Celebrating Student Awardees

Inclusive design is transformational, but you can’t get there without a diverse set of voices from different backgrounds and cultures at the table. IIDA is committed to ensuring access to design education for students of every background and culture, and the John J. Nelson Sr. Legacy Scholarship Fund specifically supports black students, uplifting their voices and providing financial assistance as they work towards their degrees and careers in interior design. This year’s recipients Tanaka Chodokufa, Student IIDA and Miranda Alvarado, Student IIDA represent the diverse ideals of a new generation. Both of these students are looking to create environments that positively impact the end-users quality of life. Learn more about each recipient below as they share their stories.

Tanaka Chodokufa, Student IIDA
Louisiana State University (LSU)

Tanaka Chodokufa, senior at Louisiana State University (LSU) says, “Interior Design has transformed my life, and it continues to inspire me every day. I am committed to designing with intention, leading with empathy, and advancing design justice.” She has a passion for creating spaces that bring joy, peace, and healing, and her background has shaped her motivation to use design to help overlooked communities feel “valued, seen, and supported in the spaces they inhabit.” Design has had a powerful impact on her life, having moved around in her childhood, she found solace in designing and arranging her own space, giving her a sense of control, stability, and even belonging.

During her senior year of high school she reflected on who she wanted to be and discovered that “interior design was more than creativity, it was a way to shape environments that bring dignity, healing and meaning to people's lives. This realization confirmed that design was not only my passion but also my purpose.” Jeter has gained hands-on experiences through her studies and research that have strengthened her belief that design can improve lives and create environments that are functional and emotionally restorative, while addressing systematic issues. Looking ahead, she aspires to become a licensed interior designer and practice design justice. expand her design practice, Interiors by Tanaka, into a platform that is rooted in inclusivity and emotional connection, emphasizing the power of space to evoke comfort, balance, and purpose.

I’m truly honored to receive this award. It reflects the values that guide my work and encourages me to continue using design to create spaces that foster healing, connection, and hope.

Tanaka Chodokufa, Student IIDA

Miranda Alvarado, Student IIDA
School of Visual Arts, Art College in NYC

From an early age Miranda Alvarado was deeply inspired by how design can be used as a tool to transform the human experience. Growing up she experienced how design can shape lives, “Not through grand gestures, but through design that creates inclusive communities that have supported me.” Alvarado describes how accessibility and inclusion are not luxuries, but are often treated as such leading to environments that are exclusionary — “In accessible design doesn’t create inconvenience. It creates barriers that contribute to isolation…particularly for marginalized groups,” something she hopes to impact in her practice. ” “To me design is more than just infrastructure, it's about community, belonging and spaces that we should be allowed to call home,” she explains.

As a Caribbean-Hispanic American, she felt invisible in spaces where she didn't fit the mold. Her experiences deepened her desire to resolve design issues by bringing the user into the process. Currently in her junior year, Alvarado is gaining industry experience through her studies and is eager to continue her academic journey, where she hopes to deepen her understanding of the intersections behind design and innovation, leaning into universal inclusive design.

Winning this award has been transformative towards my future career and educational growth. As a future designer, I hope to help create accessible spaces that change lives and share the perspectives of those who are often left out or forgotten.

Miranda Alvarado, Student IIDA