The Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association’s charity arm, the AVIXA Foundation, recently announced the recipients of its 2023 scholarships. The objective of the program is to inspire and empower individuals from a variety of backgrounds who have significant potential to pursue professions in the audiovisual field. Each winner receives $2,500 in prize money.
“The AVIXA Foundation is committed to paving the way for future leaders in the AV industry.” “This scholarship program enables emerging professionals to acquire knowledge and skills that are relevant to their professional development, societal needs, and the growth of our market,” stated Cristiano Mazza, CTS, AVIXA Foundation board president, and CEO of DUCaaS AV Outsourcing Services. “We are thrilled to congratulate this year’s scholarship recipients, and we are confident that they will thrive in our vibrant community.” We are excited about the bright futures that await them.”
The AVIXA Foundation’s elAVate Scholarship promotes women’s advancement and gender equality in the AV sector. Megan Duncan, a student at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) earning a master’s degree in educational technology, is the 2023 recipient. Duncan earned a B.A. in technical theater from Western Washington University. She joined the CSUN Academic Technology team in 2021 as an instructional and media technologist, assisting the institution in expanding its remote learning, hybrid, and Hyflex settings.
The Michael Vergauwen Scholarship honors the late Michael Vergauwen, former COO of AVI Systems and AVIXA board member. Kaela Patterson, a senior at UC San Diego pursuing a bachelor’s degree in visual arts media, is this year’s recipient. She is obsessed with stories and aspires to work in the entertainment sector as a filmmaker, photographer, and AV technician.
The Mosaic Scholarship was created by AVIXA’s Diversity Council in order to promote greater inclusiveness in the worldwide AV business. It aims to highlight individuals whose experience, background, and thinking will favorably influence the AV community’s future. The AVIXA Foundation was able to grant four scholarships this year thanks to donations from Legrand and Exertis Almo.
Recipient lo Arteaga began their technological path by self-studying JavaScript, which generated an interest in software creation. They are now working their way through the CodeOp Software Engineering Bootcamp. After conducting extensive study into various niche growth potential, Arteaga discovered AV engineering and would like to seek additional education and certificates in this industry.
Ashay Dave, who is pursuing a master’s degree in music engineering technology at the University of Miami, was also awarded a Mosaic Scholarship. He was the audio engineer and one of the project’s principal developers for Mangrove City VR, which earned an Auggie Award at AWE 2023 for “Best Educating About Climate Change Solutions.”
Faith Pierce, a Mosaic Scholarship recipient, works as an iHeartMedia morning program producer. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sound and recording arts from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2022. Pierce is presently studying in the music production master’s program at Berklee College of Music and will graduate in 2024.
Hanni Shahatto, a recent honors graduate and current intern at the Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology (OIART), also received a Mosaic Scholarship. Prior to entering OIART, he was a schoolteacher who led various equity-based initiatives, which he hopes to carry over into his audio engineering career. Shahatto’s long-term objective is to work as a re-recording mixer for cinema and to help people from underrepresented communities gain access to audio.
The AVIXA Foundation’s mission to assist workforce development in the Pro AV sector includes this scholarship program. The Foundation promotes workforce development by raising awareness of career opportunities in the global AV industry, empowering potential and emerging professionals through skill training, scholarships, and scholastic support, and building a bridge between the industry and those seeking to become AV professionals.