HIGH POINT — WithIt, the women’s leadership development network for the home and furnishings industry, has named 17 recipients of academic scholarships awarded through the WithIt Scholarship Foundation.
In total, the WithIt Scholarship Foundation is distributing $31,500 in scholarship funds this year. The nonprofit foundation received $50,000 from the HHG Charitable Trust and an additional donation from the Boardman Family Foundation to assist with the distribution of scholarship funds.
The WithIt Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3), has awarded more than $340,000 in scholarships since 1999 to students pursuing majors related to the home and furnishings industry. The scholarship recipients from more than 24 universities across the country have a 94% retention rate in the home furnishings industry.
In addition to the monetary scholarship, recipients receive an invitation to attend the WithIt annual professional conference, a WithIt student membership and the opportunity to be matched with a mentor. This year’s conference took place Aug. 12-14 in Kansas City, Mo.
“The scholarships provided through the WithIt Scholarship Foundation are an important pipeline we are building for the industry,” said Amy Van Dorp, executive director of WithIt, adding, “Meeting people in the industry allows us to introduce students to the many career opportunities within home furnishings and help them envision a future here. Our historical data shows the impact these scholarships have on the industry as a whole. Many past recipients are now business owners and industry leaders who were given a head start through WithIt.”
This year’s scholarship recipients represent 12 universities:
- Olga Abadi Nakach Furniture Design, Savannah College of Art and Design
- Noor Abdulrahman Architecture, University of Houston
- Mary Barone Industrial Design, University of Cincinnati
- Aliyah Boly Architecture, University of Houston
- Melia Foster Furniture Design, Savannah College of Art and Design
- Sarah Furches Fashion & Textile Management, NC State University
- Leila Goetsch Interior Architecture, University of NC Greensboro
- Maggie Harrell Interior Design, Randolph Community College
- Triniti Henderson Architecture, Clemson University
- Isabella Herrarte Smith Interior Design, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Hailey Ingram Interior Design, Randolph Community College
- Natalie Krinke Home Product Development, Fashion Institute of Technology
- Ava McRorie Fashion & Textile Management, NC State University
- Christy Perkins Fashion & Textile Management, NC State University
- Audrey Perry Interior Design, Florida State University
- Alana Tucker Industrial Design, University of Cincinnati
- Destiny Webster Interior Design, High Point University
