FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 10, 2019

IIDA FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL JOHN J. NELSON SR. LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP FUND

CHICAGO, IL – The IIDA Foundation, a not-for-profit philanthropic organization that works in collaboration with IIDA, is proud to partner with John J. Nelson Sr., IIDA, founder and principal of design at NELSON to further the study of interior design and architecture by students of African-American descent through the new John J. Nelson Sr. Legacy Scholarship Fund.

Recipients will be eligible to receive up to $25,000 in scholarship funds. The fund is open to undergraduate students of African-American descent who are currently enrolled in a U.S. not- for-profit CIDA-accredited interior design or NAAB-accredited architecture program. Financial need will be considered but is not a pre-requisite for the scholarship.

“Providing, advancing, and maintaining opportunities for a diverse group of students, especially those with the desire to shape the future, is a fundamental element of our Association,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA. “We are truly grateful to work with John, whose endless dedication to the empowerment of young designers has been evident throughout his career. It is an honor to collaborate with him in offering this new and vital scholarship to our future industry leaders.”

All submissions will be reviewed by a Scholarship Fund Evaluation Committee and the IIDA Foundation Board of Trustees. The distinguished Evaluation Committee includes Durst and Nelson Sr., along with Gabrielle Bullock, IIDA, FAIA, NOMA, IIDA International Board President 2018-2019 and senior director of global diversity at Perkins+Will; Dina Griffin, IIDA, FAIA, NOMA, president and architect at Interactive Design Architects; and Jack Travis, FAIA, NOMA, president and architect at Afri Culture/Design Culture.

“Furthering education and broadening opportunities for students of African-American descent is an important and personal commitment of mine,” said Nelson Sr. “I am proud to partner with the IIDA Foundation to uplift and encourage the next generation of design and architecture professionals through this annual scholarship.”

Submissions will open on January 10, 2019, and the application deadline is February 22, 2019. Recipients will be honored at the IIDA Annual Meeting on June 9, 2019. Undergraduate students who meet the submission requirements may enter on the IIDA website.

For questions or more information, contact Aisha Williams, senior director of industry relations and special events, at awilliams@iida.org.

# # #

About the IIDA Foundation

The IIDA Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 philanthropic organization whose mission is to advance interior design through education, research, and knowledge to benefit IIDA and the interior design profession. The Foundation works in collaboration with IIDA to support the strategic plan of the Association, which includes design professionals, industry affiliates, educators, students, firms, and their clients through a network of 15,000+ members across 58 countries. www.iida.org