My name is Lindsey Phillips, and I’m about to start my senior year at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, where I will be working toward a BFA in Interior Design with a minor in Project Management. The guidance and courses at UW-Stout have significantly developed my design and technical skills, which I’m eager to apply in my future career. My passion for design has broadened my perspective on the various fields I could explore, with hospitality design emerging as my ideal path in the future. I actively participate in both campus life and the interior design industry. Over the past nine months, I’ve served as a student representative for the NEWH North Central Chapter, a role I’m excited to continue in the coming year.

The professional connections I’ve made through NEWH events and meetings have been incredibly rewarding, fueling my enthusiasm for starting my career after graduation. Additionally, my involvement on the board of Stout’s Student Interior Design Organization has allowed me to connect with and mentor underclassmen. This past summer, I had the opportunity to intern at Southern Lights in Burnsville, MN, where I gained  valuable lighting knowledge and learned how to make informed design choices when it comes to lighting  your space.

I am honored to have received the 2024 Icon of Industry Scholarship, which will help me  further pursue my dreams and build a successful career.

Maitreyee is an MFA interior design student and a representative of the student body at the Savannah College of Art and design. Currently interning as a Design Assistant at KTGY Simeone Deary Design Group in Chicago, she’s a passionate designer who believes in learning through real-life experiences. In the past this has also led her to co-find a student club and volunteer as a NEWH relationship coordinator for the college. Her graduate thesis focused on restoring mindfulness through interior design to address social media over-usage – a result of anxiety and stress in young adults. She is dedicated to making a positive impact through her craft and intends to explore the topic of Trauma-Informed Design to continue creating spaces that promote well-being.

Farzane is a Ph.D. student in the Interior and Environmental Design program at Texas Tech University. She is educated in architecture and received her bachelor’s and master’s degree in this field.

Her bachelor’s final project was a hotel design that followed her interest in the hospitality sector. In her master’s program, she focused on patient-centered hospital design. Similarities between hospitality and healthcare design helped her to think about both sectors simultaneously. Currently, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in interior and environmental design, allowing her to work on healthcare projects and combine them with hospitality design criteria. She recently worked on sustainable hotel design principles, culminating in a resilient hotel design that can answer both hospitality and healthcare needs. Generally, her research interests are healthcare design, hospitality design, and sustainability. Farzane worked for consultant engineering companies for more than ten years and designed many different building types. As a team member, she focused on architecture and interior design, with an emphasis on design development.

I am a Korean student studying Interior Design at New Jersey Institute of Technology. My sophomore work was exhibited at SIGGRAPH 2020 and won third place in the Annual Mid-Atlantic 2020 IIDA Student Showcase. I won the Second Year Interior Designer of Distinction Award at NJIT. Recently, I completed my junior year. It was mentally and physically challenging because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. I pushed through by managing my time effectively to participate in virtual events to further my knowledge and web of connections. With this passionate drive, I was given the opportunity to be published and selected as a finalist in the Decorate-Interior category of the London International Creative Competition. I was also a semi-finalist in the ASID Student Portfolio Competition. Along with these rewards, I was elected for the position of the 2021 Co-President of the NJIT IIDA Student Organization.

I plan to work as an intern at interior design firms before graduation to develop practical work experience and skills. After graduation, I would like to concentrate on hospitality interior design and work for a global company that focuses on hospitality applications. Simultaneously, I will prepare to take NCIDQ and LEED AP ID+C which can improve my knowledge and certify my skills.

The pandemic has made a global impact that affects all parts of life, even interior design. Aspects like social distancing, minimizing contact, and sanitation measures have to be considered with how interiors are designed. This makes the design all the more relevant to have a global perspective. My western and eastern cultural experiences can contribute to understanding and improving the global aspect of hospitality interior design. I desire to deepen my study of sustainable and environment-friendly interior design that can be optimally beneficial to people’s health and to nature. Also, if there are opportunities to work in other countries, I will take that chance to explore and experience diverse climates, cultures, and local environments by working on various eclectic sites. Such experiences will contribute to my expertise in managing people and projects.

My name is Carolina Cardona and I was born in Miami, Florida. Around the age of 8, my family and I moved to our hometown in Medellin, Colombia, where my roots originate from and where my extended family lives. After a total of 6 years, we returned to the U.S and I am currently living in South Florida. My love for design is driven by a deep passion and is a source of non-stop growth. I am currently enrolled in Florida International University in my fourth year on the road to obtaining a degree in the Accelerated Master’s program in Interior Architecture as well as a certificate in Cruise Ship and Super Yacht Design.

Obtaining the 2019 NEWH Icon of Industry Scholarship is a great honor. This recognition pushes me to further pursue my dreams of having a successful career. I am very grateful for the opportunity as it will allow me to focus whole-heartedly on my studies.

Having the opportunity to graduate with a Masters within five years will allow me to start off my professional career ahead of the curb. Currently I am interning at EoA and it is allowing me to gain experience and apply my knowledge in the industry while still being in school. This enables me to enter the workforce with some real-world experience after graduation. I would like to pursue a career down the hospitality path.

I would love to travel and design super yachts and cruise ships around the world, applying all my knowledge towards improving this industry. I believe there should be a merge between hospitality and super yachts and I want to help bridge the gap between them.

Being able to shape people’s experiences and feelings in a space is what intrigues me the most about the hospitality industry. Creating a design that will evoke great energy and focusing on the relationship between people and the environment is what hospitality is all about.

I hope that my experiences and accomplishments can motivate my colleagues to participate in all the great events and scholarships NEWH offers. I look forward to encouraging the FIU Interior Architecture program to get more involved in the NEWH community.

Winning the 2018 NEWH ICON of Industry Scholarship is such an honor. This recognition affirms my beliefs in work ethic, and it encourages me to continue challenging myself in my future academic life. I’m deeply grateful for the supports and opportunities it gives for me to pursue a career in the hospitality industry.

For the remainder of my education, I plan to take extra design courses outside of my major since it’s been proven that creative thinking in other design disciplines and an interdisciplinary mindset can contribute significantly to my interior design works. I will keep developing my skills by combining work experience with design thinking learned at school. Upon graduation, I’m looking forward to joining a hospitality and restaurant interior design company and make impacts internationally.

Thinking ahead to the future, working on international projects using cutting-edge technology to create a unique, interactive, and mind-blowing experience sounds like a sweet dream to me. If it pays, then it will be my dream job. Being in a design team that creates new definitions for future hospitality design and show what interior can become excite me the most. I have always seen myself traveling internationally for projects around the world. I envision working hard to make an impact on the industry as an interior designer and a volunteer that brings creative solutions to places in need.

As a student who receives the NEWH Scholarship, my experience advocates and encourages more students to participate in NEWH events and award applications. I’m looking forward to connecting my school program with the NEWH community.

As a child, I had a vivid imagination and would spend most of my time drawing and constructing doll houses out of anything I could find around the house. Through my journey as an adolescent, I found myself questioning which career path was right for me. I was adamant about seeking a practical nine-to-five job that would offer security and flexibility. Showing much academic promise, I graduated from high school and once the question of “what’s next?” was asked I felt lost and unsure. From that point I struggled to find an avenue that would allow me to embrace my passion for artistic expression and compliment my analytical thought process. After six years of studying at my local state college, I finally receive my “Aha!” moment. This occurred when my mother, to whom I am very close with, called to my attention that I need to spread my wings. I owe much of my accomplishments to her, as she inspired me to pursue a future in interior design.

The moment I started the Interior Architecture program at Florida International University (FIU), I felt connected to a part of myself. I had finally found a career path that would utilize my artistic abilities and even the knowledge I had gained from my previous studies of graphic design and business. Located in the heart of Miami, FIU opened my eyes to a new world of diversity and aesthetics that I never knew existed. My hometown, Port Saint Lucie, Florida did not necessarily support my natural talent and creativity but, in Miami I was surrounded by an urban culture that embraced the design industry and glorified interior environments. During the Fall Quarter of my first year of graduate school, I was fortunate to receive an internship opportunity from one of the juror members. It was this brief four-month period with Interior Image Group (IIG) that intensified my passion for hospitality design. I was truly blessed to work alongside Leslie Schultz, who allowed me (an introductory intern) to get involved with the design process. I learned so much about real-world projects and how they evolve into attainable spaces.

Throughout my academic career at FIU, I was able to take part in several firm tours and field trips. Having visited powerhouses such as MASS Design Group in Boston, Massachusetts and HOK in Atlanta, Georgia, my eyes were open to a sea of endless possibilities. Each of these experiences contributed to my understanding of how much depth this career offers. Not only are interior designers space planners, artists, graphic designers, and in some cases, a mediator but also, we develop environments that impact the health and wellbeing of society. I find this truly inspiring! This past June, I was also able to attend NeoCon in Chicago which was a liberating experience. Students rarely get the opportunity to sit in $1,500.00 chairs and see exquisite showrooms of the leading furniture manufacturers which is why I thoroughly enjoyed this trip. I would not have been able to attend these excursions if FIU did not offer students travel scholarships.

I am so thankful for the opportunities I have been presented with here in Miami. To show gratitude, I strive to be an active member in my design community by participating in local events such as the NEWH Sofhies & Scholarship Award Ceremony, the IIDA Advocacy Meeting and fundraising for our local IIDA chapter. In the past, I have dedicated my time to volunteer for my university. For the last three years, I have taken part in the annual Festival of the Trees (FOT) event which allows me to network with design professionals and raise money for the Interior Architecture program. In 2016, I was fortunate enough to partner with Sherwin Williams and create a sculptural interpretation of the Machine Age for which I was awarded Most Sustainable Design. Maintaining an active membership in organizations such as NEWH, IIDA and TAU Sigma Honor Society has exposed me to the true benefits of extracurricular activities. Working alongside fellow design students in a collaborative environment has allowed me to develop my communication skills and break away from my reclusive tendencies. I have been able to develop my confidence and identity as a designer. My efforts of hard work and dedication transmit into the studio environment. I value my ability to help others and offer creative solutions for any issues my fellow peers may be experiencing.

The remainder of my academic career I will continue my journey to become a great interior designer. I have high aspirations of obtaining my LEED Green Associates Certification in addition to my WELL Certification to coincide with my passion to create environmentally conscious spaces. Upon graduation, it is my goal to return to IIG to work towards obtaining my NCIDQ license. Receiving my license will be a true milestone in my career and will allow me to seek employment with a globally recognized design firm such as Perkins+Will or Gensler. As an established designer, I would love to indulge in the processes of furniture and textile design to master my artistry. The ability to create objects that can both occupy and delineate space while uniting the concept of form and function has always fascinated me. Being an advantageous scholar, I do not see my thirst for knowledge diminishing anytime soon.

If I should be so lucky to receive this scholarship, I would be able to achieve my goals of becoming a reputable designer within the hospitality industry. Being a child of three in a single parent household, my mother has always encouraged me to follow my heart and reach a level of success defined by my own standards. Ultimately, my choice to attend college became a personal financial burden. Unfortunately, in 2016 my mother had to make the difficult decision to go on disability as a result of a preexisting health condition. This made a dramatic impact on my family. Since that time, I have never been more motivated and dedicated to achieve success. While my financial burden will be challenging, I understand that my education and the future of my family maintains a higher level of importance. I have been fortunate enough to receive financial assistance by maintaining a part-time job and with my time management skills and ability to multitask my grades have not been affected. No matter what the outcome, I will continue to apply for scholarships because I understand that every bit of financial assistance helps.

The NEWH ICON of the Industry scholarship would be such as esteemed honor to be awarded. Not only would it alleviate a portion of my existing student debt but also merit a level of confidence that I finally found something that I truly excel at. I would strive to maintain the integrity of the award by continuing to achieve my goals as a designer. If there is one thing I have learned about myself, it is that I continue to grow and evolve as an individual and I believe this quality will benefit my future career given the industry itself continues to evolve. At this time, I would like to thank you for the kind consideration.

My name is Tyson Baker, and I love design school. I love working in the studio environment with my peers, I enjoy the constant pressure to produce the best work I can, and I enjoy the impromptu slumber parties that often occur the night before a major presentation is due. Although design school may not be for everyone, I have truly fallen in love. This love of both learning and the studio environment is caused by the deep feelings I have discovered for the profession of hospitality interior design. I have not always had this drive and passion, and didn’t understand the true nature of the profession until enrolling in my first interior design course. Before enrolling in design school I had never found the joy in school other than a few theatre courses. This lack of passion reflected in my grades, and although I was always told I had a lot of potential, my grades in high school did not reflect it. I always believed that a formal education wasn’t for me, and for much of my early adult life explored other career opportunities as a professional dancer. That all changed when I walked into my first interior design course. I vividly remember walking in nervous and not knowing what to expect, and leaving that day knowing that I had finally found what I had been searching for my entire life. This exact feeling followed me as I completed my first day as an interior design intern. When my parent’s called me after that first day to ask how it went, I quickly responded “Do you know what is awesome about interior design? I get to do what I do every day at design school, but for real clients, and I get paid to do it”. My love for design school is no longer exclusive, as I have fallen in love with working in the interior design industry, and the ability to work on a variety of projects with so many talented professionals.
Working within the field has taught me things that I could never learn in a traditional classroom, and everything I have learned has only enhanced my dedication to design, and my future career. While enrolled at Meramec College, I completed my first internship at Invacare Interior Design. This was my first office job, having spent most of my adult life living aboard a cruise ship for up to nine months at a time. I realized that the nine to five job actually exists, although the hours often exceed that. I had to quickly catch-up on how to handle the endless emails, constant meetings, and the never-ending stream of goodies that people brought in. At Invacare Interior Design I learned more about how real-world projects are handled and how quickly, or slowly, projects can evolve. This first internship allowed me to gain some entry-level knowledge on not only office procedures, but the bare basic of the interior design profession.
During the spring term of my junior year I actively sought a summer internship. I sent out hundreds of resumes and portfolios and waited. I called firms, left messages, and cold-called. I then waited some more. I interviewed with various firms throughout the country, and continued to wait for an offer. After being forced to learn the value of patience, I was offered multiple internships within a two day period. The whole experience taught me more about how companies operate and allowed me to connect with so many great individuals throughout our profession. I decided to accept an offer from Forum Design Studios, and move to Chicago for the summer. While interning at Forum, I got the opportunity to work on a multitude of projects from a massive team effort to design experiential retail for a large health-care center in Saudi Arabia, to designing and detailing a small office fit-out for a shipping warehouse that I was able to present to the client. Through each design I continued to stay focused on creating a unique experience for each client, whether it was a shipping office in rural Illinois or an optometry clinic located across the world.
Returning to Saint Louis for my senior year of design school, I have recently taken a position at HOK.
Working for this large firm has already provided me with experiences with large corporate clients that want to effect change in their built-environment. Although I have only been at HOK for a short time, I have already gained so much knowledge from the wonderful colleagues that I interact with daily.
I have fallen in love. Mixing a variety of internship experiences with a valuable design education has created an elixir that I can’t refuse. My love and passion for design continues to grow daily, and I feel lucky to have found my true calling as an interior designer. I cannot wait to see what the future holds, and I look forward to creating interior hospitality environments that show this passion to the end-user.

