The John J. Nelson Sr. Legacy Scholarship Fund was created to support and nurture African American interior design and architecture students while promoting diversity and access in education. This scholarship was established by John J. Nelson Sr. in partnership with the IIDA Foundation in 2019.
Scholarship Details
- Up to two scholarship recipients may be selected
- Each recipient may receive up to $10,000 in scholarship funds
- Recipients also receive official digital assets and recognition on the IIDA website and social media channels
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be undergraduate students who are African American
- Applicants must currently be enrolled in a U.S. not-for-profit college or university
- Interior design students must be enrolled in a CIDA- or NASAD-accredited interior design program
- Architecture students must be enrolled in a NAAB-accredited architecture program
Application Process
- Create a three-to-five-minute video addressing how the power of design has impacted your life, your motivation for pursuing a career in interior design or architecture, and how you plan to use your design career to positively impact future clients and your community
- Include original drawings and sketches in your video; the video may be presented in an essay-style format with responses delivered directly to the camera
- Incorporate examples of your portfolio or project work into the video if you have a portfolio available
- Obtain one letter of recommendation from your Program Chair, Dean, or Instructor; the recommendation must be no longer than one page
- Provide a valid copy of your current student ID in JPEG or PDF format to verify your undergraduate status
- Complete the scholarship application and submit the required video, recommendation letter, and proof of enrollment according to the application instructions
"Furthering education and broadening opportunities for students of African American descent is an important and personal commitment of mine. I am proud to partner with the IIDA Foundation to uplift and encourage the next generation of design and architecture professionals through this annual scholarship" -John J. Nelson Sr., IIDA
