Applications will be accepted between March 1, and March 31, 2020, for nine scholarships from the Educational Foundation (EF) of IFDA, the International Furnishings and Design Association. Since the early years of this 73-year-old global design industry alliance, EF has awarded scholarships to design students as well as grants to talented professionals, internationally. This year there are nine scholarships available for a total of $18,000.
“These scholarships help us nurture and celebrate the talented individuals who are emerging in the design and furnishings industry,” says Gail Belz, FIFDA, chairman of the Board of the Educational Foundation of IFDA. “We continue to be committed to improving our industry by supporting students and enhancing public awareness through educational and philanthropic programs.”
Applicants must be currently enrolled and scholarships are paid to the school for the 2020 fall semester tuition. Winners will be notified by July 31, 2020, unless otherwise stated. The website contains detailed information and applications.
The nine scholarships are:
- IFDA Leaders Commemorative Scholarship – $1,500. Open to undergraduate students.
- Part-Time Student Scholarship – $1,500. Open to undergraduate students.
- IFDA Student Member Scholarship – $2,000. Open to IFDA student member undergraduate students.
- Verceille Voss IFDA Graduate Student Scholarship – $2,000. Open to graduate students.
- Ruth Clark Furniture Design Scholarship – $3,000. Open to undergraduate or graduate students.
- Barbara Beckmann Textile Design Scholarship – $3,000. Scholarship established by the IFDA Northern California Chapter in honor of Barbara Beckmann, a textile designer and longtime California Chapter member and mentor to new members and students. Open to full or part-time undergraduates with course emphasis on textile design.
- IFDA Philadelphia Scholarship – $2,500. Scholarship established by the IFDA Philadelphia Chapter to reflect the history of design in Philadelphia and beyond. Open to two-. three- or four-year undergraduates. Focus rotates annually among design in textile, graphic, furniture and interior design. The focus this year is furniture design.
- Tricia LeVangie Green/Sustainable Design Scholarship – $1,500. Open to undergraduate students.
- Window Fashion Certified Professionals for Certified Professionals Fast Track Scholarship – $1,000 (one full registration for the webinar series). Open to undergraduates in a two- or three-year design school program.
Applications for all 2020 EF scholarships will only be accepted during the month of March, with winners promised notification in July. Consult the Educational Foundation website for more information. Or for answers to specific questions about these or any of EF’s other scholarships and grants, contact Director Joyce Poynton at [email protected].