Exciting changes to the program! We are pleased to announce changes to the program for the first time in several years. If you have never participated in the program, you are encouraged to apply to become one of twenty Traffic Safety Scholars who can receive a $1,100 scholarship for the conference. If you previously attended Lifesavers as a Scholar and are currently pursuing your graduate degree, apply to become one of four Traffic Safety Fellows who can receive a $1,300 scholarship. Mentored by a traffic safety professional, each Fellow will lead a cohort of five Scholars. Fellows will hold a virtual pre-conference orientation and host an evening event with their cohort.

You must be a student enrolled on a full- or part-time basis at an accredited college or university during the Fall 2025/Spring 2026 academic year.  You must fully complete and submit the online application, including a recommendation from your academic advisor, on or before midnight (Eastern Time), Saturday, November 1, 2025. Note: You must still be a student during the Spring 2026 semester to qualify.

Note to students outside the United States: If you are coming from outside the United States, you must have or be able to obtain a visa or meet the requirements of the Visa Waiver Program. In your application, you will be asked to attest that you have begun the visa application process. Even if you didn’t need a visa for a previous Lifesavers Conference, please check the current requirements.

All qualified and eligible applications will be reviewed by a committee of traffic safety experts. All applications must include a 60-90-second video that meets the TSSF criteria. Applicants may be subject to an interview with the Review Committee, who reserves the right to not award scholarships if there are no suitable applicants and the right to limit the number of scholars selected based on available scholarship funding and upon institution and/or affiliation.

All students will be notified of their application status on or before December 19, 2025. Those selected as a potential 2026 TSSF must confirm their acceptance of the scholarship award on or before Friday, January 2, 2026. Selected students will receive a TSSF exclusive reduced conference registration rate of $100.

Students selected as Scholars who live and/or attend school within 50 miles of Baltimore, Maryland will be awarded a $600 scholarship; all others will receive $1,100. Fellows in the 50-mile zone will be awarded a $700 scholarship while all others will receive $1,300. The scholarship must be used to defray Lifesavers Conference expenses (i.e., airfare, accommodations, food), which could range from $1,600 to $3,000, depending on when you purchase airfare and whether you share a hotel room. A letter of accreditation and a check will be mailed to the students after the conference and upon completion of the requirements noted below. 

• Participate in the online pre-conference orientation in February 2026.
• Pay the $100 TSSF exclusive registration fee that guarantees admission to more than 70 workshops, three plenary sessions, exhibit hall, two lunches and refreshment breaks, and networking meetings with traffic safety professionals.
• Attend the entire conference (April 19-21, 2026), which also includes participation in a pre-conference breakfast with Lifesavers Planning Committee members and industry leaders on Sunday morning, April 19, and a debrief breakfast meeting on Tuesday morning, April 21.
• Post about their Lifesavers experience using social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, college/university website, blogging site) during and/or immediately after the conference and forward the link to Lifesavers for future promotional purposes.