The Bienenstock Furniture Library concluded its inaugural Future Designers Summit, held Sep. 20 - 22, awarding one student a $5,000 scholarship. Vivian Grace Dudley, a senior at Appalachian State University, was named winner of The Broyhill Family Foundation Scholarship for 2021.
"I would love to thank the Broyhill Family Foundation for supporting my education and future endeavors in the design world," said Dudley.
"Attending the Summit was such an amazing experience and learning opportunity,” she added. “I met so many design professionals and students that have the same passion for design as I do."
All student participants were eligible to win, and each had several opportunities throughout the event for their name to be added to the drawing, which took place at the closing session of the Bienenstock Future Designers Summit, in the Universal Furniture showroom.
Sheila Triplett-Brady, Executive Director, Broyhill Family Foundation, Inc., acknowledges the role designers play in the future success of the home furnishings industry.
“Designers are at the core of an industry,” she says. “Everything begins with an idea, a vision. Through the Future Designers Summit Scholarship, we at the Broyhill Family Foundation are pleased to help young designers gain knowledge and experience to take his or her place in making visions become reality.”
This fall’s conference for future design leaders focused on areas of study in furnishings, interior design and architecture, and industrial and textile design, offering an immersive three-day educational and networking experience, including a roster of keynote speakers, facility tours, and breakout sessions moderated by industry professionals.
U.S. based students submitted applications in late February, with 30 selected from 10 colleges and universities to attend. Along with their applications, students included personal essays in which they were asked to envision their future role in design, provide examples from their portfolios, and secure a professor recommendation.
Event sponsors and contributors helped to offset the costs of travel, accommodations and meals for each student attendee, and covered expenses for the program’s development and marketing. Participating sponsors included Broyhill Family Foundation, Davis Furniture, Otto & Moore, Inc, Furniture World magazine, Savour Partnership, and the Tomlinson group of furniture brands; as well as contributors at Cohab Space, Congdon Yards, Fairfield, High Point Theatre, High Point Visitors Bureau, HPxD, Phillips Collection and Verellen.
