WAVIT (Women in AV/IT) announced the recipients of the 2026 Mary Cook Empowerment Scholarship: Designing the Future. Created in memory of industry pioneer Mary Cook, the scholarship recognizes emerging women leaders in the AV/IT industry who demonstrate passion, leadership potential and a commitment to advancing their careers in AV technology.
According to the organization, this year marked a significant expansion of the program, with two scholarships awarded for the first time, made possible through the support of sponsoring partner Shure. WAVIT acknowledges that the scholarship program continues its mission to invest in the next generation of women in AV as well as honor Mary Cook’s enduring legacy of mentorship, advocacy and empowerment within the industry.
Who are the 2026 Mary Cook Empowerment Scholarship Recipients?
WAVIT announced Alexa Johnson of IMS Technology Services and Emily Cieslak from TeamPeople as the recipients of the 2026 Mary Cook Empowerment Scholarship. Per the organization, they were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants for their enthusiasm, career ambition and dedication to shaping the future of AV/IT.
“Mary Cook believed deeply in lifting others up and creating opportunities for women to grow within this industry,” says Brandy Alvarado-Miranda, founder of WAVIT. “Expanding this scholarship to two recipients this year is an incredible milestone for WAVIT, and we are grateful to Shure for helping us continue Mary’s legacy by supporting the next generation of women in AV/IT.”
As scholarship recipients, both winners also had the chance to attend InfoComm 2026, including access to educational programming, networking opportunities and industry mentorship experiences designed to help accelerate their professional development.
“Shure is proud to support initiatives that create meaningful opportunities for women pursuing careers in technology and professional AV,” adds Althea Ricketts, vice president, enterprise initiatives for Shure. “The Mary Cook Empowerment Scholarship reflects the importance of mentorship, representation and investing in future industry leaders.”
Emily Cieslak and Alexa Johnson Reflect on Scholarship
According to WAVIT, Cieslak is an audiovisual engineer with a passion for music, design, broadcast and audio. She lives in Maryland with her girlfriend and cat and works in downtown DC on AV systems for TeamPeople.
On receiving the scholarship, she remarks, “I am incredibly grateful to be honored with the Mary Cook Empowerment Award! From a professional and personal perspective, it is very special to be recognized by my peers in the industry.”
Cieslak then continues, “Thank you to the essential contributions of those who came before me to WAVIT, as well as to my colleagues at TeamPeople. I look forward to networking, learning and viewing technological advancements in the industry at this year’s InfoComm.”
As a project manager, Johnson is passionate about creating opportunities for more women to explore careers in technology and AV, reveals the organization.
Johnson adds, “One of the things I’ve learned throughout my career is that there isn’t a single path into this industry. My journey has been shaped by experiences that, on the surface, may seem unrelated to AV, but each one has contributed to the way I lead projects and work with people today. I hope sharing my story encourages others to embrace opportunities outside their comfort zone, continue learning and recognize that their unique experiences can become some of their greatest strengths.”
The recipients were formally recognized during InfoComm 2026 in Las Vegas. They were also recognized at WAVIT’s signature networking event, The Glow Up, on June 17 as well as the AVIXA Women’s Council Breakfast on June 18.
