For over 20 years, ETC has facilitated career growth for lighting students through its Fred Foster Student Mentorship Program. Recipients of the sponsorship get an all-expense-paid trip to LDI with the opportunity to network with some of the industry’s brightest luminaries. Applications for this year’s program are now available here with a deadline of June 5, 2020.

ETC Founder Fred Foster instilled his passion for education in the company’s corporate philosophy early on and this program is just one way that Fred’s spirit of giving lives on. Selected students receive roundtrip airfare to the LDI tradeshow, which will take place October 23 through 25 this year, along with hotel accommodations, all meals, a full conference pass, a student reception to meet experienced lighting professionals, and exclusive ETC swag.

In addition to the networking event at LDI, each student is paired with an industry mentor. Students remain in contact with their mentors for the year following the tradeshow, and often beyond. The mentors act as a source of inspiration and guidance as the students transition into the working world.

Applications are open to students in their final year of undergraduate study, graduate students, and students from outside of North America who are studying at the university level at the time of the LDI show.

"Before ETC selected me to attend the LDI conference I felt very much on the outskirts of the industry. I knew the important names in lighting, but had never dreamed of engaging with them, especially this early in my career,” says Jasmine Lesane, 2018 recipient. “The Mentorship dinner event that ETC held immediately immersed me into the industry’s network.”

Applications are due by June 5, 2020. To submit your application and learn more about the Fred Foster Student Mentorship Program, please click here.