Recently the 2019/2020 AIAS Foundation scholars attended the 2020 D.I.C.E. Summit for an all-expense paid trip to the annual executive leadership conference. Before the start of the conference the scholars were provided a day of professional workshop training, including courses on professional communications, resume/biography reviews and networking tips. 

Scholars had a chance to utilize their learnings throughout the week with specially scheduled breakfast and lunch Q&As with industry leaders, evening networking events, a speed networking session, and roundtables. Additional highlights included attending the speaker line-up and Industry Town Hall in person as well as an opportunity to attend the 23rd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the premier peer-based industry Awards Show. Two of our scholars were also featured on stage during the ceremony to assist winners and present trophies. 

The 2019/2020 Scholars included:

• AIAS Foundation Scholarship: Adam Riley, Southern Methodist University - Guildhall
• AIAS Foundation Early Professional: Neri St. Charles, University of Central Florida – Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy        
• AIAS Foundation Scholarship: Nate Ross, USC Marhall School of Business
• AIAS Foundation Early Professional: Anthony Solis, Duke University Fuqua School of Business
• WomenIn Student: Atsina Corrington, University of Southern California – Interactive Media & Game Design
• WomenIn Student: Geneva Heyward, New York University, Game Design
• WomenIn Student: Shana Joseph, Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center (ETC)
• WomenIn Student: Yiren Wang, New York University – Master of Fine Arts in Game Design
• WomenIn Professional: Sahar Kausar, Walt Disney Imagineering
• WomenIn Professional: Danielle Vuono, Gossamer Games

Select Testimonials from the 2019/2020 AIAS Foundation Scholars on the D.I.C.E. Experience

Danielle Vuono, WomenIn Professional Scholarship Winner - “Overall, the D.I.C.E. scholar program really picked me up while I was in a place I thought I couldn’t get out of. I kept telling people there is no way I could leave this place and ultimately fail. There are too many people looking out for me now. That was one of the best feelings I ever felt. I started to see how much I have accomplished and how much I can accomplish moving forward. It wasn’t just my mentor looking to help me, everyone’s mentor wanted to help us all. I never felt any elitism at DICE the way I have felt it at other game events. Everyone there was just a person that is deeply passionate about what they are doing, the same way I am.”

Adam Riley, AIAS Foundation Scholarship Winner - “D.I.C.E. was a once in a lifetime experience. I got to meet many different types of people in different parts of their lives. I was able to see how to interact with people to network with them. I didn’t understand how easy it was once you decided to not try and make connections and shift your mind to making friends. I noticed that once you made a friend, it was natural that they wanted to know what you do and how they could bring you into their family, their studio.”

Sahar Kausar, WomenIn Professional Scholarship Winner - “Joining the scholarship program truly inspired me on both a professional and personal level. I look back at the friendships I cultivated and the memorable experience of hearing from talented individuals around the globe. The D.I.C.E. Awards were a monumental event in gaming history and I loved every moment of it. Thank you to the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences for an exceptional scholarship experience - I hope to one day give back to others in the industry - cultivating and instilling hope for those pursuing their dreams in the future.” >>Click here to read more about Sahar’s #DICE2020 experience.

Nate Ross, AIAS Foundation Scholarship Winner - “My experience at the D.I.C.E. Summit and with the AIAS Foundation was my most meaningful and transformative experience in gaming so far. The scholar programming and staff were incredible, but the most valuable part of the experience to me was the friendships and connections I established with other scholars and gaming professionals. I’m confident that the people I met at D.I.C.E. will be part of my career and life going forward, and I’m really grateful for that.”

Click here for more information on the AIAS Foundation and WomenIn scholarships.