In conjunction with the Specialty Graphic Imaging Foundation (SGIF), the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) is accepting scholarship applications for the 2019-2020 academic year.
SGIA has a $40,000 (£31,671) sum available for scholarships for students at member schools. With the continued support of donations from endowments and industry leads, 20 students will be eligible for $2,000 (£1,584) each.
“Winning the SGIA scholarship had a tremendous impact on my education and my career,” says Mitchell Morgan, who received the scholarship in 2016 and 2017, when he was a student at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).
“I am truly grateful for the impact that this organisation has been able to make on my life and my ability to afford my education at RIT,” he adds.
Scholarships will be judged on a combination of financial need, scholastic achievement, application essay, achievements earned, work experience, and more.
It’s essential that we encourage our developing workforce. These scholarships enable students’ continued engagement and make a difference in their lives”
Because there are little to no qualifications available to would-be sign-makers, there are few ways to get into sign-making other than through gaining apprenticeships and training, which can be costly and difficult to gain.
Much like the SGIA scholarship, the International Sign Association UK, powered by the British Sign and Graphics Association (ISA-UK powered by BSGA), is also working to encourage young people into the industry by offering resources such as funding, training, and retaining qualified and competent workers.
Commenting on the benefit of its scholarships to young people wanting to enter the industry, Ford Bowers, president and chief executive officer of SGIA, says: “It’s essential that we encourage our developing workforce. These scholarships enable students’ continued engagement and make a difference in their lives.”
The deadline for applications is April 30th, 2019 and the scholarship recipients will be announced by May 31st, 2019.
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