Student Upliftment Program Empowers Future Designers Through Development and Collaboration
The International Interior Design Association’s New York Chapter (IIDA NY) announces Rachel Robinson, Principal at Ted Moudis Associates, was named 2024 SUP Honoree at this year’s Student Upliftment Program (SUP). Since 2020, Rachel has been an active and passionate member of IIDA NY, serving as a committed co-chair for Design Camp, a program, which aims to inspire and expose K-12 students to interior design. SUP is dedicated to supporting student development by connecting students, sponsors, and design professionals through membership, mentorship, and dynamic events that inspire growth and collaboration.
Initially conceived in 2018 by IIDA NY’s Student Development committee, the Design Camp program has since worked with hundreds of students. Design professionals representing firms throughout New York State help children from a broad range of socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds access design, not only as a possible career path but also as an educational and therapeutic experience.
“We are thrilled to honor Rachel and celebrate her outstanding contributions to both the design community and student development,” said IIDA NY Student Development Co-Vice Presidents Robin Reigi & Elisabeth Mejia. “Her commitment to nurturing the next generation of designers is truly exceptional. Rachel’s tireless efforts have bridged the gap between students and professionals, providing invaluable mentorship and exposure to the world of design. Her dedication has made a significant impact, empowering young minds to explore their creative potential and pursue careers in interior design.”
This year’s event, thanks in large part to the efforts of Paridhi Chawla—a recent Pratt graduate and former Hazel Siegal Scholarship recipient—who played a key role in coordinating the program. The event featured vibrant networking sessions and the special Matching Ceremony, where future designers were awarded sponsored IIDA memberships and introduced to emerging design professionals nominated by Ted Moudis Associates and Perkins & Will. Catalyst Committee co-chairs, Jennifer Graham and Sherri Simko, also played a key role in bringing the program to life, reinforcing the program’s mission, and awarding the annual Catalyst Laptop Grant to Haruku Utsuki and Alyssa Degenhardt from the New York School of Interior Design.
Event sponsors included Mohawk Group, WB Wood, ALUR, Benhar Office Interiors, Creative Office Resources, Haworth, Insidesource, Keilhaur, Koleksiyon, MillerKnoll, Nemo Tile + Stone, LumenWerx, and Sherwin Williams.
About IIDA NY
The IIDA New York Chapter (IIDA NY)—an inclusive community of creative and diverse professionals, industry partners and students—celebrates design, encourages collaboration, shares knowledge and advocates for the interior design community. This professional networking and educational association provides invaluable resources to over 800 members in 10 specialty forums with the goal of enhancing their expertise, knowledge and contacts. IIDA NY is proudly committed to design advocacy, sustainability, civic engagement, student mentorship and development, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. For more information, visit: http://www.iidany.org/.