IIDA Foundation Announces Important New Scholarship

Chicago (October, 2006) – The IIDA Foundation recently announced the creation of a new program, which has been made possible through the generosity of Kimball Office. The Kimball Office Scholarship Fund, with emphasis on funding diversity at the college/university level, is a three-year program that will award $5,000 to a senior year student pursuing a degree in interior design.Four Interior Design departments have been invited to nominate a student of African, Asian, Latin or Native American heritage, who combines academic excellence with promising design talent. The participating schools include: HarringtonCollege (Chicago); the University of Cincinnati; the University of Texas at Arlington; and WoodburyUniversity, (Burbank, CA).

“Kimball Office is pleased to sponsor this important and relevant initiative with the IIDA Foundation to celebrate the diversity of voices within our industry,” says Russ Mitchell, director of A&D marketing for Kimball Office. “What better way to support design than to help develop and educate a diverse representation of future leaders for the profession.”

“This is truly an exciting opportunity for the IIDA Foundation. Kimball is the first IIDA corporate member to establish a named fund under the Foundation’s umbrella, and their interest and support of diversity in the student population is to be applauded,” commends Gail Burns, chair of the IIDA Foundation.

A committee composed of IIDA Members will review the nominations from the four higher learning institutions and make their recommendation to the IIDA Trustees in selection of the 2006 scholarship recipient. The award will be presented in early December. For ongoing updates, watch IIDA’s DesignMatters newsletter and the Foundation’s Web link at www.iida.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=156. 

The IIDA Foundation is a not-for-profit (501c3), philanthropic organization whose primary mission is to advance interior design through education, research, and knowledge to benefit IIDA and the interior design profession.

IIDA works to enhance quality of life through excellence in interior design and to advance interior design through knowledge, value and community. IIDA is a professional networking and educational association of 12,000 Members in nine specialty Forums in 30 Chapters around the world. Additional information is available on IIDA’s Web site at www.iida.org.

For additional information, contact Jocelyn Pysarchuk, senior director, communications & marketing: (312) 467-1950,