Award winners will receive:

• A complimentary full conference registration for the 2025 Annual Conference & Stage Expo
• $1000 Cash Award
• Commemorative Certificate
• Invitation to an award luncheon, which includes a chance to meet other award winners as well as the award sponsor.

Nominees must be a graduating undergraduate student.

Nominees must have a current student or individual membership at the time of submission.

An individual may self-nominate OR be nominated by faculty or another non-student professional who is a current USITT member.

Awards are open to all ages and recognize promising newcomers in each award area.

Award will be presented at the Annual Conference.

The 2025 Annual Conference will take place from March 5-8 in Columbus. Award Presentations are scheduled for Thursday, March 6 at 9 AM.

Nominations Open: September 3, 2024

Nominations Close: October 31, 2024 (11:59 PM EDT)

Review Period: November - December 2024

Award Notifications: January 2025

Award Presentation: March 6, 2025

The entry fee for each nomination is $25 (US Currency).

This fee must be paid by credit card by the nominee at the time of form submission.

All entry fees are non-refundable.

Read all guidelines carefully before submitting your application.

All applications must be submitted via the USITT Awards Portal to be considered.

Nominators must begin the nomination by filling out a brief nomination form. Nominees may self-nominate or be nominated by a faculty or professional. Nominator must be a current USITT member.

Upon receipt of a complete nomination form, USITT will email the nominee a link to complete their submission.

Required information:

• Nominee Contact Information: Name, email address, mailing address
• Nominee’s school attended or currently attending
• Graduation date (or anticipated graduation date)

Submission Materials:

• Resume (PDF Format)
• Letter of recommendation from a faculty member.
• The faculty member should be an instructor, shop supervisor, theatre professor, department chairs or other faculty mentors able to speak on behalf of nominee’s ability and competency as a lighting technician.
• Nominee will provide recommender’s name and email address. The recommender will receive instructions via email to upload their letter directly into the submission portal. Nominee will not be able to upload or view the letter.
• Letter of Support
• Letter of Support may come from fellow collaborators, directors, choreographers, production team members, faculty members, or others working professionals.
• Personal Artistic Statement (Max. 300 words)
• The personal artistic statement articulates who nominee is as a collaborative artist. What is their creative working philosophy? What is their approach to incorporating your and work into the production?
• Five (5) digital image plates.
• A Plate refers to a single image or a collage of images, much like one page in a portfolio.
• Maximum size and resolution is 18 x 24 inches, 300dpi, 20MB.
• All plates must be in PDF format.
• Event/play/piece title, scene and character clearly labeled with an appropriately sized and colored, easy-to-read, well-placed font.
• Recommended that the applicant submit materials for at least one (1) realized piece or mounted production, more then one (1) is acceptable. Recommendation of up to three (3) realized shows across all submitted plates.
• There should be one (1) show/project per plate; however, multiple shows or projects may be placed on a single plate with proper organization.
• One (1) production/project may be represented on multiple plates.
• Organize the plates so that the development of the piece or documentation of the mounted production (in the case of shop and wardrobe management) is shown in a clear, concise, and thoughtful manner. Quality is better than quantity.
• Supporting documentation should be legible (consider font size), labeled, and a reflection of the process.
• The plates should be organized to show lighting technology and electrical distribution as part of the production process. If designer-created images are used, please indicate this clearly in the image label. These may include (but are not limited to):
• Research (photographs, drawings, sketches, etc.)
• Color Swatches
• Techniques
• Samples or photographs of sample/test process
• “Process” photographs
• Research (photographs, drawings, sketches, etc.)
• Show paperwork
• Photographs of character(s) onstage and under stage lighting

• Statement of conceptualization articulates the collaborative process within the production team and shop, research and development, communication with the run crew and others in the team and the ability to work within the parameters of the production as whole.
• May include but is not limited to:
• Explain the collaboration process with the design team, other members of the production team, actors and/or director interaction, shop staff, and run crew/application team.
• Explain the implementation/workability of the project or organization to the production.
• Explain the challenges to the production or event and steps taken to adapt your work to help overcome those challenges
• Explain any research and development process undertaken, including attendance of rehearsals, planning meetings, adaptation and reworking of items/pieces, and innovations used.

• An additional three (3) plates of material may be submitted for a maximum of eight (8) plates total.
• May include projects, from other areas of entertainment design and technology, and/or further demonstrate additional artistic ability.
• This work may include classroom projects or realized work.

All USITT award nominees are required to submit a Professional Conduct Disclosure Form. This form will not be visible to the award jury and will only be reviewed by the USITT Ethics Officer.

This form is part of the submission and your submission will not be considered complete if it has not been submitted.

For more information, please review the USITT Honors and Awards Policy.

All nominations for the Young Designers’, Managers’, and Technicians’ Award will be reviewed by selected members of the USITT Commissions.

No current USITT staff member may serve as a juror. Any reviewer with a conflict of interest is required to recuse themselves.

All submissions will be scored on a scale of 1-10 using the following criteria:

• Quality, execution and appropriateness of choices
• Demonstration of communication skills
• Content and organization of plates and photographs (image size & quantity, labeling, legibility, and clarity)
• Illustration and explanation of process (as applicable for each area): analysis to research, research to execution/organization, and execution/organization to production
• Adherence to the submission guidelines: plate size, format, and parameters. Submissions not adhering to the format listed will be considered ineligible.
• Written materials: clarity, articulation, and thoughtfulness

Judging process is overseen by the USITT Awards Committee and results are approved by the Board of Directors.

Nominees will be notified of the outcome of their requests via email after the Board of Directors has approved the results.

Award winners will be required to submit additional information via the submissions portal, including a W9 form and RSVP to any Conference events. Failure to submit this information promptly may delay award processing.

USITT will publicize award winners utilizing official channels including (but not limited to): website, social media, weekly newsletter, Technically Speaking podcast. Winners may be contacted for additional information for publicity .