Joe Way Dedicates 50th Birthday to Prism Scholarship Fundraising Campaign | Breaking News
LAKE FOREST, CA – JULY 17, 2023
On July 1, 2023, the HETMA Prism Scholarship, aimed at providing training, mentorship, and certification to underrepresented AV professionals who work in the higher ed AV vertical, commenced its second cohort of ten awardees. The first cohort saw recipients rise to leadership ranks within HETMA, be fundamental in a successful InfoComm presence, with half already earning their CTS certification. Britt Yenser, Director of Event Technology at Moravian University and a 2022-2023 recipient notes, “The HETMA Prism Scholarship gave me access to resources, study strategies, and mentorship that I needed in order to successfully take the CTS exam. The AV professionals I met through HETMA also opened doors for me I didn’t even know existed; they renewed my passion for my job and my confidence in myself.” Recipients of the Prism Scholarship are provided an AVIXA Elite membership, CTS training, the CTS exam fees, pairing with a mentor from within the HETMA membership, and a trip to InfoComm. This allows awardees to earn, grow, and experience. Therefore, HETMA works throughout the year to raise funds to support this mission.
For this reason, Joe Way, HETMA’s cofounder and chair, is hoping to leverage his 50th birthday celebration to raise funds for two of the ten annual scholarships, with a goal of $3000.00, though a HETMA GoFundMe page (https://www.gofundme.com/f/hetma-prism-scholarship). “Turning 50 is one of those milestone moments in your life. As I look back at the things I am most proud of in my career, it’s the formation of the Prism Scholarship. I still get chills remembering the day we announced the creation of the scholarship program at InfoComm 2021,” says Joe Way. He continues, “As the second cohort starts, we have been able to see how much the scholarship can impact real lives for the better of our vertical and the recipients.” The results of the program have far-exceeded all initial expectations. Way adds, “I’ve been blessed throughout my career to even be in this position, and I look forward to the Prism Scholarship be the lasting legacy long after I retire, with new leaders in both the organization and the AV industry as a whole rising up because of it.”
The Prism Scholarship costs between $30,000.00 to $35,000.00 annually to provide all the resources to the recipients. Therefore, HETMA leverages its various initiatives and corporate sponsorships to raise funds in support of the scholarship program. Kevin Schornhorst, Director of SLED Business Development at AVI-SPL explains why AVI-SPL is a HETMA Platinum Sponsor and why he personally supported Joe Way’s fundraising campaign just hours after first opened: “The need to evolve the AV industry and get new and different opinions is critical to the long-term growth of the AV industry. The Prism scholarship is a step in the right direction to give opportunities to talented people who would not have access. This is an initiative that plays directly into our ongoing DEI efforts at AVI-SPL.” Prior to his role at AVI-SPL, Schornhorst served as the Learning Environments Design Team Manager at Georgia State University, so he immediately recognized the value the Prism Scholarship brings to the higher ed vertical.
Help support this important initiative through Joe Way’s 50th Birthday Fundraising Campaign (https://www.gofundme.com/f/hetma-prism-scholarship)! Donations of any amount are appreciated and go straight to supporting the Prism Scholarship program.
Donate to the fundraising campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/hetma-prism-scholarship.
HETMA: https://www.hetma.org
About the Prism Scholarship
As part of our dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion, HETMA has partnered with AVIXA to provide scholarships that support the growth of underrepresented communities within the US higher education technology industry.This scholarship is intended as encouragement for women, LGBTQIA+, Black, Latino, Asian, Indigenous, disabled persons and others to become active leaders and role models for technology managers in the higher education space. Recipients will be recognized as someone determined to leave their mark as an AV professional who has demonstrated a commitment to their continued education, displaying a passion for both higher education and the experiences that audiovisual technology creates. This scholarship includes a one-year Elite Membership to AVIXA, inclusive of the entire online catalog of education, access to a virtual CTS prep course, course materials, the coverage of exam fees for the Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) exam, and more!
About HETMA
HETMA is also dedicated to providing educational and networking opportunities to our members so that we can empower and grow our influence as an industry. Our belief is that all resources provided through HETMA should always be FREE to the higher ed community. We are by us and for us.
HETMA is a recognized 501(c)3 advocacy organization focused on the higher education AV industry. The goal of HETMA is to raise awareness of technology issues unique to the higher education community by communicating with manufacturers, vendors, AV industry organizations, and higher education administrators on the needs and challenges that technology managers face. HETMA is also dedicated to providing educational and networking opportunities to our members so that we can empower and grow our influence as an industry through signature programs like our “HETMA Approved” products, manufacturer focus groups, DEI initiatives, and annual conference. Our belief is that all resources provided through HETMA should always be FREE to the higher ed community. We are by the higher ed vertical and for the higher ed vertical. Visit www.hetma.org for more information and member registration.
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