Scholarships, AI, and What We’re All Rethinking This Year

Scholarship season may be over—but the real work of improvement is just beginning.

That’s why we’re bringing together two industry leaders for a timely, practical conversation:
Heather Gennette, Executive Director of Cloud County Community College, and
Kurt Reilly, Founder and CTO of AwardSpring.

Together, they’ll walk through the biggest takeaways from this past scholarship cycle—and what financial aid and scholarship professionals can do now to prepare for an even smoother, smarter season ahead.

What the Conversation Will Cover

If your team is asking any of the following questions, this is the conversation for you:

• What made this past scholarship cycle feel harder—or smoother—than usual?
• How do we make reviewer training more effective (and less time-consuming)?
• What role should AI play in scoring and student responses?
• How do we collect feedback without overwhelming students or staff?
• What should we be doing now to set up a better process later?

This session will go beyond theory and dive into the real-life challenges institutions are facing—from tight timelines to inconsistent scoring—and how teams are finding ways to simplify, streamline, and strengthen their processes.

A New Theme This Year: AI Is in the Room

One topic that’s becoming increasingly relevant? Artificial Intelligence.

Whether it’s students using AI tools to complete applications or administrators exploring AI to reduce reviewer fatigue and ensure scoring fairness, the scholarship process is changing—and the conversation is evolving.

You’ll get an early look at how leaders like Heather and Kurt are thinking about:

• AI-Generated Essays: How should reviewers adapt when AI tools are writing parts of student responses?
• Bias + Scorecard Automation: Can AI actually improve equity and consistency in the review process?
• AwardSpring’s AI Tools: Get a preview of SpringIQ—AwardSpring’s new AI-powered features like SpringScore and SpringAward, designed to help teams save time and make better, more confident decisions.

Why This Matters Now

The weeks and months immediately after awarding are some of the most important—and most overlooked—moments in the scholarship lifecycle. It’s the best time to reflect, gather insights, and adjust your process before next cycle planning ramps up.

This conversation will help you:

• Reset your strategy before the new cycle begins
• Reconnect with your purpose and your data
• Rethink outdated processes in favor of practical innovation

Final Thoughts: A Conversation You Don’t Want to Miss

Change is coming fast—from how students write to how teams review to how donors want to see impact.

Join us for a conversation that blends hindsight, insight, and foresight—and walk away with clear, actionable ways to improve your scholarship cycle.

📅 Webinar: Lessons Learned – How to Reflect, Reset, and Improve Your Scholarship Cycle
🕘 July 29, 2025 at 2 PM ET
🎙️ Featuring: Heather Gennette (Cloud County Community College) & Kurt Reilly (AwardSpring)