I would not say that the community that I grew up in necessarily fostered creativity. My hometown, Pearl City, Illinois, is a small farming community about thirty minutes from both the Iowa and Wisconsin borders that tends to focus solely on agriculture and sports. While it is in my opinion that Pearl City did not directly contribute to my academic success and passion for interior design, it did inspire and encourage me to broaden my horizons and create a life reflective of my creative interests. Growing up an only child, I was often forced to find creative ways to entertain myself. It was quite hard to play board games, sports, and even with toys without another child around. Because of this, I spent a lot of my time focusing on coloring, building forts, reading, and watching cartoons. After a while though, even these things got tiring, and I forced myself to stretch my limits. At a young age, I started watching networks like TLC, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery Channel, and local cable channels, channels not typically common for seven year olds to watch. As I grew, I found I was able to quickly grasp concepts and topics in school, which allowed me to excel in my classes. Time management and a passion for learning enabled me to get my work done early, which provided me with the opportunity to really explore my creativity and imagination. I am not exactly sure what sparked it, but the tender age of 10, I decided that I was going to become an interior designer.

Nothing where I lived was ever designed extremely well. Places were rarely updated, additions to homes and buildings seemed careless and rushed, and construction was done cheaply. There was no strong design inspiration in my community, but there was a lot of potential. Consequently, I do believe this was a key element to my interest in interior design. Every place needed something in my mind. For example, when going to the doctor’s office, going to a friend’s house, going out to eat, wherever it may be, I would sit there and mentally find design opportunities in the space and think of ways to improve them. I would create mental floor plans in my head, and ponder various solutions such as: if only this sofa was a little smaller, or this wall would work better pushed back a few feet, or a different color would help bring this place to life.

Luckily for me, I didn’t have to just extract knowledge from books or the internet. Unlike the majority of people from the area, my parents had a strong desire to travel, and at the age of five, I had already been to Alaska and Mexico. I think this travel was extremely important to my creativity and my flourishing mind for interior design. Travel enabled me to view architecture and design in various forms and how different cultures approached designing the built environment.

These vacations and experiences will stay with me my entire life. When I think about it, these memories are strongly supported by not only the activities during the vacation, but also the spaces around us. This is why I want to design for hospitality. I want to create well-designed places that nurture positive thoughts for visitors. Whether it is for business or leisure, it is important to create that unique, comfortable experience that gives the visitor a lasting memory.

As I approached my senior year in high school, my goals of wanting to become an interior designer were resolute. My high school was extremely limited with classes, and because of this if I wanted to take an art class, I had to through independent study. To accomplish this, I substituted my study hall period for an opportunity to pursue my own creative interests. Since I was the only one in the class, I was able to choose my own projects. One of my projects included an architecture competition through the Northern Illinois branch of the American Institute of Architects. Because I had no experience with any type of CAD programs, I opted to hand draft the entire project and taught myself along the way. Luckily for me, the hand drafting paid off in my favor and I was awarded fourth place out of over 80 entries and a chance to attend a week of Architecture Camp at Southern Illinois University. As my senior year was coming to an end, I reached out to a local interior designer and was awarded the chance to intern with her for my last few months of high school and over my summer break. All of these experiences would end up confirming my passion for interior design and the built environment. I was extremely confident with my decision going into my first year of college.

My decision to go to the Atlanta campus of Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) was an easy one for me. Not only did it have the number one ranked interior design program in the United States, it also gave me a great opportunity to pursue my dream of living in a culturally diverse city with an impressive art and design community. While it was not until the Spring Quarter of my freshman year that I was able to take my first interior design class, I was excelling in my classes and enjoying the fact that I was finally surrounded by other creative minds.  It was then, one sunny afternoon during my Introduction to Interior Design class, I was able to get a taste of what a large scale interior design firm was like as my class toured Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA). After this tour, my interest in hospitality intensified. As I entered my sophomore year, I was able to focus my mind and knowledge on classes concentrated on interior design and the built environment. Even with 5-hour studios and a lack of free time, I was more than content. I was finally immersed in what I loved.

During my winter quarter and into the spring quarter of my sophomore year, I was able to return to HBA with a wonderful opportunity to work as a library intern in substitute of their permanent librarian while she was away on maternity leave. My three months in their library allowed me to delve into the world of products and materials, and gain invaluable knowledge and insight as a young designer. It also gave me the wonderful opportunity to meet and manifest relationships with many of the representatives for these products, which will stay with me throughout my career. At the culmination of my time in the library, a new opportunity arose, and I was able to join HBA full time for 11 weeks as a design intern.

I am very thankful for the opportunities that have come my way here in Atlanta, at SCAD, and at HBA. It is important to note that my time spent outside of the classroom or the working environment is still very much focused on interior design and the professional community. In the past at SCAD, I have volunteered my time in the interior design resource library, at the Interior Design Senior Showcase, at aTVFest, at SCAD’s Interior Design Organization’s (iDO) events, and through SCAD’s community service group SERVE. Membership in organizations such as ASID, IIDA, and NEWH in the past year has also increased my participation in many of their student events. I believe my involvement in these extracurricular activities along with my leadership in the classroom reflects my passion and dedication to this industry. My past experiences have given me confidence and a board knowledge base that has enabled me to give classmates a unique perspective when discussing projects. I enjoy helping others work through design problems and have found that sketching and discussing past experiences are great ways to inspire successful solutions.

Looking forward, my future, my education, and my cultivation as a designer remain my top priorities. In the next two years, one of my strongest goals outside of school is to become more active in the local IIDA, ASID, and NEWH chapters. Next summer I would love to return to HBA for another internship. After I graduate, it is my goal to become part of a large, globally recognized design firm like HBA, and hopefully have the chance to focus my creativity and my passion for design on hospitality. After joining the workforce as a designer, I believe my experiences will help determine whether I will pursue a master’s degree. Not matter what my decision, after completing my necessary hours in the workforce I plan to sit for the NCIDQ. Obtaining my NCIDQ license is incredibly important to me, and will be a great accomplishment in my career. As an established designer, I would like to focus on projects that deal with the adaptive reuse of existing buildings. I think my interest in adaptive reuse stems from my childhood pastime of mentally reworking buildings, and my enjoyment in highlighting the character and positive parts of these buildings, while finding solutions for the negative. In the future, I also hope to remain part of professional organizations such as IIDA, ASID, and NEWH. As a lifelong learner, my passion for traveling and gaining new experiences will remain a constant.

Being awarded this scholarship will allow me to stay on the path towards reaching my goals, and fulfilling my passion for both design & the hospitality industry. My parents have been extremely supportive of my journey even when it was not easy. Being an only child, my parents sought for me to be successful. At the start of my fifth birthday, my dad started putting away as much as he could for my future education. Unfortunately, in 2007 the recession hit extremely hard in my area and my father became unemployed. While he took small jobs here and there, finances were strained and most of my college savings were depleted. It was not until about 2011 that my parents were able to once again save money for my education; however, high school graduation was soon approaching. Despite this, they did not want me to compromise my dreams and encouraged me to attend SCAD even though I would need financial assistance. If not awarded this scholarship, my family and I will continue to take out additional loans needed to finish my education at SCAD. While the future financial burden will be difficult, my education and future success is ultimately more important. The course load at SCAD makes it quite challenging to pursue outside activities, and in order to graduate at the level I want and in a timely manner, it is almost impossible for me to have a part time job. No matter what the outcome, I will continue to pursue additional scholarships, because in the end every bit helps. Summer internships, like the one at HBA, have granted me with the opportunity to intern not only for experience, but also to aid in educational finances.

Winning the NEWH Icon of the Industry scholarship would be an extreme honor. Not only would it help ease my student debt, it would also be a great reward for my existing hard work. It would push me even further in my education in order to maintain the integrity of the award. Obtaining this scholarship would not only help me on a professional level, but it would also affect me on a personal one. It would instill great pride in myself and provide me with confidence moving forward in my education and career. Thank you for your consideration.

I knew from a young age that I wanted to do something meaningful with my life, but if you had asked me then what it was I wanted to do, I wouldn’t have had an answer for you. To be completely honest, it took some soul searching before I realized what my calling was, and finding my passion for design was an exciting process. I am so easily inspired by everything in my surroundings, and I wanted to positively inspire and impact the people and world around me, no matter how small that influence may be. As I grew up I became more aware of my creative side, and developed an affinity for architecture and the built environment. I found myself deeply immersed in every space and building that I walked into and had immense appreciation for my surroundings—I still do. I have finally found the intersection of creativity and meaningful expression, and it led me to the path of design. I strongly believe that for the amount of passion and effort that I put into this career, I have only gained exponentially. Every event in my life has shaped who I am and the decisions I have made have only strengthened my steadfast passion for design. A career in interior design gives me the opportunity to inspire others and make the positive impact that I have strived for over the years.

I currently attend Florida State University, seeking a Masters of Fine Arts in Interior Design. In August of 2013, I completed my Bachelors of Science degree in Interiors from the same program, and immediately went on to pursue my Graduate degree. While in school, I work as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. As a TA, my goal is to help students understand what they are learning in classes and assist them in applying that knowledge to their projects and assignments. I see an unwavering importance of being available to help students whenever they need it. I feel as though it is my duty to give back to my students, and I wish to be a mentor for every student in my classes—to be someone who can guide and encourage them to see their potential as students, and as designers.

As a designer, I am interested in the user experience and how spaces can support a persons needs, personally and socially. I am currently studying the Millennial generation, and how the design of a mixed use housing environment can provide a sense of community to this generation to meet their social needs. My research of designing for social needs nurtures my interest in hospitality design; specifically, social spaces in hospitality interiors that support a user’s experience within the space. These spaces include, hotel lobbies, restaurants, entertainment spaces and other gathering places.

This summer I had the opportunity to intern in the hospitality studio at Gensler in Los Angeles, California. This experience allowed me to enhance my skills by working on various hospitality projects and gaining experience in several different aspects of this growing design sector. I developed a new passion for the hospitality design industry because I found it synergistic with my passion of designing for human’s needs and the user experience. All in all, this internship experience has further developed my skills in leadership, collaboration, and communication, and I am excited to continue to improve upon these skills as I complete my final year of graduate school.

Prior to beginning my internship, I became a LEED® Green Associate, and I am determined to soon become a LEED AP, ID+C. Along with furthering my knowledge and certification in sustainability, I hope to become a licensed Interior Designer, soon after graduation and entering the field. I see an extreme importance in becoming licensed, and I hope to begin the first steps of the NCIDQ exam prior to my graduation next August.  After graduation, it is my goal to return to Los Angeles, and become an Interior Design professional in a studio focused on Hospitality Interiors. My experience in Los Angeles this summer has not only allowed me to gain new knowledge and skills as a design professional, but it has given me new personal growth that will guide me in my future.

The NEWH Icon of Industry Scholarship would play an important role in achieving all of my prospective goals. If I were to be selected as the scholarship recipient, I would be honored and immensely grateful because it would alleviate some of the financial burden that I am faced with as a graduate student. These funds would be extremely helpful in the final months of my graduate career, allowing me to flourish as a designer, and lessen the worry about financial security. Along with aiding to minimize the debt that I will have following my graduation, this scholarship will allow me to pay for important things such as: study materials and exam fees to pursue a higher LEED Certification, membership fees to professional organizations, and entry fees and travel expenses for design conferences and presentations that I will partake in this year. If my application for this scholarship is not accepted, I will continue to apply for additional loans, and search for other scholarship opportunities to help lessen the stress of finances as I continue my education.

It has been a long, amazing journey to get where I am today. Every class, project, presentation, and design experience has shaped my place in this field. I face inspiration a daily basis; it confirms my path in this industry, and pushes me harder to succeed every day. I truly feel as though with interior design, through practice and teaching, I am doing something meaningful, and I hope to use this scholarship to inspire and influence others through hospitality design.

As a high achiever I have always set out to accomplish my artistic and academic goals to the best of my ability and I knew that a career in design would be in my future. Not only did I have a strong love of art from a young age, I made sure that I used my talents by pursuing everything art related I could find. Growing up on the small island of Barbados as the daughter of a primary school art teacher and a do-it-yourself father who was always building something in and around the house, one could say I was destined for the arts. I was always entering art competitions, completing crafts projects and redesigning my bedroom. As I moved on to secondary school, I gravitated towards the art room where I spent the majority of my time, even after school. My friends would have to come there in order to find me. I was meticulous about all my projects and went above and beyond for each assignment. So much so, that I received a distinction in my advanced art course, as well as an incentive award at the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts in Barbados.

Upon graduation, most of my peers went on to the University of the West Indies where they would be able to study locally. This was not an option for me however, because in the one hundred and sixty six square miles that I called home, there was no architecture or interior design program. This meant that I was to take a great step, after graduating at 17, to move to another country to pursue my education. Leaving family, friends, and the only home I have ever known was a difficult step but proved to be extremely rewarding. I quickly fell in love with the city of Savannah, Georgia where I embarked on my undergraduate degree in interior design at the Savannah College of Art and Design. I made the most of my opportunity and ensured that I fully immerse myself in the experience of college, dedicating time to my studies as well as to the student body where I worked as an orientation assistant. I wanted to make sure that new students felt as welcome as I did when I first travelled to the United States to study.

