Article provided by LiveDesign
To encourage diversity in the live event design community, LDI, in partnership with TSDCA and USITT, announces three $5,000 Pat MacKay Scholarships for undergraduate students. This scholarship is to support the underrepresented and unique voices in the field of entertainment. These scholarships are funded by LDI/Live Design International.
The “Diversity In Design” scholarships are named for Pat MacKay, formerly publisher of Theatre Crafts and Lighting Dimensions magazines and founder of the LDI Trade Show and Conference. She is a USITT Fellow and has served as a mentor for multiple generations of industry professionals.
TSDCA will administer the sound design scholarships, while USITT will administer those for lighting and digital media design. Both organizations have a non-profit 501C3 status.
Students enrolled in lighting, digital media, and sound design programs on an undergraduate level, as well as high school seniors who have been accepted to an undergraduate college or university design program, are eligible to apply online here.
Students applying for the scholarships will be requested to provide:
- Copies of their work, such as a digital design portfolio, or audio samples;
- References/recommendations from teachers/collaborators;
- A short essay on why they would like to win this scholarship and their career goals;
- List those underrepresented communities they identify with.
“USITT is excited to partner with LDI and TSDCA to make these scholarships possible,” said USITT Executive Director David Grindle. “Encouraging diversity in all areas of design and technology makes everyone’s work stronger as new perspectives come together.”
Each student that is selected for one of the Pat MacKay Scholarships will receive up to $5,000, spread out over a maximum of eight semesters, or $1,250 per year, paid by semester directly to the school. In order for the students to get the next year’s payment, they must show progress toward their degree, show at least a 2.5 GPA, and provide a letter of support from their mentor with an update on how they are progressing as designers.
The application process will open on April 15, and the deadline is May 15. The 2019 scholarships will be announced in late May.
