Three outstanding high school seniors have been awarded the 2023 Pat MacKay Diversity In Design Scholarships, which are presented annually in partnership with TSDCA and USITT. The scholarships are funded by LDI and Live Design to support students from underrepresented backgrounds in the field of entertainment design.
The scholarships are named for Pat MacKay, former publisher of Theatre Crafts International (TCI) and Lighting Dimensions and founder of the LDI trade show. She is a USITT Fellow and has mentored multiple generations of industry professionals. The Diversity In Design Scholarships were introduced in 2019 to support the diverse and unique voices in the field of entertainment design and are presented to undergraduate students.
The sound scholarship recipient is Alyssa Gil-Pujols, who will enter Rider University in the fall of 2023. Sound honorable mentions go to Anna Marek, Ethan Chin, Irene Wang and Eunyeong Kang.
The two lighting scholarship recipients this year are Deandra Bromfield, who will enter the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in the fall of 2023, and Darius Evans, who will enter Boston University in the fall of 2023.
“This is the first year we have had three scholarship recipients who are all high school seniors going into design programs in the fall. It is very exciting to be promoting students in the Class of 2027, and to be able to follow their evolution and their work over the next four years,” says Jessi Cybulski, LDI show director. “Thanks to all those who applied, the candidates were very strong this year. And to the judges who lend their time and expertise to the selection process.”