WAVIT Announces the Mary Cook Empowerment Award Honoring a Trailblazer’s Legacy
Designing the Future Scholarship Aimed at advancing Women in Tech Careers 

We're proud to announce the establishment of the Mary Cook Empowerment Award: Designing the Future. This annual scholarship honors the late Mary Cook, a trailblazer who was instrumental in supporting women in AV/IT and a passionate advocate for advancing inclusion and mentorship within the industry.

Mary Cook’s AV legacy began in 1991, later she would go on to co-found local AVIXA Women’s Council groups in Atlanta and Michigan. Her commitment to empowering women and championing their professional growth earned her a place in the SCN Hall of Fame at InfoComm in 2017. WAVIT’s scholarship initiative is a tribute to her enduring impact and dedication to helping women thrive in field.

To support the scholarship program, AVIXA has created a full InfoComm experience, which will bring recipients to the U.S. trade show to explore pro AV solutions, education, and networking opportunities.  

As a founding sponsor, NV5 plays a vital role in establishing this scholarship. Their contribution will directly support the recipient's development and provide mentorship opportunities.

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The Mary Cook Empowerment Award: Designing the Future scholarship will provide invaluable opportunities for women in their early career stages, focusing on AV system design and audio/visual environments. Key benefits include:

• Full InfoComm Experience: Recipients will receive a comprehensive InfoComm trade show package, including full-show passes, travel, and lodging.
• Membership Opportunities: Scholarship recipients will gain WAVIT membership, AVIXA membership, and access to WAVIT’s Mentorship Program.
• Mentorship: Recipients will participate in WAVIT’s mentorship program, with potential mentorship from NV5, fostering growth and industry connections.

Scholarship Selection Process WAVIT has formed a dedicated scholarship committee to establish criteria, review applications, and recommend finalists. Ideal candidates will:

• Be women in their early career stages (2 years or less of experience).
• Show a commitment to AV system design and AEC fields.
• Be U.S. or Canada-based.
• Aspire to create innovative audio/visual environments.

Application Process: 

• Phase 1:
• Applicants should fill out the scholarship application form. Please include information on your career/education level, as well as short paragraphs on why your should be selected as a candidate, and how design has inspired you in your AV/IT education/career. 
•  WAVIT will qualify candidates based on criteria set forth by the Scholarship Committee.
• Phase 2:
• Once WAVIT has qualified candidates in the designated time frame, we will ask candidates to record short video interview.
• All candidates will also be required to submit a letter of recommendation from professor or superior. 
• Applications are open now, and close April 18th, 2025. The recipient will be announced on May 2, 2025, with the scholarship culminating in a memorable experience at InfoComm 2025 in Orlando, FL (June 7-13).

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“Mary Cook exemplified what it means to uplift and inspire others,” said WAVIT Founder, Brandy Alvarado-Miranda. “Through this scholarship, we aim to continue her mission of empowering women and advancing the AV/IT industry. Best of luck to all the applicants!” 

"Mary Cook’s contributions to the AV/IT industry continue to inspire us," said Kelly Stumpf, PMP and Principal Consultant of NV5. "By supporting this scholarship, NV5 is honored to uphold Mary’s legacy and foster the next generation of women leaders in AV/IT. We believe this program will help propel careers and promote the spirit that Mary championed." 

“Mary was devoted to making tangible and lasting contributions to the AV industry and supporting women to develop their careers. She brought her technical expertise to her service on AVIXA’s Standards Steering Committee and was a very early driver of the AVIXA Women’s Council, where she was a strong supporter and advocate for women to pursue their CTS certifications,” said Sarah Joyce, Chief Global Officer, AVIXA. “We’re honored to collaborate with WAVIT and NV5 to create this scholarship in Mary’s name to help women continue to be supported and excel in our industry.”