Another major part of my student life was my devotion to the IIDA and ASID student chapter at SCAD. This organization helped foster the spirit of comradery and volunteering among students in the interior design department. As secretary for two years, and later acting president, I strove to create and execute community service projects and programs to bring students together for networking and professional growth along with other members on the board. I truly believe that good design can be heightened by peer influences. One of the major service projects I was involved in was the renovation of the staff corridor in Memorial Hospital in Savannah. We felt as though the workers needed a space that would take away from the stress of their jobs; one that could act as a retreat and brighten their day. With the help of student volunteers, we redesigned the corridor and break room with generous donations from Sherwin Williams. The main feature of the space, which was designed through a charette with the students, was a series of branches that featured photos of smiling patients to remind the staff of all the good they do for people every day. I will never forget the smiles on their faces and words of encouragement as they came by, watching us work to improve their space. We were thrilled when the project was awarded the ‘Outstanding Service Project of the Year’.

In addition to the organizations I was a part of, I also excelled academically. Although the program could be very stressful at times, I was forever grateful for the opportunity to be studying something I loved which made it easier to get through the long 5 hour studio classes at times. It seemed like most of my days I was in the school building where I would spend hours at a time designing or studying, making sure that I was giving it my all. The most trying time was during my senior year when I was tirelessly working on my senior project, a Caribbean cultural center for second generation immigrants to the United States. This topic was chosen because it really hit home for me as a native of a Caribbean island who was struggling to stay in touch with my roots. The center was to be a place where people could read about their culture in the library, purchase a bit of culture in the retail shop, see the culture through the eyes of artists in the museum and taste the culture in the food court and teaching kitchen. Interior design for me is about the ability to influence people’s lives and have a great impact on everything from emotional connections to quality of life simply through good design. I was able to explore this thoroughly with the project. As a result, I won the Chair’s award for the most outstanding senior project while graduating with a major GPA of 4.0 and Summa Cum Laude honors.

The decision to return to school to obtain a master’s degree after a year proved to be wise one. There is something to be said about realizing exactly how much you don’t know that motivates you and makes you eager to learn. For me, graduate school has been about new discoveries about theories, the world of design, and myself as a designer. Through the design of a hotel based in Cairo, Egypt for my studio 1 class, I came to realize my love for hospitality design. This field encompasses all that I enjoy about design. It allows for designing with cultural influences and impacts a variety of people in many situations. You get to truly explore creativity for the masses in public spaces while providing unique individual retreats in guestrooms. After this class, I truly had my sights set on a career in the hospitality industry.

Since starting my graduate career, I have made certain to immerse myself in the design industry in Atlanta. Along with being a student member of NEWH, ASID and IIDA, I volunteer at events and serve as a committee member in the organizations. It is invaluable to be able to learn from people with varying degrees of experience in design. NEWH has definitely helped me strengthen my involvement in hospitality.  I have recently accepted the position of student liaison with the NEWH Atlanta chapter where I hope to continue to bridge the gap between the student body and professionals in the industry.

After graduation, I plan pursue hospitality design as a career. My internship at Hirsch Bedner this summer has confirmed that I have made the right choice in this regard. I was able to fully immerse myself in the world of hospitality design while learning from the best in the industry. I was treated as a junior designer on my team and given responsibilities throughout all phases of the process and was able to learn how design is done in a large firm setting. With this knowledge, I am certain I have the ability to excel in this field. In addition, while at HBA, I have been earning hours that I will put towards my NCIDQ certification to become a registered interior designer which I feel is a necessary step, along with becoming LEED certified.

It would be remiss of me not to mention my wonderful parents. It is with their assistance that I can pursue my passions to the best of my ability. They wanted to make sure that I was afforded all the opportunities they never had growing up. My father, one of my greatest influences, had to leave school to support his family. Since then, he has made it his goal that I would be able to follow my own path. Being an international student carries additional burdens and financial constraints. Travelling home is not simply a car ride away and currency exchange rates are not in our favor.  My parents, both retired, remortgaged our family home in order to meet tuition fees for my bachelors degree. This loan is being repaid from their pensions. However, the cost of my masters degree is being funded by my father who in order to facilitate this, has taken up two jobs as a chef and bookkeeper to supplement his pension. The funding and fees for my education account for 75% of my parents’ pensions at the moment. In addition, there has been a recent economic downturn in Barbados and job opportunities are becoming more challenging while cost of living has significantly increased. My parents strongly believe in rewarding my excellence and consider the sacrifices they’ve made as an investment in my future. Apart from work-study programs and the mandatory internships for credit, visa restrictions mean that I am not able to work while I am in school. If not awarded the scholarship, I plan to take a work-study position as a tutor for the interior design department. This way I can gain income while helping other students improve their skills. This NEWH scholarship would mean a great deal to me and my family. It would mean that I could ease the burden on my parents well before I can start officially working to pay off the debt. I thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

I have always had an interest in art and design.  Whether I was sketching, drawing floor plans, or creating buildings with Legos, I always knew I wanted to be creative.  This led me to pursue a degree as an interior designer.

I graduated with honors from Southern Illinois University Carbondale with a Bachelors of Science in Interior Design in May of 2012.  Upon graduation, I wanted to further my knowledge and open doors to new opportunities for my future. I applied and was accepted into the Masters of Fine Arts in Interior Design graduate program at Savannah College of Art and Design, SCAD, currently the number one interior design school in the nation.  It had been my dream to attend school at SCAD and when accepted into the graduate program I was thankful all my hard work had paid off.

While in school, I also have participated and had leadership roles in the professional interior design organizations.  I have been a member of the International Interior Design Association where I led the student group as both vice president and president.  I also was a member of the American Society of Interior Designers, American Institute of Architecture Students, Illuminating Engineering Society, and I am active in the Interior Design Experience Program.  I have consistently been active in interior design student groups through volunteering my time for fundraisers and leading student groups to make a positive impact on the interior design program.

During my time in school I have had the opportunity to extend my knowledge outside the classroom through design internships.  I interned at the architecture firm Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum, HOK, the commercial real-estate firm Cassidy Turley, and HGTV.  Each internship has helped me grow and further my knowledge as an interior designer.

I have consistently been asked what career path I would like to take upon graduation.  Each time I have answered, “I would like to pursue a career in hospitality design.”  After graduation, my goal is to obtain a position as an entry-level designer at one of the top hospitality design firms.  Once I land my dream job, I plan to work my way up in the company, travel, and gain new experiences to better my designs.  I am also currently working on obtaining my hours through the Interior Design Experience Program to qualify for the NCIDQ to become a licensed interior designer.  My first priority after maintaining my first interior design job is to acquire my experience hours, pass the NCIDQ, and register to become a licensed interior designer.  I also plan to be active and contribute to the professional interior design organizations.  After many, many years of design experience in hospitality design, I would eventually like to teach at the college level while still practicing interior design.  I find it fulfilling to give back to the interior design industry through teaching.

After reviewing my school expenses along with my financial aid, it is evident that obtaining any financial assistants would be extremely helpful and appreciated.  By obtaining the ICON of Industry Scholarship Grant the weight of student loans that are currently piling up would be lifted off my shoulders.  To date, upon graduation from graduate school, I will owe $53,338 in financial aid.  I am very passionate about my education and am working hard to ensure I will achieve my dreams.  I am dedicated and am putting in the hard work to overcome any obstacles.  Part of this is the understanding I will have to take out loans to invest in my education.  I would be very grateful to receive help through the ICON of Industry Scholarship Grant.  Receiving this money would be life changing by easing the pressure of financial debt and would help me take one step closer to becoming a professional interior designer.

If I do not receive the ICON of Industry Scholarship Grant, I plan to take out Unsubsidized Student Loans in order to pay for my schooling at the moment.  Upon graduation I will work to eventually pay these loans off one day.  Hard work pays off and I plan to continuously work hard to achieve me dreams.

Growing up, I was very close to my grandfather, who even through the struggles of war and financial limitations, always stressed the importance of serving others and working diligently to meet your goals.  The time spent with him at such a young age instilled a strong work ethic and determination in me to succeed. I have found that a career in interior design provides me the opportunity to, like my grandfather, take care of those around me and positively impact lives.  I love the creativity involved and the ability to serve a variety of populations. Designing interiors has the capacity to impact and shape a life, a population, and in turn the future. This love has led me to seek a path in both hospitality and non-profit work because of the extensive amount of people these two paths can globally reach.

My preparation thus far has prepared me for the rigors of hospitality and non-profit design pursuits.  Through the Honors in the Major (HITM) undergraduate program at Florida State University, I explored my desire to serve others through design by studying creative interior solutions for underserved populations. My undergraduate thesis titled “Healthy Interior Environments in Haitian Orphanage Design” was one of five selected from Florida State University to be presented at the 2012 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Meeting of the Minds Conference.  As graduation approached in spring of 2012, I made the decision to further pursue my research of Haitian orphanages and education in interior design
by securing admittance into the Master of Fine Arts program at FSU with the funding support of a teaching assistant position, and additionally obtained a summer internship with the high end residential firm Pineapple House Interior Design in Atlanta, Georgia. From this experience I learned the value of creating safe, comfortable, and sustainable living environments that can subconsciously impact the end users attitude and outlook on life.  Additionally, the time spent working within the realm of residential design fed my interest in hospitality design, specifically the connection between hotel design, and creating the feeling of home away from home.

I graduated that May with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design with a business minor, and soon after began to embark upon a new chapter of my life. The first summer of my graduate studies further deepened my passion and understanding of the service related quality of interior design when I visited a variety of orphanages in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The volunteer experience provided new meaning and context to my emerging research topic on orphanages, and the boundless ways we as designers can provide generations with environments that encourage hope. Alongside this experience, I further burnished my skills in commercial human-centered design through my full-time work with BAM Architecture Studio this past summer in New York City.

Designing in New York City had been a goal of mine since entering the design program at Florida State University, and once again this internship solidified my interest to obtain a future career in the hospitality industry.  During my time with BAM I had the opportunity to attend various ASID functions, network with commercial furniture and fabric manufacturers, and make key connections within Manhattan.  My passion for the field of hospitality grew into full fruition during those brief weeks, because I came to understand that the field of hospitality is more humanistic in nature and offers designers grander opportunities for creativity that other sectors of our profession cannot afford.  Based on my two contrasting internships, I have been able to better understand myself and the commonality of my two passions for hospitality design related to humanistic element of third world orphanage design.

The next step in my current and concluding year of graduate school is to produce black and white, print-based booklets incorporating annotated illustrations and sketches demonstrating orphanage construction techniques. It is my hope and intent that the past 4 years of research can support the body of knowledge that may permit the development of self-sustaining community-led orphanage environments in Haiti.  It is also my goal within this final year of graduate school at Florida State University to give back to my department and fellow graduate and undergraduate students through work, service, and leadership.  As the interior design Program for Instructional Excellence (PIE) Associate, I act on behalf of the graduate school at Florida State University as the liaison among all our department teaching assistants, graduate students, faculty and staff.  My experiences within the field taught me the importance of mentorship combined with leadership, and as a result I launched our first mentorship program among the interior design teaching assistants this fall.  It has already been an extremely rewarding experience, and I look forward to leaving our program with a strong foundation to continue this newly established tradition.  In addition to this role as liaison, I also serve as the chair for our graduate event’s committee, collaborating with industry professionals and alumni to put on events and workshops focused on topics such as portfolio development that will better prepare the students for a future career in both academia and the profession.  As a graduate teaching assistant I also give back to our design students by guiding weekly class sessions and offering teaching hours outside of class.  Serving in these positions has proven extremely rewarding and has reinforced the importance of time management, active listening, and developing timely solutions; all necessary qualities to run a successful design firm.

Upon completing the Master of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design, my next goal will be to become a LEED AP certified professional interior designer for a hospitality focused firm in New York City. I intend to apply my skills learned both in my studies and in my research to produce environments that truly address the human experience, made possible through my education at Florida State University, internship experience, and work with orphanages in Haiti.  After several years’ experience in Manhattan, I will then take the big step to start my own firm. It is my ultimate intent that this path will provide me the financial stability to serve and inform the public through hospitality projects while I also engage in design projects for orphanages and research homeless shelter design for populations in third world countries such as Haiti. I sense my hospitality experiences will only enhance my ability to give to the underserved Haitian population.

The NEWH Icon of Industry Scholarship Grant forms a strategic and critical part of achieving this goal.  If I were selected as the recipient of this scholarship, it would reduce the stress associated with financing continuing education, and help to fund my final year of graduate school.  Further, the scholarship would allow me to continue establishing the foundation for a career of service where I can equip future generations and populations with interior solutions to not only survive, but move forward with hope.  I believe every individual deserves a well designed environment, and I want to be a part of the generation that pursues this design equity. I want to see others thrive, not just survive, ensuring that voices are heard, comfort is provided, and injustice addressed.  Attending school and designing with the ease of financial security will enable me to focus on these goals and continue volunteer work with the Tallahassee homeless community and orphanages in Haiti.  Receiving this scholarship will also provide the funds to attend functions such as the ASID Go-Pro event, which prepares today’s young designers to be leaders of our future industry.  If, however, my application is not accepted, I will have to continue to search for additional means of income through other scholarships, and will be forced to take out additional student loans.  Although I would like to graduate with as little debt as possible, I refused job offers following my first internship because I was committed to going back to school with limited distractions.

Because of these long term goals, I agree and believe in the mission of the Network of Executive Women in Hospitality stated by President Julia Marks that, “The more you give to something, the more you get out of it.” Just as NEWH is committed to serving the greater community, I too believe that through the profession of interior design, lives can be equipped with the wisdom and tools necessary to build a better future.  My hope is that this grant will enable me to offer these skills where they can do the most good.  For orphans. For the hospitality community. For the future.

As I stood on the third floor balcony of the Milan Salone Satellite, I looked out into the urban grid of booths below me. Institutions from all across the globe had come together to showcase their freshest designs in furniture, lighting and products. Standing in awe, I took a photo of the sight and then looked down at the camera in my hands. In that moment, I realized why design has captivated me. From the camera I was holding to the chaise lounge displayed in NYIT’s booth; everything was designed by someone. And now I, a student entering her third year of schooling, was in attendance at the world’s largest furniture design fair- witnessing a generation of young creativity and cutting-edge ideas. Not only was I in its presence, but I was a part of it.

