CEDIA has announced the establishment of the CEDIASTRONG Scholarship Fund. CEDIA will begin accepting donations with the intent to award education grants in 2021 to up and coming home technology talent: high school graduates, community college and vocational school students, as well as displaced techs who are keen to build their skills and careers in the smart and connected home space.
With more consumers working from home, demand for home technology is escalating. Integration companies across the globe are going to need technical professionals at all levels to meet this rising demand.
“One of CEDIA’s key strategic objectives has been to develop the workforce for our industry to assist members seeking to add qualified talent in support of business growth. We have actively developed programs to support this initiative and the CEDIASTRONG Scholarship Fund falls in line with our goals by eliminating financial barriers for new talent to take the plunge to begin to build their careers in the custom installation space,“ said Rob Sutherland, CEDIA Chairman of the Board.
CEDIASTRONG Scholarship grants will cover CEDIA Academy and Bootcamp tuition fees as well as supplemental expenses for certification testing and travel. CEDIA will begin awarding scholarships in 2021.
Tabatha O’Connor, CEDIA CEO, tells CE Pro,“Training and travel can be $2,000 to $3,000 all told, which is a lot of money for many people. The scholarship grants will not just be awarded to one person but to multiple individuals.”
She points out that the funds are not just for people new to the industry, but can also be doled out to existing technicians looking to enhance their certifications.
The association’s partner in the CEDIA Expo, Emerald, has partnered with CEDIA to help promote the establishment of CEDIASTRONG Scholarship Fund. The CE Pro All Star Band will perform a virtual benefit concert as part of CEDIA Expo Virtual to help encourage donations to the fund. Additionally, Emerald has committed to matching donations that are made during CEDIA Expo.
“Emerald Expositions is honored to support the industry in the establishment of the CEDIASTRONG Scholarship Fund,” says Brian Pagel, executive vice president at Emerald. “We want to encourage everyone to consider making a contribution during the event. The long-term growth and prosperity of our industry will rely heavily on attracting top talent and providing them with world-class professional education opportunities.”
