Wilsonart Essay Competition
AwardsThe Wilsonart Student Essay Competition awards scholarships to IIDA Student members that participate in the IIDA Student Mentorship program. In the IIDA Student Mentorship Program, student participants gain invaluable professional development and mentorship from professionals in the interior design industry.
The Wilsonart Student Education Fund created this scholarship to provide students with the opportunity to reflect on the value of their IIDA Mentorship program experience and further advance their education in interior design. This program will award one recipient with a $1,000 scholarship courtesy of the Wilsonart Student Education Fund. The recipient will also receive official digital assets and recognition on IIDA.org and IIDA social media channels. Wilsonart will also provide the winner with roundtrip airfare and a two-night hotel stay in Chicago during NeoCon.
Eligibility
IIDA Students that participate in the IIDA Student Mentoring program are encouraged to apply.
Submissions
Applications are closed.
For questions or more information, contact the IIDA Foundation at foundation@iida.org.
2025 Wilsonart Student Essay Winner
Kami Huynh, Student IIDA
San Jose State University
Huynh's winning essay titled "The Confidence to Show Up", details the most important lessons she learned from her mentor and the importance of being who you are and how your perspective can help shape the built environment. Read essay here
2024 Wilsonart Student Essay Winner
Scott Ware, Student IIDA
Dakota County Technical College, Minnesota
In his essay titled, "The Lighthouse: How Mentorship Helped Me Navigate New Beginnings," Ware writes about navigating a new career as a non-traditional student, while facing personal loss—an experience that he says proved to be priceless, invaluable, and unparalleled. Read the essay here
2023 Wilsonart Student Essay Winner
Emily Roberts, Student IIDA
Ensign College
Roberts' winning essay titled, "Stories of Service, Sustainability, and Support" encapsulates her 2023 IIDA Student Mentoring program experience with Dannon Rampton of VCBO Architecture. Read the essay here
2022 Wilsonart Student Essay Winner
Sally Birkett Seston, Student IIDA, ASID
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design
Sally Birkett Seston, Student IIDA, participated in the 2022 Student Mentoring Program with Kaylen Parker, designer at Studio O+A. Read her winning essay here.
2021 Wilsonart Student Essay Winner
Jonny Bywater, Student IIDA
City College of San Francisco
Jonny Bywater, Student IIDA participated in the 2021 Student Mentoring Program with Rachel Maloney, IIDA, Design Director at IDEO who provided a mentorship experience based on Human-Centered Design. Read the winning essay here
2020 Wilsonart Student Essay Winner
Yvonne Yip, Student IIDA
UC Berkeley Extension
Yvonne Yip, Student IIDA participated in the 2020 Student Mentoring Program with Lorraine Rowan, NCIDQ at Taylor Design in San Francisco. Read her winning essay here.