About Megan
Megan Rondini was sexually assaulted in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in July 2015. BuzzFeed published an article about her attack that sparked national outrage based on the failed responses of the entire criminal justice system, especially the contrasting videos of how Megan was interviewed versus the suspect in her case. Prior to the assault, Megan was a top student at the University of Alabama with a 3.8 GPA, studying biology and taking a STEM path toward an MBA. She worked in a university biology laboratory. Megan was an accomplished equestrian, loved all creatures, and planned to go to veterinary school.
Despite working hard to rebuild her life after the sexual assault, Megan was unable to overcome the depression, anxiety, and PTSD that developed in its wake, as well as the profound sense that she had lost everything important to her, while her assailant simply continued on with his life just as before. As is so often tragically the case in response to such trauma, Megan took her own life in the early morning hours of February 26, 2016.
Scholarship Details
Recipients are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses. Each scholarship will cover the full cost of registration for our 2023 conference, whether you attend in-person or virtually:
- Three full days of training with leading national experts
- Continental breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack each day (in-person)
- Electronic course material
- Access to the entire virtual conference up to 90 days after the event
The application deadline is November 14, 2022. All applicants will be notified of their award status by December 12, 2022.
Eligibility
These scholarships are only available for sworn law enforcement personnel and active prosecutors working in the US.
Applications will be rated by a review committee using standardized criteria. All applicants should therefore address each of the following factors, to receive a comprehensive score:
- Level of current and future responsibility for responding to, investigating, or prosecuting sexual assault crimes
- Availability of training opportunities on sexual assault, domestic violence, and other gender-based crimes
- Availability of funds to support conference participation (e.g., agency, community, personal)
- Evidence for the potential impact in improving knowledge and skills in this area
In the past, some applicants have been unable to use their scholarship because travel and/or leave was not approved. Therefore, if you plan to attend in-person, your application must include a letter, on Department letterhead from your supervisor, demonstrating agency support for conference participation. Applications without a letter of support will only be considered for virtual attendance.
