Jump-Start Your Education and Career with
IESNYC STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
SCHOLARSHIPS | THESIS PRIZES | COMPETITIONS
One of the goals of the IESNYC is to promote education and greater awareness about the importance of lighting. The IESNYC offers many opportunities for students to meet leaders and pioneers in the lighting community. There are also many networking opportunities through our educational programs and other events. The IESNYC is a wonderful way to further your education and career goals.
IESNYC SCHOLARSHIP
The IESNYC awards a $25,000 merit-based single-year scholarship to recognize and support the educational endeavors of graduate students in the field of architectural lighting.
IESNYC Scholarship Winners (top l to r): Sarah Dlinn-2016; Evan Wilson-2017
(bottom l to r): Marta Casarin-2017; Zachary Pearson-2018
ELIGIBILITY
The IESNYC scholarship is open to citizens of the United States, permanent U.S. residents and holders of U.S. student visas (F-1). Applicants must be students currently enrolled in a full-time graduate program as a degree candidate in the field of architectural lighting, at an accredited college/university in New York state, and must currently be in their first year of the lighting program.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
The scholarship award also includes acceptance into a IESNYC mentorship program that provides valuable opportunities to interact and collaborate with professionals in the architectural lighting industry.
For updates and announcements visit iesnyc.org/Scholarship
Applications are typically accepted between September and December and winners announced the following April.
IESNYC STUDENT LIGHTING COMPETITION
Students from New York colleges and universities are invited to participate in an annual city wide lighting design competition. Students are required to explore light as an art form, demonstrate light as a stimulus, and prove light as a valuable medium. Every year, students in lighting, architecture, interior design, art, product design, photography and electrical engineering programs have submitted projects, resulting in a diverse showcase of ideas and interpretations on a single theme. Awards of $2,000, $1,000 and $500 are given respectively to the first, second and third place winners.
Top Left: 2015 Grand Prize Winners: Nura Venta, Sergio Taveras, and Selin Ergeneli
Bottom Right: 2018 Grand Prize Winner: Hansol Jun
ELIGIBILITY
Students must be attending a design college/university located in New York City or the New York counties of the former Mid-Hudson Section.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
Student projects are showcased at an exhibition/awards ceremony and viewed by industry professionals. Winners are also sponsored to attend the Lumen Gala, at which they are given recognition and an opportunity to showcase their work.
For updates and announcements visit iesnyc.org/Student_Competition
Call for entries typically begin in November and end the following February.
Awards ceremony held the following March.
IESNYC THESIS PRIZES
The IESNYC Thesis Prize is an annual $1,000 award given to three students selected by their professors for demonstrating excellence in lighting design and/or research, and represent the intellectual insight, rigor, and quality standards as set forth by their respective school departments and each student’s thesis committee.
Top Row: 2018 Recipients: Chonlatorn (Tan) Pornpraphan, Olivia Privitera and Jessica Collier and Privitera presenting
Bottom Row (l to r): 2015 Recipient, James Clotfelter; 2017 Recipient, Valeria Terentyeva; 2016 Recipient, Ukwatte L. Indika U. Perera
ELIGIBILITY
Recipients must be a degree candidate in a graduate-level lighting program at the New York School of Interior Design (NYSID), Parsons School of Design at the New School, or Lighting Research Center (LRC), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) School of Architecture.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
Recipients have the opportunity to present their thesis projects to the New York City lighting community at a special presentation event and eligible for consideration to be sent to the IES Annual Conference and present their work.
For updates and announcements visit iesnyc.org/Thesis_Awards
Nominations are typically submitted by each school’s program director and winners announced the following May.
2025 IESNYC Event and Educational Sponsors
Brilliant Sponsors
Radiant Sponsors
Glow Sponsors
Sparkle Sponsor
Twinkle Sponsors
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