Peter F. Lydens Scholarship for Municipal Employees

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As the largest
university-based local
government training,
advisory, and research
organization in the United
States, the School of
Government serves more
than 12,000 public officials
each year.

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Knapp Library

The Joseph Palmer Knapp Library houses a large collection of material on state and local government, public administration, and management to support the School's instructional and research programs and the educational mission of the Master of Public Administration program. Reference and research services are available to all residents of North Carolina, and additional assistance is available to state and local government personnel, both elected and appointed.

The Peter F. Lydens Scholarship for Municipal Employees offers partial tuition assistance to qualified municipalemployeesparticipating in the School of Government’s Municipal and County Administration course. Preference will be given to enrollees whose participation is dependent on financial support. Other factors that may be considered are the number of individuals in a unit that have already graduated from the course and how critical the course is to the governmental unit and to the applicant’s future career goals. 

History 

Peter F. Lydens was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1930. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War, Peter returned to Michigan to earn his bachelor’s degree in political science and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Michigan. In 1961 he was recruited to be the first city manager of Mount Airy, North Carolina and went on to serve for more than 50 years in various capacities with local governments in North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Peter passed away in November 2020.

The Peter F. Lydens Scholarship for Municipal Employees was established to honor Lyden’s legacy of service and commitment not only to local government but also to the countless number of local government public servants with whom he worked and mentored. This scholarship hopes to lay the foundation for municipal employees to enjoy long careers in public service. 

To support the Peter F. Lydens Scholarship for Municipal Employees Endowment Fund (051535) go here.

Past Recipients