This past semester, I feel as though I have made a great contribution to the School of Architecture and Design at NYIT. I had the honor of traveling to Milan in April with our department, the first interior design program to attend the Salone International Furniture Fair. I was chosen to represent the sophomore class among four other students in the program. I had a large hand in the preparation for our trip. For close to four months prior, myself and my professors worked together to design a memorable give-away for the visitors of our booth. We enlisted the help of the New York campuses to spray, scribble and paint words and images onto 18 panels of dichroic acrylic glass. These graffiti art panels were laser cut into over 10,000 individual circular “reflectors” which were made to be magnetized to a bicycle or worn through clothing at the fair. Together we created a kind of global puzzle in which the owner of each reflector could see which panel number their piece came from and discover where they fit into the mosaic- a tool that is accessible on our website. At the fair, they were extremely popular. We gave out all 10,000 buttons and even ran out on the last day of the exhibition. Furthermore, we plan to create a global map as we track where in the world each of our reflectors has gone. Secondly, I designed an advertisement for Metropolis Magazine in collaboration with professor Robert Allen. The ad was published in the April 2012 issue and features a whimsical cityscape of New York, discussing the synergy between architecture and interior design at our school. Through my leadership and participation in the Salone, I feel privileged to have stood for my school and fellow students. Our presence at the fair offered excellent exposure for our school and programs; marketing it was incredible and strengthened my pride in my school. On the whole, this position of leadership and participation in this project has given my classmates and I a sense of unity. Not only have we unified ourselves but we have connected with thousands of others across the world who received a token of NYIT. I am more eager than ever to continue my studies and graduate with a degree from a school that is accomplishing such great things.

At the closing of my sophomore year and the beginning of the summer, I began an internship with Bentel and Bentel Architects, A.I.A., as a full-time interior design intern. I am currently employed there and will continue to work with them part-time throughout the remainder of my schooling. The experience I have taken from this position will stay with me long after the internship has ended. Each day has been a different challenge. The firm is small in number yet has designed incredible buildings and interiors that have given them international fame. Within the last decade, they have worked with a focus on hospitality design including restaurants and hotel common areas. I have been responsible for various things including the upkeep of the materials library and the creation of furniture presentations. I have learned to perform many tasks that will benefit me in the future, such as how to write specifications and send fabric sample transmittals. It is a healthy dose of reality for a student to transition from working on a school project to working on an actual project with true clients, budgets and deadlines. It has made me realize that I must continue to strive for the highest level of accuracy in my school projects and even treat them as if they were real. I have gained confidence now in my ability to speak with representatives and clients. These types of experiences will only improve with time. Having the opportunity to learn from real-life situations while still in school is highly valuable. I am ending the summer on a sure note, ready to succeed in another semester. I am certain that this was the ideal way for me to spend the summer between my sophomore and junior years.

For close to five years prior to my engagement with Bentel and Bentel, I was employed at a Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts store in my area. At the age of sixteen I began to learn the basics of serving clients. I assisted customers with various fabric purchases and offered color advice. Although this position was not nearly comparable to the position I hold now at an architectural office, this was absolutely a catalyst for obtaining it. I was able to show my commitment to JoAnn’s at a young age. I had the desire to learn and gain experience knowing that a opportunity in my field would come during my time as a college student. I am appreciative of my time at JoAnn’s and recognize the great effect it had on teaching me the principals of work ethic.

After graduation, my endeavor is to practice as an interior designer with a firm in New York and become certified through NCIDQ. One of my goals is to become involved with a firm that designs hotels and restaurants on a national and global level; a goal I am on my way to achieving at Bentel and Bentel Architects.

Additionally, over this past year, I have discovered my passion for materials. After taking materials classes and going on visits to Material ConneXion in New York, I have a new ambition to become a LEED accredited professional in the years after graduation. I hope to have the opportunity to work on a LEED project. My favorite part of the design process is the research of sustainable materials and discovering new ways to apply them. I am always keeping an eye out for materials with post-consumer or recycled content. I enjoy exploring the use of various textures and studying the effects of lighting and how this can impact the space and its inhabitants. Overall, my goal is to start my career working closely with an architect and design interior spaces. After working at an architectural office, I see the importance in the architect-interior designer relationship. There is a direct correlation and a great deal of collaboration that is necessary for good design. I very much enjoy taking a project from concept to completion, whether it be an interior or a piece of furniture. In the long run, I see myself delving into several facets of design, including furniture, product and lighting design.

I chose to pursue a career in interior design when I was a freshman in high school. Although my idea of what interior designers do was quite different then, the desire was certainly sparked during this time. I was close to a young couple who at the time worked at an Ethan Allen showroom. I recall being shown around the store and enjoyed the idea of assisting customers in choosing furniture. They were very encouraging and to this day they keep up with me and offer words of wisdom. I grew up watching television programs showcasing the creativity of designers, re-designing homes on a budget and performing do-it-yourself projects. Shortly thereafter, I was constantly in my bedroom doing things from painting to re-arranging furniture and re-upholstering stools. Every few weeks I felt I needed a change, and began conjuring up the next project. When I was thirteen, I completed my first project: an upholstered floor-to-ceiling headboard using fabric from the JoAnn Fabric store I would begin employment with nearly three years later.

Being artistic through my young adulthood, I knew I wanted a career I could express my love for sketching and watercolor painting. Seeing designers’ renderings turn into finished products made me every more excited about learning to do the same. As time continued, I decided that I wanted to design the spaces that people live in and contribute to the interaction between humans and their surroundings. I was determined to make a career out of something I already loved. Whenever someone would ask me what I wanted to do with my life, I always answered confidently. I knew, without hesitation, that I would one day be an interior designer.

Obtaining this scholarship is important to me for two select reasons. The first being my growing interest in hospitality design. I believe the NEWH organization is an excellent resource for students and professionals in the industry. This semester, I will become a NEWH Student member of the greater New York Chapter. As the President-Elect of my school club, I hope to organize attendance to some of the events offered with other student members. I am very appreciative and eager to discover the endless opportunities NEWH offers. I look forward to becoming more involved with it as I progress in my career. Secondly, being awarded this scholarship would help financially toward the cost of my tuition. I am compensated at Bentel and Bentel and I devote half of my paycheck each week to school tuition. I did the same with my pay at JoAnn’s for two years. Although it has been difficult at times, I highly value the education I am getting. I am more than willing to make the sacrifices I have made to complete college. As I enter my third year, however, I will need to take out another student loan. Receiving this scholarship would not only be a great honor, but a generous help toward paying for school.

If my application is not accepted, I will continue to finance college in the way I have done for the past two years. I will stay employed with Bentel and Bentel as a part-time intern. I will also apply to all other scholarships available to me in my junior and senior year.

Internship Essay

For the past two summer months, I have worked with Bentel and Bentel Architects, A.I.A., as a full-time interior design intern. The Bentel family firm has been offering bold, modern solutions in architecture since its founding in the late 1950’s. In the last ten years they have gained international recognition and upscale clientele though the interior design department specializing largely in hospitality design, restaurants and hotel common areas. I have had the privilege of looking through some of their recent work including The Modern restaurant at the Museum of Modern Art, Craft New York, and Bluesmoke, all located in New York City. In 2007, the firm’s four partners received the honor of induction into the Hospitality Design Hall of Fame. Only employing about a dozen architects and designers, the Bentel and Bentel team is dedicated to providing the most refined and resolved projects. Today, they still keep very busy—the firm is currently working on over a dozen projects nationwide.

The end of August has marked my tenth completed week on the Bentel and Bentel team. Being such a small firm, I have had the opportunity to witness the most eye-opening, real-world experiences day after day. I have seen firsthand how a very skilled firm operates, designs, and handles their clients. Firstly, I was given a great deal of responsibility my second week on the job. With an approaching deadline on a particular project, I was asked to lay out a furniture proposal presentation and include specifications such as pricing and lead times. Through this experience, I learned to properly speak on the phone and receive the answers I needed. In addition to this, I was taught to be persistent and professional. The greatest benefit I have received thus far is the confidence I have gained dealing with representatives, manufacturers and their products. I now have a greater understanding of the importance of meeting deadlines and I am gaining familiarity with several manufacturers.

Secondly, I have acquired a world of knowledge by spending hours in the firm’s basement material library. I am responsible for filing, organizing and ordering new materials. Since my very first day at Bentel, I have been re-organizing and categorizing the materials. It contains thousands of products from wood, stone, glass, tile, metals and textiles. I have been sorting through unmarked materials, labeling containers and cleaning the library. I recovered old materials that have been lost with the hopes that I can help the designers keep track of each item and assist them in finding exactly what they are looking for. I am very interested in materials and finding new, sustainable ways to use them. I continue to learn the names of various fabricators and companies that I aspire to remember and specify one day myself. It is a great benefit to be exposed to so many materials that I may use in school projects and familiarize myself with. I enjoy organizing and I am very pleased to be able to make it as simple as possible for the architects and designers to specify their materials. Discovering materials in the library has turned this job from a chore into a task that I enjoy and take pride in.

Lastly, this internship position has sparked a real desire in me to leave my mark in the design world. I know that everything I am learning each day is beneficial for the future career I pursue. I have realized that while it is one thing to write specifications for a school project, it is entirely another to write them for a project my firm is working on. This reality has made me see the importance of being thorough and proficient in all that I do. I have a greater ambition now more than ever to be teachable and retain all the advice I am given at the Bentel office with the hope of becoming successful after obtaining my own degree. I have not taken any experience there lightly knowing that I will only learn from doing, making mistakes, and getting back on track again. I would have never conquered the challenge of starting with a firm without facing it directly. From the school environment to the workplace, I have made the connection. It has been a pleasure to work with Bentel and Bentel, and I will continue my time there until my graduation from the New York Institute of Technology in May of 2014. What the future holds beyond that, I look forward to discovering with great anticipation.

I received my undergraduate degree from Florida State University in both Interior Design and Real Estate.  I have always had a passion for the built environment, and it was through my studies that I was able to find and pursue a career that would fuel my passion.  Throughout my time at Florida State, I fell in love with the world of design and knew that I would do whatever it took to find a place for myself in the industry.  Upon graduation I faced a harsh economic truth: although I was excited and ready to become a designer, entry level positions were few and far between.  I decided to move to Atlanta, which I knew to be a powerhouse city in the world of design, and took a position at a hospitality purchasing and manufacturing company.  I started out as an Associate, and during my time there became the Operations Manager.  Although I was not personally doing any design work, I was learning valuable information that I knew would help me in the years to come.  I learned much about the business side of design and was able to work with designers, clients, and sales representatives on a daily basis.  I went on site visits, participated in business meetings, and ran the office when the CEO was traveling for work.  Although I became more confident and knowledgeable as a businesswoman, I yearned to fulfill the creative career path I desired.  I applied to the M.F.A. Interior Design program at the Savannah College of Art and Design and began my studies with a renewed sense of determination and purpose.  During my time at SCAD, I worked diligently to not only produce the best work that I could, but also to take advantage of all of the professional events and opportunities available.  I attended NEWH, IIDA, and ASID events, volunteered with NEWH when the opportunities arose, and took a volunteer position at the IIDA Georgia Chapter Office.  Through these experiences I had the chance to network, learn about new trends and products, and do my best to make myself known in the Atlanta community.  Of all the opportunities I have had so far in Atlanta, my favorite experience has been the field internship I just completed with Hirsch Bedner Associates.  Having had a dream to work at a hospitality firm since beginning design school, this internship provided an exceptional realization of that dream. I was surrounded by incredibly talented designers, products, and projects; and I was immersed in an environment that encouraged growth and participation.  I was given real responsibilities and expected to be part of my team.  I learned how actual projects progress through the design process, what questions to ask concerning product placement or use, and how to interact with clients on a global basis.  This internship opened my eyes to what a career as a hospitality designer would really be like and reinforced my decision that this is definitely the industry I belong in.

Upon graduation I plan on pursuing my passion and becoming a designer in the hospitality industry.  Based upon my experience at my internship and my excitement over school projects, I know without a doubt as I look toward my future as a designer that I would be able to go to work each day and love my job.  As design is such a changing field, I plan on continuing to participate in industry events and attend conferences such as NeoCon and the Hospitality Design Expos.  While at Hirsch Bedner, I began accumulating qualified hours for the NCIDQ, our professional licensing exam, and plan to complete all of the requirements and sit for the exam so that I can become a licensed interior designer.  Although this is not required in all states, it is something of great importance to me and something that I feel my future clients deserve.  I also hope to participate in a LEED project so that I can study for and take the appropriate tests to become a LEED Accredited Professional.  As a young designer, I feel this is something that will become increasingly important in the future and view it as taking an active step towards protecting the environment.  My long term goals include not only becoming a senior designer, but also giving back by means of becoming a professor.  I think the role of educators is an incredibly meaningful one, and can not only inform but also excite and motivate students to push boundaries and reach for the extraordinary.  I have had some truly wonderful professors during my time as a student and I hope to one day have the impact on another budding designer that my professors have had on me.

Although the entire field of design would provide for a creative career, I think hospitality is where creativity lives.  There is something about the hospitality industry that quickens my pulse and excites me.  There is much more opportunity to push boundaries and take chances than in other industries.  In the field of hospitality, it is possible to experience new cultures, places and traditions without even leaving your home town.  Getting a massage at a spa, date night at a restaurant, or an overnight stay at a hotel all give the guest the opportunity to transcend his/her current situation and escape into a different world, even if just for a short period.  Being part of an industry that produces and designs personal escapes is thrilling to think about.  When I was an undergrad at FSU, I took a summer job at the Renaissance Ross Bridge Resort & Spa in Birmingham, Alabama.  I was excited to go to work every day because all of the guests were so excited to be there.  I would love to have the chance to make my career designing someone’s dream vacation, favorite nightly hot spot, or reprieve from the aches and pains of this world.  Providing a sense of comfort and relaxation, a home away from home, or a luxurious treat would truly be a dream come true.  There is a chance to not only have a connection with people through design, but to create a lasting memory.

