Esri Student Assistantship Program: Everything You Need to Know to Apply
In my 5+ years at Esri I have attended countless conferences and the memories that stick out the most are when I engage with Esri’s student assistants. Interacting with the student assistants is always a highlight for me as I enjoy hearing about their GIS journeys and how their conference experience is supporting their professional growth and career path. What is even better is when I come across a new Esri employee that I recognize from being a previous student assistant! My name is Rosemary Boone, Sr. Industry Marketing Manager at Esri and Esri Young Professionals Network Advisory Board Member. In this blog post, I will take a deep dive into Esri’s Student Assistantship Program.
Student assistants volunteer their time at an Esri conference to work alongside Esri staff to help with attendee registration, technical session monitoring, conference logistics, the Esri Store, and other duties at Esri’s annual conferences. These conferences can range from two to seven days.
Student assistantship opportunities are offered at these conferences:
- Esri Federal GIS Conference
- Esri Developer Summit
- Esri Energy Resources GIS Conference
- Esri User Conference
Eligibility
Here are a few requirements to consider depending on where you’re at in your academic career:
- Two-Year College: Students in advanced GIS programs at a two-year college may apply
- Undergraduate: Forth-year undergraduate students can apply
- Graduate: Any graduate student may apply
All students should have an interest in applying geospatial applications and concepts to their studies.
What’s In It for Me?
Esri Student Assistantships are considered volunteer opportunities. In exchange for volunteering your time, there are a multitude of benefits you will receive if selected to participate:
- Free registration to the conference
- Hotel accommodations
- Meal stipend
- Networking opportunities
- Ability to attend conference sessions and other activities
- Valuable work experience and professional development to add to your resume
All selected student assistants are responsible for their own travel to and from the conference. Just get to the conference and we will help you with the rest!
Applying
Each year, applications open in the fall, but the closing dates vary depending on when the conferences are held throughout the year.
Check out the dates for each conference by clicking the links below:
- February 2026 | Washington DC.
- Application deadline: December 31, 2025
- Check back soon for application link
- March, 2026 | Palm Springs, CA
- Application deadline: December 31, 2025
- Check back soon for application link
Esri Energy Resources GIS Conference
- April 29 – May 1, 2025 | Houston, TX
- Application Form
- Application deadline: December 31, 2024
- July 14-18, 2025 | San Diego, CA
- Application Form
- Application deadline: December 31, 2024
You can learn more about how to apply for these experiences on the Esri Careers website.
Hear from Previous Student Assistants
Chima Okoli
Esri Federal GIS Conference Student Assistant ’23
“I had the opportunity to be a student assistant at the Federal GIS conference (FedGIS). It an immersive experience that transformed my perspective, introduced me to industry pioneers, and left me with lasting friendships.
Here's the story of my adventure that’s meant to inspire students to seize the opportunity to be a student assistant at upcoming Esri conferences.”
Read about Chima's experience >>
Jing Hu
Esri Developer Summit Student Assistant ’24
“The 2024 Esri Developer Summit (Dev Summit) provided me with an eye-opening experience showcasing what GIS can do beyond mapping and visualization. This conference was unlike any academic conference I had been to in the past. It’s tailored for a community of GIS users and developers, and it was exhilarating to find myself among them, engaging in dialogues that directly addressed the challenges in my research. As a researcher and a student who has used ArcGIS products for almost four years in college, I conversed with developers who resolved my research challenges.”
Read about Jing's experience >>
Mingxin Liu
Esri Developer Summit Student Assistant ’24
“At the 2024 Esri Developer Summit, I found myself immersed in a world where the latest GIS technology advancements were discussed and showcased in real-time. My responsibilities were diverse such as assisting with registration, facilitating sessions and supporting the Esri Store. This gave me a chance to meet and greet attendees from around the world. I was able to attend sessions that spanned a wide range of topics, from innovative applications of ArcGIS in urban planning to the groundbreaking use of artificial intelligence in spatial analysis. As a sophomore in college who knows little about the field, this experience of attending this summit was fruitful.”
Read about Mingxin's experience >>
Samuel Akinnusi
Esri User Conference Student Assistant ’23
“The true highlights of my student assistantship experience weren't just the tasks themselves but the connections I made along the way. Interacting with attendees was something I ensured I did a lot while on duty. I decided to be myself and be receptive to diverse perspectives, and this helped me meet a lot of people. These interactions were opportunities to engage, learn, and inspire. My name is Samuel Akinnusi, and this article is about my journey and experience as a first-time student assistant at the 2023 Esri UC.”
Read about Samuel's experience >>
Jocelyn Torres
Esri User Conference Student Assistant ’24
“As a young individual nearing the completion of a bachelor’s degree in marketing, I made the strategic decision to attend Esri User Conference, the world’s largest GIS conference, by being a student assistant. Esri UC provided me with the opportunity to meet individuals I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise. It took me out of my comfort zone by speaking at the YPN booth and connecting with professionals in diverse fields.”
Read about Jocelyn's experience >>
To learn about all the student programs offered at Esri, including internships, refer to this blog post.