ATLANTA, June 25, 2024 – The Robert J. Besal Memorial Education Fund (Besal Fund), a trust established to provide a continuing scholarship program for the advancement of education in illuminating engineering disciplines, is proud to announce the recipients of its scholarships for the 2024-2025 academic year. This year, the Besal Fund has awarded 17 scholarships, totaling $114,500, to students from participating schools. These scholarships are a testament to the Besal Fund’s ongoing commitment to advancing education in illuminating engineering disciplines.
This year’s recipients include 14 undergraduate scholarships and three graduate scholarships, awarded to students at the following universities: University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Colorado State University, Boulder, Penn State, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Established in 1983 as a nonprofit trust, The Besal Fund aspires to encourage talented and committed students to pursue a career in the lighting industry and illuminating engineering fields. It has awarded over $1.5 million in scholarships to students from accredited schools throughout the United States.
Among the 2024-2025 graduate scholarship recipients is Kelsi Weilage, an upcoming master’s student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln majoring in Architectural Engineering with a focus on electrical and lighting systems. Weilage, who will graduate in May 2025, shared how the scholarship has impacted her educational journey.
“As an upcoming graduate student in the Architectural Engineering program who specializes in electrical and lighting systems, I have developed and explored my passion for lighting over the course of my academic career,” said Weilage.
Weilage’s goals for her career in the lighting industry reflect her passion for integrating human-centric and environmentally conscious electrical and lighting systems into buildings. She aims to push the boundaries of lighting design to improve the human and environmental impacts of buildings as a lighting designer for commercial building projects. Weilage is dedicated to practicing sustainable design and hopes to see measurable outcomes in terms of energy efficiency and waste reduction. She is excited about her future in the lighting industry and the opportunities that have opened up to her with the Besal Fund Scholarship.
“Thanks to the Besal Fund, I can focus entirely on my educational and professional pursuits, as I can dedicate even more of my time and energy towards my degree with this additional support,” continued Weilage. “I would like to express my sincerest thanks to the Besal Fund Board for investing in my future and recognizing my passion and dedication towards lighting design.”
The Besal Fund is made possible through the generous contributions from Acuity Brands Lighting, its sales representatives, and employees. The fund was created to honor the legacy of the late Robert J. Besal, who served as Vice President for Lithonia Lighting, a brand within the Acuity Brands Lighting and Controls portfolio. Robert J. Besal was a visionary leader in the lighting industry, and the fund aims to continue his mission of fostering educational excellence in illuminating engineering. The scholarships are self-administered and issued directly by the Besal Fund, ensuring that the funds are allocated to deserving students dedicated to advancing the industry. For more information, visit The Besal Fund online.
About Acuity Brands
Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is a market-leading industrial technology company. We use technology to solve problems in spaces, light, and more things to come. Through our two business segments, Acuity Brands Lighting and Lighting Controls (ABL) and the Intelligent Spaces Group (ISG), we design, manufacture, and bring to market products and services that make a valuable difference in people’s lives.
We achieve growth through the development of innovative new products and services, including lighting, lighting controls, building management solutions, and location-aware applications. Acuity Brands, Inc. is based in Atlanta, Georgia, with operations across North America, Europe, and Asia. The Company is powered by more than 12,000 dedicated and talented associates. Visit us at www.acuitybrands.com