SAID Conference Student Travel Awards

The 2026 SAID Conference will be held at Hyatt Centric Minneapolis in Minneapolis, MN, June 10-13, 2026, with the Student Pre-conference Day on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. All student members who meet eligibility requirements (listed below) are welcome to apply for a travel award. However, a limited number of awards are available and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

You may want to explore the possibility that your school can sponsor your travel to the conference. If you are planning to go through your school, please go ahead and fill out this application form. Just let us know.

Award Eligibility Requirements

SAID Student members who meet requirements and are registered for the 2026 SAID Conference by April 16, 2026, are eligible to receive conference travel awards for the 2026 conference. Awardees will be notified soon thereafter.

Additional Requirements:
  • 2026 SAID Membership
  • 2026 Conference registration
  • Official documentation of Tribal Enrollment.

In order to receive the travel award, students (pre-dental, dental, and residents) must be able to attend the entire conference, including pre-conference activities designated for students. Students, therefore, must arrive on Tuesday, June 9, to attend the pre-conference scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, and stay through the entire conference, which concludes on Saturday, June 13, around noon.

What the Travel Award Includes

Air or Car Travel

If you are flying to the conference:

  • The travel award will cover up to $600 towards your roundtrip airfare for an economy/coach seat. Any upgrades are the responsibility of the student traveler. “Roundtrip” is defined as: “travel from your home airport to Minneapolis Airport (MSP) and your return back to your home airport from Minneapolis Airport (MSP).”

  • SAID has contracted with a travel agency to schedule your flights for you. If awarded, you will be given instructions for making your travel arrangements. You will be responsible for calling the travel agency by the designated date (TBD) to make your arrangements.

  • All students (pre-dental and dental students and residents) must be able to travel on Tuesday, June 9, to be present at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, June 10, at the Student Pre-Conference workshop.

  • If your home is more than 100 miles from your home airport, SAID will reimburse for mileage based on the current government rate. You will be required to provide a Google Map indicating the number of roundtrip miles, i.e., from your starting (home) location to the airport back to your starting (home) location, to be approved with your application. A check will be provided to you at the conclusion of the conference.

If you are driving to the conference

  • If you live close enough to drive but live more than 100 miles from the conference location, SAID will reimburse for mileage based on the current government rate.

  • You will be required to provide a Google Map indicating the number of roundtrip miles, i.e. from your starting (home) location to the conference hotel back to your starting (home) location, to be approved, to be approved, with your application. A check will be provided to you at the conclusion of the conference.

Hotel Accommodations

  • SAID will cover and schedule four (4) nights at the conference hotel.
  • Check in: Tuesday, June 9. 2026; Check out: Saturday, June 13, 2026
  • SAID will assign you a Student Member roommate, unless you indicate you would like your own room.
  • If you choose not to have a roommate, you will be responsible for a portion of the cost of your room. You will need to pay for the room and be required to complete a reimbursement request form. Reimbursement will be after the conference.

Local Transportation

Transportation to event locations during the conference is included.

The Award does not include:

  • Transportation to and from your home to your home airport, if you live less than 100 miles roundtrip between these two locations.
  • Transportation to and from your home to Hyatt Centric Minneapolis, if you live less than 100 miles roundtrip between these two locations.
  • Meals outside of those included with your Conference 2026 registration.
  • Conference registration includes the following meals: Wednesday breakfast, lunch and evening reception hors d’oeuvres; Thursday breakfast and lunch; Friday breakfast, lunch, and dinner; Saturday breakfast.
  • Accommodations due to weather-related or personal travel changes (including hotel, transportation, meals, incidentals); therefore, non-stop flights are highly recommended where possible.
  • Fees such as those related to: checked baggage fees, upgrades from economy/coach to another airfare class, paid upgrades, etc.
  • Rental car

Please note:

  • Changes to airline tickets for personal reasons are not reimbursable or funded by SAID. So please double check your schedule and flight requests prior to ticketing.
  • If you cancel your travel after booking flights for any reason, and SAID is unable to transfer the flight credit to its account, you will be required to reimburse SAID as the flight credits are awarded to the traveler.

Requirements during the Conference

  • All students are required to attend all lectures scheduled during the conference - start to finish - and all scheduled events, including the Friday evening banquet.
  • Students will be asked to sign in at each event. Any student who does not attend all events will forfeit future conference awards, as well as scholarships and other award opportunities.
  • Pre-dental and dental students and residents are required to participate in the Wednesday, June 10, 2026, Student Pre-conference workshop.

Student Travel Stipend Award

 

 As a small non-profit organization, it is important that we manage our funding with absolute stewardship.