Throughout my time at SCAD I have participated in multiple volunteer events through the Interior Design Organization.  Some of these include volunteering both goods and time at holiday bake sales, and decorating the Governor’s mansion.  I was also recently asked to be part of the design team for SCAD’s Presidential Design Charette to celebrate the Interior Design program’s ranking as number one in both graduate and undergraduate studies.  As part of this team I will work with graduate and undergraduate students of various majors as well as professors to come up with a design solution that celebrates the process of design and informs the public about the interior design profession.  It has been a very collaborative and exciting venture so far and I look forward to contributing to it more as the project progresses throughout fall quarter.  As a graduate student I also often sit in on undergraduate presentations and provide feedback and constructive criticism.  I love the opportunity to be a mentor to the younger students and feel that it is good practice for my long term goal of becoming a professor.

Receiving this scholarship will enable me to focus on my studies and continue my volunteer efforts without having the added stress and time intensive requirements of a part-time job.  I really hope to take advantage of all the lectures, events, and field trips SCAD has to offer; and being awarded this scholarship will enable me to do that.  My education has always been extremely important to me, and I hope to continue my pursuit of excellence and graduate at the top of my class.  Studying at SCAD was always a dream for me and the opportunity to learn in such a creative and innovative environment has truly been a blessing.  At SCAD, I know that I am making connections and forging relationships that will last a lifetime.  I am determined to continue producing work of which I am proud and which represents SCAD as the top design school that it is.  Knowing that my finances are in order and my tuition is manageable will give me the time and peace of mind needed to affirm my education as my first priority.  The financial security this scholarship will bring will enable me to continue to participate in design competitions such as the IIDA b.o.b. Awards Competition that I participated in last year.  Because of scholarships, I was able to take the hospitality project I designed last Fall and with feedback from my professor and designers from HBA, rework and enhance my design which ended up winning the graduate student award.  Taking the extra time and effort needed over SCAD’s Winter Break was a chance to not only improve my work and better prepare my portfolio for my future, but also to get my name and SCAD’s out in the Atlanta design community.  I hope to continue to partake in such opportunities, including NEWH’s Sustainable Design Competition, and push myself to new levels of design.

If my application is not accepted, I will continue to search for additional scholarships, but will be forced to also take out additional student loans.  I have always tried to be extremely diligent when it comes to expenses and have done my best to be financially frugal.  Although I will go further into debt, I value my education too much to lose focus and try to take on a part-time job while going to school full time.  As mentioned above, I fill my time with opportunities and events that will further my career and prepare me for what is to come in terms of finding a job.  I will search for scholarships and competitions that will encourage growth and development even as I am applying for them.  Just as I am determined to become a designer in the hospitality industry, I am even more determined to do so in a responsible and positive manner.

Internship Essay

I recently participated in a full time ten week internship during the summer at Hirsch Bedner Associates in Atlanta.  This internship has increased my desire to pursue a career in the Hospitality industry.  I have learned so much from being a part of the design process at HBA.  Every day has brought new information and I have learned how the phases of design truly progress throughout a project.  As I continue on in the graduate program at SCAD I know that I will approach my future projects and thesis with my newly gained knowledge.  I have learned new ways to approach projects, work on concepts, select materials and FF&E and create project documents.  After completing my internship I really feel that I am fully capable and prepared to begin a career in the design industry and I look forward to all that I will learn at my next internship.

While I was at HBA I worked on multiple projects; including the Shangri-La Fort Bonifacio, the Disney Grand Floridian, and the Peabody Memphis.  Two of my main projects were large, 45,000 s.f.  residences in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  Both of these projects were in the early stages, so there was a lot of work in the concept and design development phases.  I mainly worked on creating presentation materials: furniture, fixture, and equipment (FF&E) boards, finish callouts, and presentation boxes.  For both presentations, I created a hardcover book for the designers to leave with the client after their meeting.  Some of my other tasks were to work in CAD on drawing up elevations and tag FF&E and Architectural Record plans.  One of the other team members had marked up the initial drawings with redlines and I was then tasked with going into CAD and making the necessary adjustments and adding new details.  Most of the work in CAD I was familiar with, but I did learn some new information about working in paper space and using HBA’s custom tool sets.  I also really enjoyed getting to work on concepts with my team and select materials and FF&E for both of the residences.  Some of the tasks I performed included pinning up options for FF&E, assisting in the process of selecting items, marking down items that were still missing, and then combining all of the images into a presentation which was then sent to be printed on boards to be placed inside of the display boxes.  While working on this process I learned some new graphic styles and ways to present material.  I really feel that my team encouraged me to participate and give my opinion throughout the process.  I think there has been a lot of room for growth and as my time at HBA progressed I gained more responsibility and was trusted with more difficult and important tasks.

I had wonderful experience with my supervisors and mentors throughout this internship.  I had biweekly meetings with my professor and found it to be a great way to not only recap what I had accomplished and learned so far at my internship, but also to talk out what I still wanted to accomplish in the time I had left.  He offered me guidance and advice on how to approach my HBA coworkers about certain issues and gave me a lot of suggestions for how to get the most out of my internship including what possible goals might be.  I had daily interaction with my supervisor, Shawn.  He was extremely approachable and often sought my advice and opinion while working on the projects.  I was able to talk to him about my internship goals and he really worked with me to make sure that I had ample opportunity to achieve them.  My goals included; learning firm specific CAD applications, increasing product and material knowledge, creating presentation materials, learning how to write specifications per firm standards, and participating in designer/client meetings and gaining international exposure.  At the end of the internship I felt that I had gained experience in each goal area and was much more confident as a designer.  I found it extremely informative to work with Shawn, as he often stopped his task to explain to me the reasoning behind certain choices or to give more information so that everything we did was a learning opportunity.  Learning from and working with all of the designers at HBA has made this internship one of the best experiences of my life.

”Are you my daddy?” was the question I asked most often as I was growing up in Rangoon. Burma. For as long as I could speak Burmese,  I posed that question to every man who came into my grandparents’ auto shop  For almost eight years, I longed to have a father and wondered why my mother had to raise my brother and I alone. In many ways I felt abandoned. All had was a picture of my father and stories my mother told of him.

I knew my life in Burma was not a normal one. I felt like a little bird in a cage. I wanted to spread my w1ngs and fly away. Since I was a little girl, we had soldiers stationed at our gate with rifles in hand quest10n1ng every guest that came to our home  The phone lines were tapped and every mail we received was read  My poor family never felt comfortable in their own home. At school, I had a difficult time making friends: my teachers and classmates seemed to keep their distance from me.

As I got older, I understood why my life was different. My father, Htun Aung Gyaw. was one of the leaders in the four eight movement (8-8-88), a  nationwide peaceful demonstration that left a total of 10,000 people dead.  The military regime was coming to capture my father after the demonstration and therefore, he fled the country for his life, leaving his family behind. I was only 6 months old at the time.

On the night of my 8th birthday. I stepped into flashing lights as reporters rushed to see the reunion between the Burmese freedom fighter and his family in a small airport in Ithaca, New York. After e1ght years of separation, I was reunited with my father. I felt so many emotions and questions for my rather as he hugged and kissed me. I will never forget my 8th birthday on October 27. 1994.

Even at a young age. I was curious about why my father had to flee his country.  The more I questioned him, the more I felt passionate about Burma getting its freedom from the military Junta. I knew I had to work hard in school if I was to one day help out my beloved country. As a newcomer in elementary school, I worked hard to learn English and get to know my teachers. In middle school, I was accepted into the junior honors society and won the yearbook contest.  I was a busy bee in high school, as the president for Habitat for Humanity, officer of the Honors Society, morning announcer, a rower and part-time worker.

I wanted to first focus my undergraduate degree in business and was attracted to the hospitality side of hotel management  I believe that once Burma is free from  the military  Junta, we will  need to know how to design and manage hotels and restaurants to keep attracting tourists to Burma. Tourism will definitely make a positive economic impact on the region.

In 2005, my hard work finally paid off when I was accepted to the number one Hotel Management program in the world – Cornell University. During my time at Cornell, I worked harder than ever to get the experience  I needed to pursue my dream. As a first year college student, I worked at the Statler Hotel at Cornell, in both the front and back of house to gain knowledge of a hotel’s layout and flow of space.  In the summer of my sophomore  year, I was fortunate  enough to be the LEED project leader for ex1sting buildings at Le Parker Meridien  (LPM) in New York City. Working as an intern at LPM gave me the leverage to fine-tune my leadership skills through working side by side with their management team.

The summer after my junior year was thrilling for me, when I worked as an assistant to the Design Director of Elite Concepts in Hong Kong.  Interning for Elite Concepts allowed me to develop my knowledge in the design of international restaurants and gave me the opportunity to develop my communication skills with people from all around the world.

With the knowledge and leadership skills acquired from my past internships. I was chosen to be the Design Director for the 84th Hotel Ezra Cornell (HEC) at the Hotel School in my senior year. As Design Director, I was challenged with creating and leading a team of ten talented designers responsible for developing and implementing the design concept for 12 food and beverage functions for the Hotel School’s alumni and leaders in tile hospitality Industry. I worked closely with the Hotel School’s Dean Johnson, h1s staff and the Statler Hotel to create a program, contact vendors and assemble a guest list.  Along with working with Dean Johnson and my design team, I spent many hours with the Food and Beverage Director going over menus, floor layouts, uniforms and the overall budget for the events. At the end of my term as Design Director, I had learned not only about the practicalities and complexities of event planning, but also that I was capable of becoming an inspirational leader and communicator.

Having knowledge of hotel management, leadership and communication skills acquired at Cornell, I enrolled at the Savannah College of Art and Des1gn (SCAD) to study at one of the top, nationally ranked interior design programs, with the interest of concentrating in hospitality design. At SCAD I became assimilated to a new culture and embraced every class, from five-hour studios to lecture classes on materials. environmental systems, theory and criticism and others – excelling in my classes.  Most importantly, through my  studies at SCAD I have learned to convey my ideas in a more refined manner through a visual language: process sketches and conceptual diagrams. and now understanding the value of a well thought out design.

Working with hands-on professors and strong course requirements at SCAD, I was able to effectively participate in a collaborative studio with architecture students designing luxury villas in New Delhi.  Being a part of this selective studio helped me to learn to the importance of communication between architect and interior designer, and to clearly define specific job responsibilities. Working with an actual client was beneficial in understanding the communication process between client and design team.

In addition to my classes, I have taken on a leadership role as an officer of our IIDA/ASID student organization. For the campus center, we organized events for the student body by inviting distinguished guest lecturers and industry professionals, along with having ”meet and greet networking events with local design firms and showrooms. We also contribute through community  service, for example, going to a local elementary  school  to help out  with their school’s Halloween event, including decorating sugar cookies and organizing face painting activities with little children.

My background is rich culturally, academically and professionally.  I was born and raised in Cali, Colombia, South America where I attended an American school and learned English.  I lived a privileged and comfortable life thanks to the hard work of my parents who ran their own construction company.  Due to unfortunate circumstances led by instability and unrest in Colombia my family felt it necessary that we move to Quito, Ecuador for our own personal safety.  As a result we lost everything.  Coming from a house with a pool, a cottage and vacations abroad we were reduced to a one bedroom apartment.  However, my years spent in Ecuador were some of the greatest in my life.  I learned how unimportant material possessions are and, in contrast the true value of family.  Looking for a better future for my two sisters and me, my parents made the decision to move to Canada.  Canada has greatly embraced us and I consider it nothing but my true home.  Our time here, however, has been bittersweet as I saw my parents go from CEO’s to janitors; but it has been those circumstances that have instilled in me the ambition to do something I love and succeed in this country.  A large amount of people have to deal with harsher realities in their daily life therefore I am glad to have an education and a family who supports me.

After completing my high school education I was torn between pursuing architecture or engineering.  I opted for the later and enrolled at the University of Waterloo to study Chemical Engineering.  Comfortable with math and science, I blindly followed into this field.  I completed three academic terms and two 4-month internships at the University of Waterloo.  It was thanks to my second internship that I realized how dissatisfied and bored I was with my career choice so I opted out of the program.  I felt trapped inside a box where I could not exploit the creativity and artistic skills that I knew I possessed.

I made the decision to take a year off and figure out what I truly wanted to pursue in my life.  Naturally I reverted back to architecture but I was not ready to go back to lecture rooms with 300 people in addition to physics or mathematics classes.  I knew that I had always been a hands-on person who enjoyed architecture, art and design therefore I looked into college programs and stumbled upon interior design.  After some thorough research my excitement for this field began to grow.  I was never attracted to the residential side of design (as I find many first year students are) but rather the idea of one day designing hotels, bars and restaurants.  The fact that we are able to set moods and create atmospheres that subconsciously influence a person’s buying patterns or increase their desire for a second visit fascinated me as well as our ability to carve a space and make it functional, logical and safe for its end users.  For this reason (amongst many more) I decided to enrol in the 3-year Interior Design program at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario.  My passion for this field grew in those 3 years and I successfully obtained my Interior Design Diploma.  After a 3-week internship at DCA Design Inc. in Toronto, Ontario I was asked to remain full-time throughout the summer.  DCA Design specializes in high-end residential design and I have thoroughly reflected upon my experience as an intern in the following essay.

I believe in the power of knowledge and the value of education. As a result my primary goal after graduation has always been pursuing a Master’s Degree; in particular one which will complement and enhance my background in Interior Design.  The most desirable choice for me is a Master’s of Business Administration.  Seeing as a Bachelor’s Degree is required to pursue a Master’s, I enrolled in the Interior Design program at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in September 2010.  I was placed in the third year of a four year CIDA accredited program.  Coming to Kwantlen has been one of the greatest academic decisions I have ever made.  The program is fast-paced and demanding and their conceptual approach to design unleashes your creativity and reinforces your understanding of design principles.  During third year I designed a retail store, an office, a restaurant and a wellness centre with two other classmates.  After completing the office design project I was nominated for the Steelcase Award for Design Excellence.  Myself and two other classmates presented to the Steelcase representatives and a winner was elected.  Although I did not win it was an outstanding opportunity which validated my hard work (and sleepless nights) and my sense of design.  I was also honored to have competed amongst two classmates whose design style I greatly admire.  During third year I also participated in a one-week internship at SSDG Interiors Inc.  SSDG Interiors is an award-winning firm specializing in hospitality and commercial interior design.  I had a fulfilling and productive week and I feel fortunate to say that I was asked to remain part-time as a junior designer ever since then.  My experience at SSDG Interiors has been invaluable, allowing me to expand upon my personal and professional growth as stated in the following essay.  During my final year I have chosen to design a venue where intimate musical performances can be enjoyed.  The venue will include a recording studio along with a restaurant and bar.  I am thrilled to take such a distinct project on and apply everything I have learned through my schooling and my work experiences.

