The students have the opportunity to go the behind the scenes with ETC, to learn about the latest technologies, and to network with some of the industry's key figures. The sponsorship also pairs the students with industry luminaries who serve as mentors, offering advice, inspiration and encouragement as they transition into the working world.
ETC is proud to announce the winners of this year's LDI Student Sponsorship:
Kristen Geisler is on her way to earning a master of fine arts in lighting design from the University of Tennessee. She holds a bachelor of art from the University of South Florida in theatre design. Kristen has done the lighting design for shows at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, NC Stage Company, The WordPlayers Theater, Clarence Brown Theater, Tampa Repertory Theater and the University of South Florida.
Ben Golden is working toward a master of fine arts in theatre and drama with a lighting design emphasis, and researching his thesis on the use of project based teaching in lighting design at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
In 2013, Lillie Kahkonen earned an associate of art in Technical Theatre from Montgomery College in Maryland. She is currently earning a bachelor of science in Theatre Design and Production from Towson University, graduating in 2015. She has designed the lighting for shows at Towson University and Montgomery College.
Annette Roggenbuck began her college career at the College of Marin in California and will graduate in 2015 with a bachelor of fine art in lighting design from Southern Oregon University. She has served as a lighting technician and follow spot operator for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, as a carpenter and stagehand for the San Francisco Opera, a wardrobe technician for the Mountain Play Association, and as a stagehand, electrician and assistant stage manager for the Stapleton Theatre Company.
Minghan Shi, an international Sponsorship recipient, holds a bachelor degree in lighting design from the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts, where he earned several outstanding student awards. He is currently earning a master degree in stage and lighting design at the Beijing Dance Academy.
One of this year's international students, Ryan Shuker is pursuing a bachelor of dramatic art, specializing in lighting design for theatre and events, from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, Australia. He has had internships with the Melbourne Theatre Company, Opera Australia and with lighting designer Damien Cooper.
Amanda Warren is earning a bachelor of fine arts in design and technology from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas, with an expected graduation date of autumn 2015. She has designed the lighting for several shows at her university, including Tunnel of Love, Adam and the Experts and Blood Wedding.
(Jim Evans)
