So sorry to hear about the near-miss - it sometimes seems like every public outing is fraught with a feeling of a potential "near-miss"...just navigating parking lots, for example, with people wandering around seemingly clueless of walking behind cars with rear brake lights on, cars going the wrong way, etc etc.

As for your scholarship award to the conference - I think this is really exciting! I happen to love conferences (though NOT travel by plane these days), and you are very comfortable with the locale, and invested in this group and subject, so I say "You Go, Girl!", and let us know how it went when you return!

Seems like a very positive venture, with lots of long-term - and short-term - benefits!