Established in 1983, the Besal Fund is a nonprofit endowed fund created to memorialize the
leadership of the late Robert J. Besal who served as a Vice President for Lithonia Lighting, an
Acuity Brands company. The Robert J. Besal Memorial Education Fund is a trust established
to provide a continuing scholarship program for advancement of education in illuminating
engineering disciplines. Scholarships are awarded to student candidates in eligible graduate
and undergraduate university programs, via an annual application and selection process.
By providing financial assistance, the Besal Fund aspires to encourage talented and committed
students to continue academic pursuits, ultimately leading to a career in the lighting industry.
Notable Milestones
1984- The first recipients of Besal Fund scholarships were students at the University of Kansas (KU).
1986 - Kansas University and Penn State University received accreditation to award Besal Fund scholarships.
1990's - In the early '90s, students at the University of Colorado/Boulder (CU), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), and Kansas State (KSU) were added as recipients of the Fund’s scholarships.
2008 - The Besal Fund celebrated its 25th anniversary. During this initial 25 years, the Besal Fund awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships to students at accredited schools throughout the United States.
The late Robert J. Besal’s career spanned more than 30 years in the lighting industry. Mr. Besal exemplified the high standards of knowledge, professionalism and servant that are reflected today in the Besal Fund criteria.