I have learned a lot in my past year at Kwantlen and I feel that I have made a contribution to my university and to my fellow students.  My work has been displayed on many occasions (including during architect Raymond Moriyama’s visit and speech at Kwantlen) and some has been shown to the representatives of CIDA.  I also show leadership by volunteering at events such as the IDIBC Awards and tutoring first and second year students during SketchUp camps.  In addition, I have been mentoring a second year student once a week and helping her to succeed in this field and in this program by providing her with the knowledge I have gained through all of my past experiences.  I owe a lot to my program and I will not hesitate to express my gratitude by reciprocating in any means possible.

As I previously mentioned, after I graduate I hope to pursue a Master’s Degree.  However, I would like to gain some further work experience that will benefit me in this endeavor.  Ideally I would like to remain at SSDG Interiors and continue to hone my skills in the hospitality side of interior design.  Later on in my career I would also like to write and photograph for a hospitality design magazine as that would combine three of my passions.  Overall, I hope to have a job that will challenge me creatively and intellectually on a daily basis and be surrounded by people who speak the language that is design.

The NEWH Icons of Industry Scholarship is an outstanding opportunity for students.  In my case, winning this scholarship would signify a major step in the success of my future.  To reiterate, my goals in the future are to further my education and to remain in the hospitality industry.  If I were to obtain the scholarship it would help to fund my final year and therefore reduce the stress that comes from financing my ongoing education.  I would also be able to truly give something tangible back to my school that will aid in the success of future students.  Finally, the recognition that comes from obtaining such a scholarship would open many more doors in the hospitality industry; doors that will perhaps allow me to fulfill my dreams.

Should my application not be accepted I plan on either obtaining a secondary part-time job or financing my final semester between a bank loan or credit cards.  I do, however, thank you for your time and consideration regardless of the outcome of this application package.

I could not envision a life without design.  It is the combination of logic, creativity and functionality.  This scholarship recognizes leaders in our field and gives students the opportunity to one day be an icon of industry.

Internship Essay

Throughout my post-secondary education I have participated in 4 very different internships.  Although I will focus on my most recent internships I want to briefly highlight the first two.  When I was enrolled in Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo I was hired by the university to aid a professor for 4 months while he conducted research on the hydrogenation of nitro-butadiene rubber.  I was personally in charge of single-handedly conducting the hydrogenation process in the lab and reporting the results back to him.  Four months after completion I worked once again as a research assistant at the Woodbridge Foam Corporation.  During this 4 month internship I had the privilege of mixing a variety of chemicals in order to create foam blocks which I then put through rigorous tests.  As unexciting and entirely unrelated as those internships sound I learned a valuable lesson, that being I needed to get out of Chemical Engineering!  Those combined eight months were my introduction to the real world of working, offices, client demands and deadlines.  I learned the importance of staying humble, listening to your peers and learning from their years of experience.  In addition, I started to understand office dynamics, co-worker interactions and what it meant to play a valuable part in a much larger entity- no matter how small your contribution.   Being so young and inexperienced we often fear what is to come after graduation:  Will I get a job?  What will be expected of me when I start?  Will I succeed?  Those natural fears and irking questions were put to rest for me.  Having left my comfort zone and veering towards a completely different field, those internships matured me and prepared me for what was to come.

Four years later, with a new passion in my heart and a diploma in my hand, I participated in my first Interior Design internship.  For three weeks I worked at DCA Design Inc. in Toronto, Ontario under the supervision of Dee Chenier and 3 other designers.  DCA Design has been active in the field for over 35 years specializing in high-end residential and some commercial design.  I would classify those 3 weeks as a typical internship in our field.  I did my duties in the sample library, sourced for furnishings and materials and prepared presentation boards.  I completed every task with a positive attitude, trying to learn as much as I could even while putting a sample away (i.e. – the manufacturer of it, the cost, the price, double rub counts, etc.).  One day prior to the completion of my internship, I was approached by Dee and asked if I would like to remain as a full-time intern throughout the summer; an offer I happily accepted.  During those next four months my responsibilities increased.  I produced small construction drawings, purchase orders, transmittals, ordered samples, spoke with manufacturers and suppliers and yes – I still did the occasional cappuccino run for our clients!  Nonetheless, my time at DCA Design was my real introduction to the field of interior design.  Aside from reassuring me that residential design is not what I longed to pursue, I began to see how projects developed/progressed from all the different project phases of interior design.  It also expanded my real-life design language from the simplicity of “gyp-rock” to the wonders of “TYP.” on a construction document.

After the summer came to an end, I moved to British Columbia in pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design at Kwantlen University.  Part of the curriculum at Kwantlen included completing a one-week internship at an Interior Design firm.  In late October I was placed at SSDG Interiors Inc. where I had a busy and productive week.  SSDG Interiors is an award-winning firm specializing in hospitality and commercial design.  Most recently they won the enRoute Hotel Design Awards for the Sparkling Hill Resort in addition to four awards at the Interior Designers Institute of British Columbia Awards at the end of September.  After being introduced to all 17 staff and 3 principals I settled into my desk and was almost immediately thrust into an on-going project.  For the duration of that week I worked on producing 3-D models for a preliminary presentation to the CEO’s and VP’s of the soon-to-be new head office of Fraser Health.  I participated in meetings with the design team, made daily revisions as required, and helped prepare for their presentation.  I will always value what I learned in that short week.  The internship at SSDG Interiors made me realize that I was in the right place and in the right field.  I marveled at how fast-paced our field can be and how skilled designers have the ability to rapidly derive design solutions as a team.  During this week I clearly started to see that interior design is a business and the business of interior design needs to be understood in order to succeed in this field.  We may have excellent ideas, concepts and renderings to display them but if we cannot sell them to a client, our creative talents cannot be exploited.  Furthermore, I learned one of the most valuable lessons as a student in Interior Design, that being not to be afraid to make mistakes.  Without them I would not have learned half of what I now know.

It is truly sad how undervalued and wrongly perceived interior designers are.  The internship at SSDG left me in awe of how many talented designers are out there and how much influence we can have on a space and on people’s emotions.   Because of my internship at SSDG I am sure that I want to remain in the hospitality and commercial side of Interior Design.  Fortunately, after my one week internship was over I was asked to formally join their team and have been a junior designer ever since then.  I have now gained 15 mentors, worked on small and large hospitality and commercial projects and learned about the true business of interior design.  After all we do not have the opportunity to fully appreciate real deadlines, client interactions, dealing with suppliers and budgets at school.

Internships have exposed me to the realities of daily working life.  I feel ready for whatever the future may bring and I look forward to applying everything I have learned in those weeks, months and years.

Inspiration is diverse – one of those things in life where the sum is much greater than its individual parts.  The additional value associated with being inspired outweighs any of the pieces of the process.  It seems that inspiration is highly contextual; it is never quite the same for anyone in any given setting. What it is that inspires us, how we express our inspiration, and how we inspire others all determine what inspiration means to us personally.

The important thing then becomes finding a way to stay inspired.  The way I do it?  Simple: seek it out every day.  I keep an ongoing expansion of a collection of quotes which has become a personal archive of inspiration at my fingertips – a place where I record what inspires me in the moment, and a way for me to revisit each of those moments at my own leisure.  There is no particular order – no rhyme or reason to the madness; but there is one excerpt which stands out above the rest:

I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life – and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.                                                      :  :: georgia o’keeffe :::

It is this simple string of words I often find myself referencing; analyzing; devouring.  The honesty, strength and power in this statement ring true in my own life and I have found it helpful during different times in the past.  From transferring universities and choosing a new professional path, to venturing overseas for a four month study abroad experience, to stepping up into leadership and mentoring positions, I have faced many fears and thus been rewarded; inspired.  It is this eclectic background of experiences which molds my visions of the future with lofty goals in sight – all of which seem terrifying now but also things I want and know I will do.

I have been warned countless times never to settle.  I have been advised to avoid status-quo.  And I have seen first-hand the effects of complacency.  From this knowledge I have defined my own objectives and set my own goals – [which I also happen to keep recorded in hard copy list format].  And even though the promising fear of today’s design industry is breathing down my neck, I am working to clear my path straight ahead.  I am ready to forge a route into the wildly exciting world of hospitality design because – well, because I am inspired and nothing can stop me.  Much like William Shakespeare, I sometime feel like “my soul is in the sky.”  But when it comes to my internal drive to create and desire to immerse myself in personal interaction, I know that my feet are on the ground running and I trust the direction I am headed.

Design and creativity have always been a central piece of who I am and for some time my education has been focused on Interior Design.   However, I had been lost in an aimless search for my own personal design niche.  Only recently – when I was least expecting it – was I truly prompted by a career path specifically in hospitality design.  This occurred during my time spent studying and traveling abroad.   My eyes were opened by this experience – in a bid way – giving me an entirely new perspective on the realm of hospitality design.   Talk about inspiration!   The endless destinations and vast opportunities of this field became evident as I explored a new piece of this interconnected world.  From hostels to resorts, markets to boutiques, and cafes to wineries, the range of possibilities was inspiring in of itself.  And in those four months I discovered what it is that inspires me – designing spaces for the interaction of people.

But inspiration does not stop there.  It is critical that when we feel inspired we must in turn work to inspire others; share the fever to move an entire generation.  One of the most gratifying pieces of my educational career has been the opportunities I have had to inspire others.  I continually work to contribute to the success of my program and peers through an organization called First Year Peer Mentoring.  I actively support and facilitate a group of first year students; men and women seeking an Interior Design degree.  As the Peer Mentor I offer personal and educational advice, plan beneficial workshops, firm tours, and professional development events, and simply supply a familiar face in a competitive major.  Imagine a Big Brother-Big Sister type of environment and now apply design students to the scenario – that is just a little of what I do.  I suppose it is my way of paying-it-back; contributing my own inspiration and in return gaining even more.  These students are just another one of the ways I stay inspired and a venue for me to attempt to inspire like-minded individuals.

The reason this scholarship is important to me is because I desire to express my inspirations in major ways.  As a student and as a citizen of the world, being inspired and inspiring others is rich and fulfilling.  However, as a designer and creative mind in the world, expressing that inspiration is a way of life.  I want to be able to do every single thing I want to do and not be terrified.  I want to enrich my own life through continually seeking education and pursuing venues of expression – and I don’t want to be limited by the financial consequences.

Without this scholarship, I will simply continue doing what I have and always will do – work hard and earn every success, honor, and penny I have through pure dedication and tenacity.  I will keep growing as a designer within my current job as a Design Assistant and seek inspiration daily.  Essentially, nothing would change.  But with this scholarship, another one of those terrifying moments in my life would fall under my persistence and all of those things I want to do –and all of those things I know I will achieve – would be just that much closer to my grasp.

I will continue to pursue inspiration in each of these dimensions – adding to my running list of quotes along the way – and surely stumbling upon new sources when I am not even looking.  Because for me, it is clear that inspiration in not only truly unique but also infectious; the more I have, the more I want – and I want it all.

I never imagined myself standing in front of so many inspiring people – this is all a dream come true. I was excited to hear about my nomination for the scholarship, yet I cannot describe in words, the honor and satisfaction I felt when I received the call that I had been chosen as the recipient of this year’s Icon of the Industry Student Scholarship Award.  I would like to express my feelings of appreciation to each and every one of you who has made this possible

It is a great honor to be recognized alongside Ms. Judy Dobin, an exemplary professional, an inspirational woman, who has taught the world that you can be the CEO of the largest Decorative Fabric Supplier to the Hospitality Industry worldwide and touch lives and leave an invaluable trademark by being part of numerous organizations that help people in need around the world. Ms. Dobin, you are an outstanding professional with an enormous heart demonstrating the importance of generosity and social responsibility.

First and foremost, I want to thank God for this special blessing in my life. I also thank NEWH members and donors for making my award possible and for the impact you have made to the Hospitality Industry. All my gratitude goes to my parents who have been my biggest support and inspiration for my success in life. They have taught me that with honesty, responsibility, passion, and perseverance anything is possible.  Without having these exemplary role models throughout the preparation of my career, I would never be where I am today. To the Savannah College of Art and Design and especially Margo Jones, my professor and my SCAD Guardian Angel, thank you for always believing in me and making of me the designer I am today. Without your help and support I would never be standing here. Last but not least, to the extraordinary company, HOK, that provided me with an outstanding internship experience this past summer, and to each and every one else that has supported me and prepared me through life, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

I proudly receive this award on behalf of the people of my hometown, Tegucigalpa, and beloved country, Honduras, where extreme poverty is seen daily and most people do not have the opportunity to fulfill their basic needs. I tell them that if you believe, you can achieve. I will keep working hard with heart and passion, preparing myself with professional and individual values, perseverance and dedication always keeping in mind who I am and where I proudly come from.

Ever since I decided to major in Interior Design I had in mind that I was not only going to design beautiful and sustainable spaces that would satisfy user needs; I wanted to create environments that would inspire people…to enjoy their surroundings, fight for their dreams and work hard to make this a better world.

I congratulate all the outstanding designers present for this ceremony – your work impacts people globally. I will be honored to enter your world upon graduation this spring and hopefully, through the passion I have for design, to contribute in a positive way to the lives of those who experience environments I create – one space at a time.

