College and university students preparing for a career in music are encouraged to apply for NAMM’s 2016 President’s Innovation Award. The annual award is given to students who express commitment and aptitude for business leadership in the music products industry and offers a $600 travel stipend to attend The 2017 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, January 19-22, 2017.

“The Innovation Award seeks to support our future creators, innovators and leaders in music, and there’s really no better location to help them build the foundation for their careers than at The NAMM Show,” shared Mary Luehrsen, executive director of The NAMM Foundation.

At The NAMM Show, the Innovation Award winners will have the opportunity to network with established industry professionals, check out the latest music products, and participate in The NAMM Foundation’s Generation Next initiative: a professional development program for college students to help jump-start their careers. Held during each day of the show, and presented in conjunction with the College Music Society, Generation Next is open to all college and university students and provides dedicated educational sessions to help the emerging professional advance in their career.

To apply for the President’s Innovation Award, applicants must provide the following: proof of enrollment for the fall or summer 2016 semester in a university-based music business, education and/or music technology program; a transcript from spring 2016 that demonstrates coursework in music and/or music business studies; and documentation of an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applicants must not be a previous President’s Innovation Award winner, and must be enrolled full-time in college to receive the award.

Submissions for the President’s Innovation Award are now open at https://www.nammfoundation.org/educator-resources/namm-presidents-innova… The application period will close on September 30, 2016. Selected applicants will be notified on or before November 1, 2016. A signed and co-signed grant agreement is required to receive funds to support expenses for travel to The 2017 NAMM Show.

In 2016, The NAMM Foundation presented 59 college music students with the award, and to date, the program has supported 166 students advance their professional careers.

About The NAMM Foundation
The NAMM Foundation is a non-profit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its 10,300 members around the world. The NAMM Foundation works to advance active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs. For more information about The NAMM Foundation, please visit http://www.nammfoundation.org, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.