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Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance (PAMA) and Shure Incorporated announce recipients of 2026 Mark Brunner Professional Audio Scholarship
— Tamanpreet Kaur of American University, Andrew Padfield of Western Michigan University, Nate Dickson of Belmont University and Salon Khatri of Texas State University are named as honorees of the annual scholarship that celebrates the life and accomplishments of long-time Shure executive and PAMA board member Mark Brunner —
Lemoyne, PA, September 16, 2026 – The Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance (PAMA), in partnership with Shure Incorporated, announces the 2026 recipients of the sixth annual Mark Brunner Professional Audio Scholarship. Brunner, a long-time Shure executive, a past president of PAMA and a leading voice in the professional audio community who passed away in 2020, had an unwavering passion for education and mentorship throughout his career. Each scholarship is offered annually to students worldwide who are pursuing an education in professional audio.
The 2026 Mark Brunner Professional Audio Scholarship recipients are Tamanpreet Kaur of American University, Andrew Padfield of Western Michigan University, Nate Dickson of Belmont University and Salon Khatri of Texas State University. Kaur and Padfield are receiving the scholarship for the second consecutive year, joined by new recipients Dickson and Khatri.
Tamanpreet Kaur, who is in a Master of Arts in Audio Technology program at American University in Washington, D.C., is exploring a variety of career paths in audio post-graduation, and the scholarship represents a helping hand in completing her studies. She remarks, “I’m very grateful for the PAMA scholarship. The financial support will help me throughout my education, but being selected also means a lot to me personally. As a woman entering the audio industry, having the support and recognition of an organization like PAMA is something I really value. I’m still exploring my interests within the field and the different directions I can take with my degree, and I’m looking forward to discovering what I enjoy most. Opportunities like this scholarship give students the room to dream big.”
Andrew Padfield is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Multimedia Arts Technology and Communications at Western Michigan University. He is especially interested in live sound, artist relations and brand representation, and he plans to pursue a career in live entertainment and music production after graduation. He notes, “The past year has brought some unexpected challenges and hard times, but it has made me even more determined to keep moving forward and pursue something I’m passionate about. The PAMA Scholarship will help ease some of the financial pressure of college and allow me to stay focused on my education and future. I’m incredibly grateful to PAMA for this support and for believing in me and my goals.”
Nate Dickson is a senior at Belmont University, studying Audio Engineering Technology with a minor in Entrepreneurship. He currently works as a freelance audio engineer, specializing in studio recording and mixing. Post-graduation, he plans to work on building his business full-time with the mission of spreading people’s stories through the tools of audio engineering. He notes, “I am very grateful to have the honor of receiving the Mark Brunner Professional Audio Scholarship, as this support allows me to focus my time on building strong academic work alongside building my own personal brand. With the support from this scholarship, it takes a bit of the pressure off, freeing me to invest in my future career. I would like to thank PAMA for this opportunity, and their commitment to encouraging the next generation of audio professionals!”
Salon Khatri is in his first semester at Texas State University, where he will be studying Audio Engineering. He plans to develop his technical and creative skills in audio production and eventually pursue a career in the music and audio industry. “I’m truly honored and grateful to be selected as a recipient,” he notes. “I’m especially excited about the opportunity to learn, gain hands-on experience, and bring those skills back to Nepal and contribute to the growing music and audio community there. The PAMA scholarship will be a great help in supporting my education and easing some of the financial responsibilities of studying abroad. It also means a lot to know that others believe in my goals and are willing to support me as I pursue something I’m passionate about. I hope to make the most of this opportunity and use what I learn to create meaningful work and give back to my community.”
“Over the past six years, the Mark Brunner Professional Audio Scholarship has become a meaningful way for PAMA to invest in the future of our industry while keeping Mark’s spirit of mentorship very much alive,” said Yvonne Ho, president of the PAMA board of directors. “Each year, we are inspired by the talent, ambition and commitment of the students who apply, particularly their desire to share what they learn with others. That spirit of giving back was so important to Mark, and we are grateful to Shure for its continued partnership in helping us carry it forward.”
"We are immensely proud to continue our support of the PAMA Mark Brunner Scholarship,” said Chris Schyvinck, President and CEO of Shure. “It represents our ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation of audio professionals and ensuring the legacy of Mark Brunner, whose contributions have profoundly impacted our industry. We believe that empowering talent through education is key to driving future advancements, and we are honored to play a part in this important initiative.”
A former President of PAMA from 2011-2013, Brunner provided a consistent voice to the strategic direction of PAMA and its role in advancing the professional audio industry. Mark joined Shure in 1989 and during his tenure held several key positions, including Director of Advertising and Managing Director of the Musical Instrument and Touring Sound business unit. Most recently, Mark was Vice President of Global Corporate & Government Relations, where he worked on numerous industry issues, including the FCC rules for wireless device operation/frequency, spectrum allocation, and lobbied to protect the wireless microphone market sector. Additionally, he was a prominent member of The Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing Manufacturers Council, where he frequently shared his views on legislative wireless white space and broadband issues as well as other related industry matters.
Individuals and companies interested in supporting the Mark Brunner Professional Audio Scholarship fund may donate via the PAMA website here. PAMA is appreciative of all donations that honor Mark’s legacy and support students pursuing careers in the professional audio industry.
For more information, please go to https://www.pamalliance.org/scholarship.
Photo file 1: TamanpreetKaur.JPG
Photo caption 1: Tamanpreet KaurPhoto file 2: AndrewPadfield.JPG
Photo caption 2: Andrew PadfieldPhoto file 3: NateDickson.JPG
Photo caption 3: Nate DicksonPhoto file 4: SalonKhatri.JPG
Photo caption 4: Salon KhatriAbout PAMA:
Founded in 2003, the Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance (PAMA) is the collective voice and forum for the leading manufacturers of professional audio products and the people who use them. PAMA member companies conduct business worldwide in support of high-quality audio across a wide range of industries – pursuing the state of the art in technology and practice to enable audio professionals to elevate their craft and delight listeners and audiences every day. PAMA’s mission is to promote awareness and appreciation of high-quality professional audio through market leadership, communication and education. Our core customers are pro-audio professionals around the world with an interest in promoting high-quality audio. Learn more at www.pamalliance.org.
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