduate Scholars may receive this stipend once during their scholarship program.
Undergraduate Scholars are eligible to receive the stipend twice during their scholarship program, if:
- the second experience shows a progression in their career development. (Example: The first experience was to attend a conference and the second experience was to present at a conference.)
- the second request is in a different academic year than the first request.
The stipend can only support travel to one event from October – May for Scholars who are actively enrolled in school at the time of their application and during the term when they intend to travel.
Scholars must be in good standing with the Foundation to receive this stipend. Any outstanding grade reports, annual reports, or final reports for the Internship Stipend need to be submitted prior to submitting a request for this stipend.
Conferences and travel that have already occurred or will occur outside of the application timeline are not eligible for this stipend.
Scholars can submit applications for the $1,800 Conference and Travel Stipend based on the following schedule:
Fall (travel occurring October 1 through February 15)
Application deadline: August 31
Notification: September 15
Spring (travel occurring February 16 through May 31)
Application deadline: January 22
Notification: February 2
Conferences and travel that have already occurred or will occur outside of the above timeframes are not eligible for this stipend.
A strong application will demonstrate:
- Benefits that can only be gained via travel experience: Does your proposed travel accomplish something that you cannot do at school? Examples include:
- Develop skills and knowledge through immersive learning experiences
- Access primary source materials or experts not available at your academic institution
- Network with other students and professionals in your chosen field of study
- Improve public speaking and presenting skills with industry-related audiences
- Deepen your understanding of a different culture, heritage, and/or environment
- Build language skills through everyday interaction with native speakers
- Relevance to major/career: We are looking for well thought out applications with travel experiences that align with academic and career goals.
- An organized, thoughtful plan: Explain what sessions you plan to attend, people you plan to meet, etc. to make the most of the travel experience.
- A progression in your career development: Show how this experience will advance your career development and build upon prior experience. This is especially important if you are submitting a proposal to receive the stipend for a second time.*
- A specific, well-researched budget: Research what flights, hotels, and registration fees will cost. Include precise numbers (not price ranges).
- Complete and accurate information: Make sure your travel dates and budget are accurate and that you have included any web site links requested. Applications with inconsistent or missing information will not be approved.
*Only Undergraduate Scholars can apply to receive the Conference and Travel Stipend a second time.
Applicants should first make sure they meet the eligibility requirements to apply. (See Eligibility tab.)
Budgeting
Applicants must complete the Cooke Conference and Travel Stipend application which includes the submission of a proposed budget. Allowable expenses to include in your budget:
- Transportation to/from your destination – Airfare, train, mileage for car travel
- Ground transportation (Ubers, taxis, subways) while you are at your event
- Lodging
- Food (up to $65/day)
- Registration fees to attend one conference
- Additional fees for poster printing or other prepared materials for presentations
Scholars should budget carefully before submitting their application. The Foundation will not provide additional funding if recipients incur additional expenses beyond those included in their proposed budget.
Funding cannot be used for:
- personal travel unrelated to the Scholar’s career development
- school trips where a Scholar will earn academic credit
- travel to return home during a school break
- travel companions
- annual membership dues
- cell phone charges or SIM cards
- moving or relocating
- graduate school visits
- job interviews
- house sitters or pet sitters
- clothing or dry cleaning
- Souvenirs
- health clubs
- pay television
The stipend can be used for expenses one travel day before and one travel day after the dates of the event. Expenses for any additional travel days will be at the Scholar’s own expense.
Logistics
Scholars will be responsible for booking all travel, lodging, and conference registration independently. The Foundation will not facilitate travel logistics on behalf of the Scholar.
We will not consider requests to travel for one-day events unless the Scholar is presenting.
Funding for international travel is limited and will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Preference will be given to Scholars who are engaging in substantive research and field work, or who are leading presentations. We will not consider requests to attend international conferences unless the Scholar is presenting.
Payment
Stipends will be paid directly to the Scholar via direct deposit (ACH) or mailed check. Applicants choose which method they prefer in the application. Direct deposit (ACH) payments will be the quicker way to receive payment as checks require several additional days to arrive via mail.
Stipends will be paid based on the following timeline:
Early October for travel occurring October 1 – December 31
Mid-November for travel occurring January 1 – February 15
Mid-February for travel occurring February 16 – May 31
Please allow a few additional days to receive a check by mail if that is the type of payment you requested.