Student Essay

Born on June 8^th 1988 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras located in the heart of Central America, I am the oldest of three siblings. My passion for Interior Design began since I was a little girl playing around my house as I rearranged furniture, changed up spaces and decorated my room in every possible style. Although, I realized at a very early age that Interior Design was my passion, it was during the summer in my rising senior year when I participated in the Rising Star Program at SCAD, that I had the opportunity to have a real college experience and learn more about Interior Design as a Major. After this amazing experience I decided to make it my profession. Subsequently I returned home and throughout my senior year and prior to graduation I worked with a very recognized Interior Designer in my country, experience that confirmed my love for design.

I cannot express in words how much I have enjoyed my career since day one. I definitely believe that the key to success is to simply LOVE what you do and do it with heart and soul, going beyond the boundaries of excellence. Without any doubt you will achieve your goals. I think this attitude has helped me to achieve several distinctions and leadership positions that have contributed in my professional and personal formation. Among these experiences I can mention the Vice-Presidency of Tau Sigma Delta National Honor Society, Publicity and Lecture Chair in the Student Chapter of the International Interior Design Association and being part of the Dean’s list since 2007. I was selected to be interviewed by members of CIDA (Council of Interior Design Accreditation) during the SCAD process of accreditation and showcase my work in the CIDA exhibition.

I believe I have made a contribution to my school program from several perspectives. As an international student, I have brought a little of my Latin culture with me and demonstrated that, even though I come from a third world country submerged in great problems such as extreme poverty and lack of proper education system for a large percentage of its population, my beloved Honduras can export students who want to prepare themselves in excellent colleges so they can succeed in life, change their destiny and contribute to their country’s future. Through the positions I have held in ASID (American Society of Interior Design) and IIDA (International Interior Design Association), I have been involved in the coordination of lectures and presentations of recognized Interior Design professionals who share their expertise with Interior Design students; celebrating Halloween with unprivileged kids; redesigning the maintenance break room in the Savannah Memorial Hospital; and many other activities that were eye opening experiences.  All have made me realize that life is beyond ones everyday situation and made me appreciate and value everything I have.

After graduation I plan to work in an internationally recognized Architecture and Design Firm in which I had the opportunity to work this past summer as an intern designer. I had a great experience and learned a lot from excellent professionals in the field.  I am planning to work for several years gaining experience in hospitality, retail, and corporate design so I can be well prepared to enroll in a Master’s Program.

Finally, I want to share why this scholarship is so important to me. As you know, the financial situation worldwide has been very difficult, now imagine the situation back home in our very poor country. Although my parents have been paying my tuition and expenses for the past three years, they are having serious difficulties since the small family business dedicated to the construction field has had substantially less projects since June 2009. This has happened due to the worldwide financial situation, but mainly because of my country’s political situation that has primarily affected small and medium size businesses, forcing many of them to shut down operations, leaving thousands of people unemployed. With great sacrifice my parents are also paying tuition for my brother’s education.  We all recognize the effort they are making, allowing us to have access to an excellent education which will provide us with the necessary tools to have a successful and fulfilling life. Receiving this scholarship NEWH will help me complete the Interior Design Degree at SCAD. If my application is not accepted, my parents will search for another loan back in Honduras because as an international student I do not qualify for US financing.

Four years ago, I entered college with a determined mind to become a ”designer”. I wanted to dazzle clients with my creativity, be able develop diverse solutions for the most complicated space problems, and overall I wanted to be known for my designs.   Upon my graduation, I realized that I had earned the title of ”interior designer”.  Something that always seemed so far distant was sitting in my lap.  It came to me soon after receiving my degree, that what I had experienced in my undergraduate program provided me with all I expected and so much more.  The professors assisted students to foster creativity and helped them discover new and unique ways to solve problems and placed high regard on a designer’s individuality.  In addition, my undergraduate degree allowed me to contemplate what triggers creativity and how that can be tailored to help designers find solutions to problems that remain unsolved.  Based on this self evaluation, I realized that it no longer mattered to me if I was known for my designs.  What mattered was the process and relationships I created as I developed those design solutions.  With this in mind, I embarked on my next challenge, graduate school.

Graduating in an economically stressed time played a major role in my decision to get my masters.  In addition, I looked at the process more as a strategic choice that would hopefully answer many of my open questions from my undergraduate education.  Graduate school was a component of my higher education that I had planned on receiving later in life.  Now as I look at my past experiences, including internships and coursework, I would not have it any other way.  I grew up loving design, watching my grandfather build furniture on the weekends and airport hangers during the week.  It was ingrained in me, and the progression into further design education seemed natural.

Within my graduate studies, I hope to make contributions to the sustainable design community.  I plan to study how sustainable developments impact the community socially and economically.  With this I hope to look specifically at downtown environments and how sustainability can play into making these entities community hubs.  A large sector of this study is rooted in hospitality design.  The insurgence of restaurants, hotels and retail spaces all combine to offer communities opportunities for local expansion as well as tourism attraction.

Upon finishing my graduate degree I hope to enter pro0fessional practice, specifically a hospitality environment.  I feel my area of interest and expertise can be put to good use in this setting.  Sustainable design seems to be less acknowledged in the hospitality field which I attribute to a lack of research and exploration.  Hopefully, I can be one of many on the forefront to further investigation and involvement.

During my four years in the undergraduate program, I fostered my desire to be involved in the industry.  I served as both Project Director and Vice President of Membership on the IIDA Student Board.  Also, I served as Publicity Chair for the ASID Student Board.  Both leadership roles heightened my personal connection to the university and my future career.  I built lasting relationships with my classmates, professors and professionals which was an invaluable asset.  I’m focusing on the sustainable aspect through becoming a LEED accredited professional, as well as involvement with the USGBC.  I am also very interested in graduate teaching, becoming a model to undergraduates and helping them find their passion.

To be awarded the NEWH Icons of Industry Scholarship would not only be a financial burden lifted, but it also would be an acknowledgement of personal achievement.  The scholarship would signify my own contribution to the profession.  It would open my social network to new opportunities that could further a career.  No matter how far self confidence and talent can get a individual, knowing an adviser or mentor can expand prospects more than I could imagine.

If not awarded the scholarship, financially I will leave graduate school with substantial student loans.  This, although common, is something I would prefer to avoid in order to maximize other means of using those funds, specifically traveling.  An expense I’ve put to the side in the past in order to conserve for education purposes.

To be the NEWH Icons of Industry  Scholarship recipient would be a great honor.  To achieve the recognition as well as be a representative of NEWH is one that I would take with immense pride and would be very much grateful.

Internship Essay

Throughout my design education, I have had the opportunity to become part of the design community through my internships.  I was introduced into the professional sector as an intern at a small landscape architecture and planning firm.  As a sophomore design student, this was an eye opener. Being my first time in a firm environment, I experienced a huge learning curve.  Given the small size of the firm, I was able to explore many different tasks.  I updated redlines, packaged submittals and prepared client presentations.  This diversity improved my time management and ability to change tasks quickly and fluidly.  Also, one of the greatest benefits of my position was the opportunity to meet other professionals.  Since the principal was a planner, she dealt with architects, engineers, landscape architects and developers; all professional contacts that helped me in my future prospects.  Personally I grew to appreciate design that much more through my experiences.  One of my favorite memories was driving along a city street three months after I finished my internship and seeing one of the finished projects.  I remember the pride that I felt for being a part of that design and appreciating all the effort that went into making it possible.

Through my networking opportunities at the landscape design internship, I was introduced to a community development specialist for the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) and the Colorado State University Extension Office.  The partnership between these two affiliates set out to provide conceptual design based on the need and vision of  rural Colorado communities.  The conceptual designs would then be packaged in grant applications to DOLA.  The program sought out landscape architecture, architecture, engineering and interior design student interns.  I eagerly accepted the internship.  For two years, I designed facilities ranging from town halls to fire stations to public libraries.  Each project taught me more about the design process.  I met with clients in the pre-program phase, developed a program based on the town’s needs and wants, executed the conceptual design alternatives, formulated cost estimations and presented designs to town boards, stakeholders and developers.  On top of being able to carry out the design, I was able to collaborate with my peers.  On many projects I worked with other interior design interns or landscape architecture interns.  Working on a team benefitted me greatly.  It opened my eyes to new creative outlooks and provided me with a cross discipline approach.  Now, I analyze a project not only for the interiors element, but the cohesive whole.

Upon graduation, I was offered a contract position at a healthcare design firm.  I feel my first design position was made less stressful because of my internship experiences.  I was able to move fairly seamlessly into the job.  I felt prepared and capable of my abilities because of my practice an preparation from the three previous years.  I feel my internships taught me to want more out of a design and to question design aspects.  After I fulfilled my summer contract, I entered graduate school.  Here I returned to DOLA as a graduate intern.  Now my duties have expanded to project management.  I am able to conduct client relations on all my projects while also mentoring undergraduate interns.  The growing responsibility adds to my love of the design business.

The diversity and depth of my internship experience has proved to be my star asset in fostering an interior design career.  I have had excellent mentors, been able to explore several design networks and overall, I feel confident and prepared to embark further into the design profession.

Where I come from, pursuing an education is not a given, it’s a privilege. My family and I are from Colombia, a place where education and a professional status is very difficult for a low-income family to achieve. Our family is a family of five, and my father is the sole provider. My mother came from a more privileged family and therefore had the opportunity to become a licensed Architect in our native country of Colombia, South American but had her dreams shattered early on when doctors discovered her birth defect at a late stage, in her lower spine (L-5). The doctors informed her that she would no longer be able to do the everyday activities that she was used to and that she was never to work again. Soon after she had lower back surgery to fix her fractured L-5 and align her spine, after the surgery my mother was left handicap, and completely unable to do simple activities such as bending down, using the restroom without assistance or lifting anything that weighs more than 4 pounds, and was given strict orders to never work again. Our family was devastated, and had no choice but to keep our faith alive and stay strong. Despite all of these challenges my family’s hope of a better future for my sisters and I endured.

My parents have always been my biggest supporters and have encouraged me and my sisters to always do our best and to do whatever it takes to excel in our selected fields and to pursue and finish our professional degrees. My mother influenced me since I was a little girl; she always took me to the construction sites and shared the design process with me at an early age. I inherited the need to be creative in my field of study and I choose Interior Design because it gave me the opportunity to interact with the user and control the way a space is used, how it functions, and ultimately create an amazing user experience. At the end of the day the user is the most important aspect of any design and the ability to design functional, sustainable, safe and beautiful spaces is an amazing process that allows me to use my creativity and knowledge to affect the way a user lives/interacts with a space.

As humans/users we spend most of our time in an interior environment and even thought Architecture is an important aspect of the spaces we interact in, one is not complete without the other. Architecture and Interior Design must always act in conjunction and work as a team. Due to this I have set a series of goals for my future in which one of them includes Mastering in Architecture and marrying Interior Design and Architecture (the two halves of design) into one. By doing this I can become a holistic designer and have the ability to create a 360 degree user experience and really design with the user in mind both through Architecture and Interior Design.

I attend Savannah College of Art and Design and I believe that through my work and leadership I have affected not only my future but also those of my fellow colleagues. I am a student member of IIDA and served on the board of ASID as president of my student chapter for two years and was just re-elected to continue my reign. During my time as president I have helped organize networking opportunities for myself and others in our department. I had the opportunity to lead several committees and really help the students make the most of these events. I also had the opportunity to raise money for our organization through bake sales and other events. During the CIDA accreditation process my work was used throughout the program to exemplify our schools excellent curriculum. I had a total of five pieces in the final CIDA exhibition and am happy to have contributed to our schools successful CIDA accreditation.

After I graduate from SCAD there is many goals both short term and long term that I would like to accomplish within 5 years. My first goals are to graduate from Interior Design next spring and to have an excellent, versatile, innovative and sustainable portfolio to help me find employment right out of school. I would like to work in the field professionally for about a year before returning to school to complete my Masters in Architecture. That way I can develop my portfolio further and have a strong portfolio to apply with and to get scholarships to finance my Master’s degree.

Obtaining this scholarship is a key element in my future success, because even though I have the drive, the work and the passion to succeed I still have to pay for my tuition and being that my parents can’t help me with anything due to our economic situation, my education is left up to me and is in my hands. If I don’t apply for scholarships, grants etc., I will not be able to attend SCAD. This scholarship is essential because it can fulfill my tuition debt for the next academic year.  If my application is not accepted, it would be devastating because I believe that I am an excellent candidate and that I fulfill all of the requirements perfectly. I would have to apply for another loan from the bank to see if they would loan me money for the remainder of my studies at SCAD. Unfortunately it’s been really hard to get loans because I always need a co-signer and being that my father is the sole provider, our income isn’t very much and does not appeal to many private lenders. So if I don’t receive this award, my final year is in severe jeopardy and could potentially be stopped due to lack of financial support. As it is I already have extensive loans and this scholarship could mean to difference to my education and my future. I beg you to please consider me as a very serious candidate, because I have all the work, skills, experience, drive and motivation to succeed, but I’m slowed down by my financial crisis. The Icons of Industry Scholarship Grant could be the key to my success, please help me achieve all of my hopes, dreams, and expectations.

Internship Essay

Perkins + Will released a flyer offering a summer internship and out of hundreds that applied I was selected for one of the two positions offered. During my time at Perkins + Will I learned about so many different aspects of our industry and was able to apply all of the knowledge I learned at SCAD into real projects. The SCAD curriculum prepared me so well that I jumped in to the professional world with no problem and became a part of every team I joined. Being that Perkins +Will works with so many different market sectors I had the opportunity to experience and learn from several different projects and contribute to real Health care, Higher-Ed and Hospitality projects. I was able to apply all of my knowledge of computer programs such as AutoCAD, REVIT, 3d Studio Max as well as the Adobe suite into Construction Documents, 3D Models and presentations. I had the opportunity to develop schematic designs for several projects and take them from beginning to end by doing all the preliminary sketches, construction drawings, 3D modeling, finish selection and final rendering.

This internship allowed me to grow as a designer because I was working directly with the Design Principal and being that I did that I was able to contribute and develop designs for several different projects she was directing. The Design Principal at Perkins+ Will has 22 years of experience and is just a fountain of knowledge, she gave me the opportunity to show her my skills and work early on and then she handed great responsibility in my hands by letting me develop and finish my ideas and using them in real projects. I learned so much from just watching her work, sketch and design and she is now my mentor. This internship also gave me a glimpse into the professional world of Interior Design and all the different aspects that go into a multi-million dollar project. During my time here I worked with everyone in the Interiors Department and was able to see many projects at many different phases and really see how a project develops from start to finish. I have brought all of my new knowledge into my Studio III class and am applying all the same principles and theories I learned at Perkins+ Will. This internship was very rewarding in both a professional and personal level. The work experience, knowledge and industry contact I gained here are priceless and will help me succeed in the future.

