(Rosemont, Illinois) In commemoration of its milestone 60th Anniversary and subsequent contribution of $60,000 to the highly-regarded International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) Education Trust in 2005, Advance proudly awarded its fourth annual pair of $5,000 student scholarships to deserving students at the annual IALD Awards Presentation and IALD Education Trust Benefit Dinner in Las Vegas on May 29th. Established in 2005 to recognize outstanding North American-based students and help support pursuit of their on-going interest and specialized education in the field of lighting, Advance's "Beyond Illumination" scholarships will continue to be administered in the form of two $5,000 student awards annually through 2010.
"In commemoration of our 60th anniversary in 2005, we couldn't think of a better way to honor the spirit upon which Advance was founded than to positively recognize and support exceptional young talent in the field of lighting and help drive the next generation of lighting innovation," said Gary Sanders, Director of Strategic Marketing for Advance. "We congratulate our 2008 winners and wish them the very best in their lighting pursuits."
Student recipients of the "Beyond Illumination" scholarships represent the "best of the best" in the field of lighting, reflecting the outstanding intellect, innovation, creativity, entrepreneurialism, and integrity that have enabled both Advance and the lighting industry to evolve so successfully over the years.
"We are thrilled to have been selected by Advance as the organization through whom these significant "Beyond Illumination" scholarships could be offered and are equally delighted about the creation of this wonderful opportunity for our student community to be recognized and rewarded for outstanding achievement," said IALD Executive Vice President and IALD Education Trust Executive Director Marsha Turner.
The two recipients of Advance's 2008 "Beyond Illumination" Scholarships, Ericka Bailey of Texas Christian University and Lisa Friehe of the University of Nebraska, are wished much success in their lighting endeavors!
About Advance
Advance, a leading ballast manufacturer based in Rosemont, Illinois, offers a full line of ballasts and drivers for fluorescent, HID, and LED light sources. For more information on Advance's complete product line, visit Advance's website at www.advancetransformer.com or call Advance at (800) 322-2086. Advance is a division of Philips Electronics North America.
About the IALD
Founded in 1969 and based in Chicago, Illinois, the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) is an internationally recognized organization dedicated solely to the concerns of independent, professional lighting designers. The IALD strives to set the global standard for lighting design excellence by promoting the advancement and recognition of professional lighting designers. The IALD Education Trust Fund provides scholarships directly to students for the purpose of promoting the study of lighting design, conducts educational seminars and lighting research, and produces and provides teaching tools to educate professional lighting designers, students, educators, and persons in related fields.