Tom Tolen Educational Scholarships
Offered by Illuminating Engineering Society, San Francisco Section
About this scholarship
The Tom Tolen Educational Scholarships help Northern California students build careers involving lighting design, technology, research, or the applied use of light and energy. The Illuminating Engineering Society’s San Francisco Section awards between $1,000 and $5,000 from the Tolen fund each year; the committee determines the number and size of awards from the money available, with total annual distributions capped at $5,000. Eligible study can take place at a trade school, junior college, college, or university. Qualifying fields include architecture, architectural or electrical engineering, interior design, landscape lighting, theater, broadcasting, and other curricula clearly related to lighting. Full-time juniors and seniors, graduate students completing a lighting-centered project, and full- or part-time freshmen, sophomores, or returning students whose degree or certificate includes lighting study may apply. The institution must be in one of ten specified Northern California counties. Selection considers academic merit, demonstrated interest in lighting, career potential, and—in graduate proposals—innovation and practical value. Applicants complete the sponsor’s embedded form and upload a current resume, statement of purpose, two recommendations, and transcripts when applicable. Awards support the fall school year following the April 30 annual deadline, and recipients later report their accomplishments to the scholarship committee.
Eligibility
- Be enrolled in an accredited class or program at an accredited educational institution
- Study at a school in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, or Sonoma County
- Pursue lighting design, lighting technology, lighting research, or a clearly lighting-related curriculum
- Be a full-time junior or senior, a graduate student with a lighting project, or a full- or part-time freshman, sophomore, or returning student in a lighting-related degree or certificate
- Use the scholarship for the educational purpose described in the application
- Upload a current resume, statement of purpose, two recommendations, and transcripts when applicable
- Agree to report accomplishments to the Distribution Committee after the academic year