Most of my childhood and young adult life was spent in one of Florida’s most popular coastal vacation destinations, where tourists outnumber seashells and allow a burgeoning hospitality industry to thrive. My father has always been equal parts businessman and artist, having launched his own company to create unique tile designs. Thus, my passion for hospitality design can be traced back to my youth, when I was immersed in a seasonal resort economy and lived with an inventive designer.

It was during high school that I began paying attention to my affinity for art, which, until that time, had been incubating beneath the radar of my consciousness. With the help and encouragement of my family and friends, I discovered my knack for creative expression and grew eager to nurture my talents and explore ways to parlay them into a career. Of equal importance was my discovery of SCAD, where I knew that my abilities and opportunities would multiply. I can say with confidence that matriculating to SCAD has been the greatest investment I could have made in my future as an aspiring hospitality designer.

To help allay the cost of this investment, I worked a few part-time jobs during school. Most recently, I worked as a banquet server at a Kessler 4-diamond hotel, The Mansion on Forsyth Park. That sort of “in the trenches” experience provided me with crucial insights regarding the design of hospitality properties for functional efficiency. In fact, it is hard to imagine designing a hotel without having seen a property through the lens of a back of the house employee.

My professors at SCAD have been instrumental in helping me to connect the proverbial dots in my career orientation, revealing to me the bright future I am able to pursue in hospitality design. It is exciting to hear from them that I am making meaningful contributions to the advancement of an already progressive and reputable program. I am also moved and profoundly appreciative that my professors have rallied behind me and are extending themselves to help me find ways to continue financing my education at SCAD.

I feel so grateful to be a part of the supportive and inspired community of SCAD, and am always looking for ways to give back to those who have helped me flourish over the past three years. I can often be found meeting with my classmates, department chairs, and deans, promoting a constructive dialogue to find ways to make the SCAD experience even better – especially within the School of Building Arts. As a member of the United Student Forum acting as a liaison among students, faculty, and staff, I have been able to listen to my classmates and reflect their powerful collective voice. Serving in this position has challenged me to listen attentively, speak diplomatically, and develop a sense of professionalism that will certainly translate well to any career.
While I am excited to explore new avenues upon graduation, I intensely want to build a career in the field of hospitality design. Looking ahead ten years, one tangible goal is to be featured in an article in Boutique Design magazine, no longer as an aspiring design student, but as a successful cutting-edge interior designer. I dream that my contributions to hotel design will make my name as recognizable as that of Philippe Starck or David Rockwell. Most of all, I look forward to nurturing the talent of other aspiring students, helping them to move closer to achieving their goals and dreams.

This scholarship is vital to my finishing my degree at the Savannah College of Art and Design due to the decrease in the amount of financial assistance I was offered. While I am actively researching options for the funding of my final year, thus far I have not found an adequate solution. If my application for the Icons of Industry Scholarship Grant is not accepted, it is likely I will have to interrupt my schooling in order to work for a year and save money to finance the completion of my BFA degree. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.

INTERNSHIP ESSAY
This past winter I was granted the honor and privilege of working with one of the most cutting-edge design firms in the industry, Rockwell Group. This internship offered me priceless work and life experience. Beyond the ability to add a prestigious name to my resume, that experience conveyed to me the importance of practical application, enhanced my confidence as a designer, and brought about a new sense of independence and self-awareness.

Venturing beyond academics and joining a real world design firm challenged me to think and act in different ways. In this setting it was imperative that I respond quickly, evaluate feasibility more rigorously, and communicate innovative ideas in a professional manner. By working with a diverse group of new faces who were quick to generate innovative and often divergent ideas that sometimes conflict, I was pushed out of my comfort zone and required to see things from new perspectives.

Throughout my internship, the complexity of my engagements increased along with the level of responsibility I was afforded. In short order, I began making meaningful contributions to the team as I observed my sketches being used in client presentations. I was exhilarated by my own progression through this process and finished my internship feeling more confident in my work as a designer.
New Yorkers leave no room for hesitation whether it is rush hour in the subway or pitching a design to a client. Extemporaneous thinking was just as important in my job as it was navigating the hustle and bustle of an unfamiliar city. In the end, I left New York feeling more independent and self-assured, ready to tackle new and exciting challenges wherever they may lead me.

ACCEPTANCE
Members of NEWH, future colleagues, and the brightest minds in design:
Thank you for the opportunity to be here. It is a humbling experience to be recognized on the same morning that you are recognizing the remarkable accomplishments and lifelong contributions of Mr. Roger Milliken. Thank you NEWH for your generosity. It is with honor and pride that I accept the Icons of Industry Scholarship award.
Thank you for recognizing my passions and abilities. It is inspiring to be in the presence of so many remarkably talented individuals and in the company of such a prestigious Icon- I can just feel the buzz of creative energy in the room. Mr. Milliken not only represents the design community, but has become an important and enduring symbol in the evolution of an expansive industry. His personal philosophy has been the catalyst underlying the evolution of interior design from a profession that specifies materials and finishes to a profession that produces leaders and innovators that create and control the experience of being in a space.

Remember moving into that new house or apartment. No furniture in sight, just the expansive sea of fuzzy fibrous carpet. What is it about newly laid carpet that makes you want to dive in, roll around, and squish it between your toes? That experience is an emotional connection for me and, I suspect, for many of you. It’s probably why I’m an interior designer. Like the memory of new carpet, the work of Roger Milliken is a catalyst for experiential wonder. This human-centric delight is at the heart of interior design and the soul of interior design is the user and the user’s experience, inclusively connecting people to their environment. From the organization and character of a space down to the

Thank you for enabling me to finish my studies at the Savannah College of Art and Design. As you may or may not know, it is a period of transition and growth for the Interior Design department at SCAD. While it’s already recognized as one of the top programs in the nation, they are also striving to define interior design and interior designers as innovators and leaders in the evolution of our built environment. I feel fortunate to be a part of that, both as a student and as a participant in this competition.

Thank you for this unforgettable opportunity, and thank you to Mr. Roger Milliken for his life’s work and inspiration. I am looking forward to returning to SCAD next quarter, inspired by this experience and your support, and even more excited about graduating and becoming an active collaborator and leader as a professional interior designer.

I would like to begin by saying thank you. Winning the Icon’s of Industry Scholarship Award has filled me with so much joy that words can hardly express my gratitude. Not only is this scholarship a tremendous blessing and honor to receive, but it has also given me the opportunity to grow as an individual and as a designer. It has challenged me to set a goal for myself and then work hard to realize that goal.

I am no stranger to setting goals, though. Starting out in middle school and throughout high school, my dad had me writing goals for my life and my career. I carried this habit with me to college and continued to set goals for myself. One of these goals was to graduate college without any debt from school. Well, that goal has since been modified into “Graduate with less debt”.

My mentor told me about a group that she and her friends created years ago. They met to discuss design-related business and eventually formulated a deep friendship that is still shared today. Even though they don’t meet anymore, they can still call each other for advice. After listening to her describe the bond she built with other professionals and how it helped her through challenging business decisions, I had hoped that one day I would be part of a group as supportive as hers.

Now, I have the opportunity to be a part of a network that supports professionals in the hospitality industry through NEWH. Before this competition, I did not know much about NEWH. As I researched your history, I fell in love with your mission and with your giving heart. I became increasingly excited about being part of your vision to provide opportunities that benefit both students and professionals. NEWH’s leadership is an inspiration for me in the way you provide educational opportunities, and make a tremendous difference in the lives of your members and in the industry as well.

Manfred Steinfeld is also a great source of inspiration for me. He has shown me that life is so much more meaningful when you give back and invest in the lives of others. His leadership has inspired me to push harder to achieve greatness in the hospitality industry. Just as Manfred Steinfeld has lived a life that reflects honor, integrity, and commitment to excellence in the hospitality field, I too want to lead a life that reflects these qualities.

Thank you NEWH for this incredible gift that has allowed me to get closer to reaching one of my goals and be a part of your network. It only furthers my passion and my drive in working toward a career in the hospitality industry. And thank you Mr. Steinfeld for your contribution to the hospitality industry and to so many other lives. This experience and your generosity will be an enduring memory that will remind me to seek excellence in my work and commitment to the greater whole that is the hospitality industry.

During the spring quarter of last year, I realized in order to choose which career path I wanted to follow, additional steps needed to be taken to make a more educated decision. The luxury that hospitality provides has always attracted me. I feel that hospitality offers the best of the interior design field since it has a combination of many specialties. These can range from custom suites that are similar to residential design, restaurants and bars like entertainment, to corporate style back of house offices with the occasional convention centers similar to institutional design. They seem to have a finger in every slice of the pie. I do not understand why any individual would not want to work in an environment that offers such variety. It would seem to prevent development of daily routines to which so many are so accustomed.

Spending a summer with Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo in California allowed me to see the structure of a large firm in the United States. The west coast was an ideal place to go since I was born and raised on the east coast. Throughout the internship many valuable skills were learned such as creating specifications, working with vendors to gather product for designers, and organizing the materials library.  Most of my time was divided between three project assignments during the two month duration: Marriott Desert Springs, organizing the library, and helping pack to move to a new office.

The Marriott Desert Springs was a spa revitalization project. Two designers were mainly focused on this project as it approached the final phases. I collaborated with them to complete the specifications books. During this I was able to learn the entire process of specifying a product from client selection, code compliance, inputting information, to approvals. The Senior Designer would assign tasks to both the Interior Designer and me. I mainly contacted vendors to find information for the designers while inputting redlines in the SpecSources program. This was a program specialized for WATG. The designers were very helpful whenever I had a question about the program and were wonderful mentors. Working with them also allowed me to attend a very informative field trip about drapery manufacturing. This answered many of our questions about how to correctly specify drapery. Vendors can be very helpful!

In the middle of August the company moved to the next town about fifteen minutes away. There were actually three WATG offices located in Newport Beach that consolidated to one in Irvine. This allowed me to really see the internal support system of such a large firm. Preparations began well in advance of the move with nonstop purging, organizing, and packing. The massive materials library that the company had collected over time was slowly purged. I helped separate most of the residential fabrics from the commercial. Most were thrown away or donated to local schools. Thanks to WATG I was able to bring several boxes of samples back to my class so everyone now has more than enough for all projects! All binders to be moved were marked by a colored sticker for organization at the new office. I worked hand in hand with the librarian to try to pack things neatly. However, when we arrived at the new office we found them neatly on the shelves but not in exactly the correct order. With such a massive move I spent most of my last few weeks helping to organize the library. It was much more spacious than the previous so things went somewhat smoothly. During this time I had several interactions with vendors allowing me to make valuable contacts.

Overall, my internship was extremely valuable. Among the many skills I learned and contacts developed, I learned that the hospitality industry is definitely the place to be.  After returning to school, I was able to share my experience with many peers who will soon be gaining valuable experiences of their own at future internships.  I also realized that a smaller firm is more appropriate for me. The one on one interaction and levels of responsibility given to people in smaller firms seems to fit my personality traits. This is why I want to pursue a career in a specialized area of hospitality. I plan to start an independent contract rendering job soon with a local aviation company that specializes in high end design. This will allow me to become accustomed with the aviation industry and gain an additional perspective. I am very excited for graduation in June so that I may take all of my combined experiences and apply what I have learned to a dynamic hospitality career.

Words seem inadequate to describe my feelings of joy, gratitude and pride to accept the Icons of Industry Scholarship award. The NEWH has an outstanding reputation for educating and mentoring designers as well as partnering with groups such as UNICEF to help those in need. I congratulate you for investing your talents in developing future designers as well as providing a place for current designers to advance.

And now for my confession – Interior Design was not my first career. I studied opera for 6 years and believed that one day I would be a professional vocalist, even though I loved performing I always left
the stage wanting more from the experience. When I decided to change careers I took some time to explore my hobbies and found my desire for design work.

I wanted to go back to school for Interior Design and knew it would be a challenge since I didn’t even know how to set up a drafting board much less use one. I’d like everyone to know that after four years I have not only figured out the drafting board, but I also learned that the art of design is more than what I had thought it would be. I have loved every minute of the challenges that my schooling presents and know that I have found what I am passionate about.

Luckily, the University of Cincinnati has combined the degree program with internship opportunities. By the time I graduate, I will have worked a year and a half in three different offices and the experiences will be invaluable. Not only have I been able to put into practice the theory of my classes but also see the fields that surround

It is on my internships and during school that I found myself exposed to the work of Mr.Maya Romanoff. In fact, I remember the day I learned who Maya Romanoff was. My second year at school we had our first materials class. It was very broad and our teacher would have local reps come in and talk about their products. The Donghia rep came to our class with bags for each student. She handed them out and in mine I had these pieces. Although the flexible glass is beautiful I spent the rest of the class staring at the mother of pearl, inlaid shell. It seemed alive and I couldn’t stop turning it in the light to see the different ways the luminous tiles reflected.

Now, being a student on a Wi-Fi campus, the first thing I did was to go to the Maya Romanoff website to see what else he had designed. From weathered walls to precious metals, the collections blew away what I had thought of wall coverings. Other reps had shown our class wall coverings that looked lifeless and stiff, while Maya Romanoff’s seemed to be alive and, instead of imitating, embraced the materials. I was excited to see that Maya Romanoff had been awarded the Icons of Industry Award last month which makes this scholarship award more personal to me. His creativity and love for his work is evident in the surface coverings he produces. This weekend attending the IHMRS show, talking with people from all parts of the hospitality industry and especially getting the chance to meet you, Mr. Romanoff, has been the experience of a lifetime.

So, for all whose lives you have touched and will continue to influence, I thank you on their behalf.

And personally, today, I offer my thanks to the Icons of Industry Scholarship committee and Mr. Maya Romanoff for this award for which I am sincerely grateful!