Three Students Awarded Trips to the SHIFT Conference in Honor of the Late Designer’s Devotion to Mentorship and Student Development
The International Interior Design Association’s New York Chapter (IIDA NY) is pleased to announce the winners of the second annual Hazel Siegel Scholarship, who participated at IIDA Texas Oklahoma Chapter’s SHIFT Student Conference in downtown Dallas. In early February, the scholarship recipients attended various programs, networking with professionals, and engaging in friendly competition.
In its first year of determining recipients, IIDA NY’s Student Development Group chose three candidates who not only demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, but were also committed volunteers to the chapter through the Knowledge Forum Committee. This year, the Hazel Siegel Scholarship fielded applications throughout New York state.
The three recipients of this year’s award—Ashima Yadav of The New School, Parsons School of Design, Joseph Olivieri of New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), and Teresa Uhl of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)—were awarded an all-expense paid trip to the conference, accompanied by Michelle Schutt, AIA Associate and CertainTeed Architectural Solutions Manager.
The three-day event began with an invitation-only Student Design Charette, conducted virtually due to the ongoing snow and ice storm in Dallas. Separated into teams, students were challenged to hone both their design capabilities and collaboration skills. The following day consisted of mock interviews, portfolio reviews, workshops, roundtable discussions, and CEU product presentations, all leading up to an industry expo. Networking opportunities allowed students to connect with professional design firms, and opened them up to furthering their professional experiences with interview opportunities. On the final day of the conference, designers and vendors hosted a panel discussion on healthcare design, discussing today’s needs, challenges, and future opportunities. Following that, students gathered into smaller groups for bus tours to various architectural firms and showrooms.
This IIDA NY scholarship program serves to honor the legacy of Hazel Siegel, an acclaimed textile designer and chapter member who held numerous leadership positions and received numerous honors over 40 years of dedicated service to the chapter. After Siegel’s passing in 2020, IIDA NY developed an initiative to honor her memory and all that she gave to the industry.
Following the SHIFT Conference, the Hazel Siegel recipients will be supported by IIDA NY in their academic endeavors. In addition to being called back for next year’s applicant review, these students will also serve on the Hazel Siegel Scholarship Alumni Program, mentoring new winners through their school life, their transition into a professional field, and helping determine their career path in the design industry.
About IIDA NY
The IIDA New York Chapter (IIDA NY) is a professional networking and educational association of more than 800 Members in five specialty Forums. IIDA NY provides its Members with the resources to reach expertise, knowledge and contacts. Networking events allow professionals and industry members to connect on more personal terms that encourage trust, collaboration and innovation. In 2021, IIDA NY formed Equity Council, an independent, open and inclusive body of participants who may or may not be members of IIDA. Their goal is to foster engagement and accountability toward meaningful change in the design industry, advocating for increased equity in the field through four key pillars: inclusion, diversity, education and communication. The Chapter is proud to have been recognized as IIDA Large Chapter of the Year in 2011, 2008, 2001 and 2000. For more information, visit: http://www.iidany.org/.