The application period has opened for The 2023 Women of STAC Bursary Fund [application pdf].
In relation to last year’s bursary fund, I wrote “Creating A Better Reflection”, talking about how I learned the importance of diversity and inclusion early on in my career, nearly 40 years ago at Bell Labs in New Jersey. I wrote about programs we had where we would to go into inner city schools to stimulate interest in math and science from non-traditional communities. Our objective was to try to increase the number of young kids who might pursue those disciplines in high school and in university. Ultimately, the objective was to have a pool of candidate employees that were a better reflection of the markets we served. “We were playing the long game.”
In September, I wrote “Training The Next Generation Of Tower Technicians”, looking at efforts by the Structure, Tower and Antenna Council (STAC) to train the next generation of telecommunications tower technicians, supporting the growing need for wireless
connectivity.
The Women Of STAC is a subcommittee of the Council with a vision to encourage and support women in their pursuit of career advancement in the telecommunications and related industries in Canada. The committee works to identify areas where there are training, mentoring, and networking gaps and opportunities for the career advancement of women working in the telecommunications industry in Canada.
To that end, the Women of STAC offers a bursary, providing financial support to enable the pursuit of training, professional development, or academic programs for women in the telecommunications field. The fund is supported this year through financial contributions from Technostrobe, Varcon, WesTower, and the CWTA.
In addition to monetary support, the bursary recipients receive an invitation to participate at the annual STAC Conference (taking place March 28-29, 2023 in Niagara Falls), to gain valuable learning and networking opportunities with STAC members.
Applications must be received by February 27, 2023. For more information, send an email to info@stacouncil.ca.