Recipients will pay all their expenses directly. The Foundation cannot pay vendors (conference registrations, airlines, hotels, etc.) on behalf of the Scholar. The Foundation will only issue the stipend directly to the Scholar.
Post-Event Requirements
Recipients are required to submit an Outcomes Report within two weeks of completing their travel. The report should summarize the experience and its impact on the Scholar’s academic and professional development. You can find the Outcomes Report in the Resources tab.
Recipients are required to submit receipts for all expenses. Receipts paid by anyone other than the Scholar will not be accepted. You can find the Expense Report in the Resources tab.
Recipients are required to provide proof of conference registration in their own name. This can be a confirmation email, registration materials, or receipt of conference fees.
The Foundation will not provide additional funding for extended stays due to Covid-19 exposure.
Any unused funds must be returned to the Cooke Foundation.
Not sure which conference to attend? Check out the links below for some suggestions:
10 Conferences Attended by Cooke Scholars in the Fall/Winter
Comprehensive List of Conferences Attended by Cooke Scholars
Outcomes and Expense Reports
Recipients of the stipend are required to submit an Outcomes Report within two weeks of completing their travel. The report should briefly summarize the experience and its impact on the Scholar’s academic and professional development. It also includes an expense report and a place for recipients to upload all of their itemized receipts, which are a required part of the Outcomes Report.
Only actively enrolled Cooke Undergraduate and Graduate Scholars are eligible for this funding.
Graduate Scholars may receive this stipend once during their scholarship program.
Undergraduate Scholars are eligible to receive the stipend twice during their scholarship program, if:
- the second experience shows a progression in their career development. (Example: The first experience was to attend a conference and the second experience was to present at a conference.)
- the second request is in a different academic year than the first request.
The stipend can only support travel to one event from October – May for Scholars who are actively enrolled in school at the time of their application and during the term when they intend to travel.
Scholars must be in good standing with the Foundation to receive this stipend. Any outstanding grade reports, annual reports, or final reports for the Internship Stipend need to be submitted prior to submitting a request for this stipend.
Conferences and travel that have already occurred or will occur outside of the application timeline are not eligible for this stipend.
Scholars can submit applications for the $1,800 Conference and Travel Stipend based on the following schedule:
Fall (travel occurring October 1 through February 15)
Application deadline: August 31
Notification: September 15
Spring (travel occurring February 16 through May 31)
Application deadline: January 22
Notification: February 2
Conferences and travel that have already occurred or will occur outside of the above timeframes are not eligible for this stipend.
A strong application will demonstrate:
- Benefits that can only be gained via travel experience: Does your proposed travel accomplish something that you cannot do at school? Examples include:
- Develop skills and knowledge through immersive learning experiences
- Access primary source materials or experts not available at your academic institution
- Network with other students and professionals in your chosen field of study
- Improve public speaking and presenting skills with industry-related audiences
- Deepen your understanding of a different culture, heritage, and/or environment
- Build language skills through everyday interaction with native speakers
- Relevance to major/career: We are looking for well thought out applications with travel experiences that align with academic and career goals.
- An organized, thoughtful plan: Explain what sessions you plan to attend, people you plan to meet, etc. to make the most of the travel experience.
- A progression in your career development: Show how this experience will advance your career development and build upon prior experience. This is especially important if you are submitting a proposal to receive the stipend for a second time.*
- A specific, well-researched budget: Research what flights, hotels, and registration fees will cost. Include precise numbers (not price ranges).
- Complete and accurate information: Make sure your travel dates and budget are accurate and that you have included any web site links requested. Applications with inconsistent or missing information will not be approved.
*Only Undergraduate Scholars can apply to receive the Conference and Travel Stipend a second time.
Applicants should first make sure they meet the eligibility requirements to apply. (See Eligibility tab.)
Budgeting
Applicants must complete the Cooke Conference and Travel Stipend application which includes the submission of a proposed budget. Allowable expenses to include in your budget:
- Transportation to/from your destination – Airfare, train, mileage for car travel
- Ground transportation (Ubers, taxis, subways) while you are at your event
- Lodging
- Food (up to $65/day)
- Registration fees to attend one conference
- Additional fees for poster printing or other prepared materials for presentations
Scholars should budget carefully before submitting their application. The Foundation will not provide additional funding if recipients incur additional expenses beyond those included in their proposed budget.
