Illinois Craft Brewers Guild announces return of Illinois Diversity in Brewing Scholarship for 2023
The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild (ICBG), the nonprofit trade association that supports and advocates for Illinois craft breweries, announced the return of its Illinois Diversity in Brewing Scholarship for 2023. The scholarship, which launched in 2022, aims to build a more inclusive, representative Illinois craft beer industry through equitable access to education and technical training.
Sponsored by the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild with support from the Siebel Institute of Technology, the Illinois Diversity in Brewing Scholarship will be awarded annually to two individuals from historically underrepresented groups, including but not limited to individuals identifying as female, Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQ, and disabled. Both organizations share the belief that Illinois' craft brewing community will be stronger when it more fully reflects a diverse range of experiences, values, backgrounds, skills, and opinions.
"Our vision for the Illinois Diversity in Brewing Scholarship is to make the craft brewing industry more accessible, not only to those who are in the early stages of their careers, but also to those who wish to expand their technical expertise," said Ray Stout, executive director for the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild. "The response to our inaugural scholarship was truly remarkable, and we look forward to building on that momentum and to solidifying Illinois as a leader in craft beer diversity, equity, and inclusion."
The scholarship is designed to reach applicants at a variety of stages of their craft brewing careers. Scholarships may be applied to one of two courses offered by the Siebel Institute and the World Brewing Academy (WBA) and cover the full cost of the course:
WBA Executive Overview of the Brewing Process: The entry-level course is designed especially for individuals who are interested in working in craft beer but have no prior paid experience.
WBA Concise Course in Brewing Technology: The intermediate-level course is available to individuals currently working in the industry and looking to further their technical brewing knowledge.
"We are proud to have been asked by the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild to participate in and support their diversity educational scholarship program," said John Hannafan, vice president and director of Education at the Siebel Institute of Technology. "At Siebel, we believe diversity creates a better understanding of and respect for our differences while creating positive interactions among our students. We have always celebrated having students of differing backgrounds, and this ICBG scholarship reinforces our ongoing commitment to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion."
Applications for the Illinois Diversity in Brewing Scholarship are due by 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 19, 2022. A committee of craft brewers and educators from the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, College of DuPage, and The Sibel Institute will evaluate all applications, and scholarship awardees will be notified by Jan. 31, 2023. Coursework must be completed within two years of the scholarship award.
For more information and to apply, please visit www.illinoisbeer.org.