For over 16 years, Apple admins have gathered at the Jamf Nation User Conference (JNUC) to learn, connect and discover better ways to manage and secure Apple devices.
In its tenth year, the JNUC Diversity Sponsorship awards 10 individuals a full conference registration, a meet-and-greet with Jamf leaders, a networking happy hour and a $500 stipend to help cover expenses. We're looking for passionate people eager to learn and bring fresh perspectives to the tightest community in high tech.
Applications close at 5 p.m. CST on May 1, 2026. Apply now!
Read further to get all the details about Scooter and Alan's first-hand experience as scholarship recipients.
SCOOTER’S STORY
My name is Scooter Kohler and I currently work at Alhambra ESD in Phoenix, Az. My journey with Apple hardware didn't start in a server room; it started in my daily life. I’ve been a MacBook user for the entirety of my adult life, drawn in by the clean hardware and stayed for the intuitive nature of the software. When the opportunity arose to manage those same devices professionally, I couldn't pass it up.
I officially entered the IT administration field in March 2025, things moved fast. Within a month, I was promoted to Technician II at the Alhambra Elementary School District. Today, I manage a complex environment of MacBooks and mobile devices, ensuring our students and staff have the tools they need to succeed.
Working for a school district means navigating tight budgets. Without the Jamf Diversity Scholarship, attending a major conference like JNUC simply wouldn't have been possible.
When I saw the application open, I figured I had nothing to lose and the experience of a lifetime to gain. I decided to be 100% authentic. I put my real self into that application, sharing my passion for the Mac ecosystem and my drive to grow, hoping they would see the person behind the admin.
The moment I found out I was selected, I was in total disbelief. I actually thought they’d sent the email to the wrong person! Once it sank in, I was filled with a sense of gratitude and joy that didn't leave my face for weeks. Telling my boss that I’d been selected was a career highlight I’ll never forget.
Walking into JNUC in Denver was an incredible, albeit slightly nerve-wracking, experience. Though I had been named a 2025/26 Jamf Hero and met a few people virtually beforehand, I was worried about being the "new person" in a room full of veterans who had known each other for years.
I couldn't have been more wrong. The community welcomed me with open arms. The energy was electric, and everyone I spoke to was incredibly kind and eager to help. It felt like taking a sip out of a fire hose because of the sheer volume of information, but it was exhilarating.
One of the most impactful moments was the lunch with Jamf’s C-level employees. Sitting at the table with leadership really put into perspective how much Jamf cares about the individuals in this community. It gave me a true sense of belonging.
While every session was valuable, the session on APIs was the one that truly sparked a fire in me. I had played with the idea of APIs before, but the instructor made the content so accessible and clear that I left wanting to learn everything.
That spark has stayed with me. I am currently taking a scripting course that focuses on APIs, and while I’m still in the learning and practicing phase, I can already see how these tools will eventually transform the workflows at my district.
The biggest thing I brought home from JNUC wasn't a tool or a piece of software; it was a mission. I was shocked to find out that Phoenix didn't have an active Mac Admin user group. Feeling so connected at the conference motivated me to change that.
I am a big believer in building the community around you. With the incredible support of mentors like
Professionally, the steam I gained at JNUC has propelled me forward. I’m currently working on my Jamf 200 certification and have set a goal to achieve my Jamf 300 by the end of the year.
To anyone sitting on the fence about hitting "submit" on that Diversity Scholarship application: Do it.
This program is vital because it opens doors for people who have the drive but might lack the budget or the access to attend. It proves that Jamf supports diversity and values admins at every stage of their career, from the seasoned pros to those of us just starting our journey.
If you are new to the ecosystem and have never been to JNUC, you are the perfect candidate. It’s intimidating to put yourself out there, but this experience can honestly change the trajectory of your entire life. It certainly changed mine.
Alan’s Story
My name is Alan West, although many people in the community know me as
My path into Jamf started in a practical way. I was asked to evaluate different Mac device management platforms, and that process is what first drew me in. Like a lot of people in Apple administration, I saw my connection to the larger community grow alongside the tools. Over time, Jamf became part of my professional world, but so did the people around it.
The idea of applying for the Diversity Sponsorship came after I had already experienced JNUC in different ways. During the pandemic, I attended virtually. My first in-person JNUC was when the conference came to my home city of Nashville, and I knew I could not miss it. Before that, attendance had not always been possible due to cost or scheduling constraints. That is the reality for many people, even those who have been in this space for a long time.
What pushed me to actually apply came from a conversation that stuck with me. At JNUC in Nashville, another attendee I knew through the Mac Admins Slack found me at one of the happy hours and told me about his own journey. He told me that if I wanted to attend a future JNUC, I should apply. That moment mattered. Sometimes all it takes is someone else seeing a path for you and saying, clearly, “You should do this.”
Even so, being selected was a complete and utter shock. After so many years in the Apple and Jamf communities, I did not think someone at my level of experience would be chosen. I think that surprise says a lot about how many people quietly disqualify themselves before they ever apply. We make assumptions about who these opportunities are for. We tell ourselves that other people are more qualified, more deserving, or a better fit. I had some of those thoughts,too.
What I already knew from Nashville, and what Denver reinforced, is that JNUC has a kind of energy that is hard to describe unless you have been there. The best word I can use is electric. It is a cacophony of sights and sounds, but in the best way. There is movement everywhere, conversations happening all around you, and a feeling that you are in a space filled with people who care deeply about the same work you care about.
One of the moments that stood out most to me was seeing
Attending as a sponsored recipient also changed the way I moved through the conference. I felt a greater sense of responsibility during my time there. I want to make sure people know this opportunity exists. I also wanted to highlight the people who, in my mind, helped make my attendance possible. That gave the experience a deeper sense of purpose. I was there not only for myself, but as someone who wanted to point other people toward the same door that had been opened for me.
What I took away from JNUC in Denver was not a tool, a script, or a workflow. It was connection. I connected with a special group of people in my cohort, and I connected more deeply with members of the Heroes community whom I had previously known only through Jamf Nation or the Mac Admins Slack. Those were not temporary conference conversations. Many of those connections have continued to grow, whether through Heroes, user group leaders, or simply through people reaching out and staying in touch.
That mattered because my career had already begun to shift the way I thought about my place in this community. After JNUC in Nashville, I had begun thinking more seriously about where I fit and what I wanted to contribute. JNUC in Denver helped sharpen that. It helped me think more clearly about what I want to be known for: a helper, a connector, a friend.
That is also why programs like the Diversity Sponsorship matter. In my application, I talked about the need for opportunities like this to exist so that no one is left behind and so that as many seats at the table and as many voices as possible are heard. That idea is not abstract to me. I am a disabled veteran, and even then, I did not think that was enough of a “diversity” to qualify me for the sponsorship. I almost counted myself out. Looking back, I think that is exactly why these programs are so important. They create room for people who may not immediately see themselves reflected in the opportunity, but absolutely belong in it.
To anyone who is on the fence about applying, my advice is simple: don’t think about it, do it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. This program is for more people than they may realize. If there is something in your life, your background, or your journey that has shaped who you are and how you move through this work, that matters. Bring that forward. Apply. Let someone else say yes.
And for the broader community, that is the real value of a program like this. It does more than help someone attend a conference. It makes the community stronger by widening it, making it more human, and more connected. At a time when people need to know they have a place and a voice, that kind of commitment matters more than ever.