Funding cannot be used for:
- personal travel unrelated to the Scholar’s career development
- school trips where a Scholar will earn academic credit
- travel to return home during a school break
- travel companions
- annual membership dues
- cell phone charges or SIM cards
- moving or relocating
- graduate school visits
- job interviews
- house sitters or pet sitters
- clothing or dry cleaning
- Souvenirs
- health clubs
- pay television
The stipend can be used for expenses one travel day before and one travel day after the dates of the event. Expenses for any additional travel days will be at the Scholar’s own expense.
Logistics
Scholars will be responsible for booking all travel, lodging, and conference registration independently. The Foundation will not facilitate travel logistics on behalf of the Scholar.
We will not consider requests to travel for one-day events unless the Scholar is presenting.
Funding for international travel is limited and will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Preference will be given to Scholars who are engaging in substantive research and field work, or who are leading presentations. We will not consider requests to attend international conferences unless the Scholar is presenting.
Payment
Stipends will be paid directly to the Scholar via direct deposit (ACH) or mailed check. Applicants choose which method they prefer in the application. Direct deposit (ACH) payments will be the quicker way to receive payment as checks require several additional days to arrive via mail.
Stipends will be paid based on the following timeline:
Early October for travel occurring October 1 – December 31
Mid-November for travel occurring January 1 – February 15
Mid-February for travel occurring February 16 – May 31
Please allow a few additional days to receive a check by mail if that is the type of payment you requested.
Recipients will pay all their expenses directly. The Foundation cannot pay vendors (conference registrations, airlines, hotels, etc.) on behalf of the Scholar. The Foundation will only issue the stipend directly to the Scholar.
Post-Event Requirements
Recipients are required to submit an Outcomes Report within two weeks of completing their travel. The report should summarize the experience and its impact on the Scholar’s academic and professional development. You can find the Outcomes Report in the Resources tab.
Recipients are required to submit receipts for all expenses. Receipts paid by anyone other than the Scholar will not be accepted. You can find the Expense Report in the Resources tab.
Recipients are required to provide proof of conference registration in their own name. This can be a confirmation email, registration materials, or receipt of conference fees.
The Foundation will not provide additional funding for extended stays due to Covid-19 exposure.
Any unused funds must be returned to the Cooke Foundation.
Not sure which conference to attend? Check out the links below for some suggestions:
10 Conferences Attended by Cooke Scholars in the Fall/Winter
Comprehensive List of Conferences Attended by Cooke Scholars
Outcomes and Expense Reports
Recipients of the stipend are required to submit an Outcomes Report within two weeks of completing their travel. The report should briefly summarize the experience and its impact on the Scholar’s academic and professional development. It also includes an expense report and a place for recipients to upload all of their itemized receipts, which are a required part of the Outcomes Report.
FAQs
What the Stipend Covers
In addition to the examples stated in the introduction, can the stipend be used for:
- Short (1-2 week) study abroad programs, either through independent companies or schools, such as over winter or spring break? Yes, if you will not receive academic credit as part of the experience. If you will receive academic credit, speak with your Dean of Scholar Support about adding the study abroad to your COA.
-
Independent travel that is not through an educational organization or study abroad program or with the purpose of accessing materials only available at the location? No.
- Participation in medical/dental shadowing programs? Yes.
- Short-term work opportunities, such as job shadowing, that are relevant to a Scholar’s educational purpose? Yes, if the experience is clearly relevant to their field of study.
- Travel to visit prospective graduate schools and/or go for interviews? No.
- Travel and lodging for job interviews? No.
- Travel to visit cultural sites or engage in research in or near my hometown? No, it is preferred that you visit a new location.
Can the stipend cover change fees for flight or train changes?
Yes, the stipend can cover fees for reasonable changes to travel plans.
Does the stipend cover passport fees and COVID-19 tests required for travel?
Yes, the stipend can be used for passport and visa fees and required COVID-19 testing.
Will the Foundation cover my expenses if I have to extend my stay due to COVID-19 exposure?
The Foundation is mindful of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and wishes to protect everyone’s health as best we can. We encourage Scholars to follow COVID-19 safety protocols as outlined by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of State, and/or state and local public health officials. Please do not travel if you are unwell. The Foundation will not cover expenses related to extended stays due to COVID-19 exposure.
