JennAir recently donated $375,000 to create the JennAir Scholars Award at TMU’s School of Interior Design. The award is a cornerstone of JennAir’s Disrupting Design program, which aims to create access for racialized designers in the industry. Renewable each year of their program, the award is for Black, Indigenous and racialized Interior Design students who demonstrate financial need, with the aim of increasing racial representation within the program and industry at large.
“Reducing the barriers to education is a significant first step toward increasing the representation of racialized students,” said Charles Falzon, dean of The Creative School at TMU.
“Disrupting Design addresses the financial barriers experienced by racialized students head-on,” said Natalie Ramtahal, manager of administration and equity in the School of Interior Design. “The sponsorship component of the program provides a network of support as they embark on their educational journeys and post-education opportunities.” The first recipients of the JennAir Scholars Award are Nader Al-Fahad, Jihyuk Kim, Quianna Woolner and Michelle Xu.
The program gives recipients a unique edge and immersive experience in the interior design industry. The inaugural recipients of the JennAir Scholars Award are Nader Al-Fahad, Jihyuk Kim, Quianna Woolner and Michelle Xu.
“I’m incredibly grateful,” says Xu. “Receiving the award has made me appreciative of The Creative School for recognizing the diversity of our student population, and providing myself and others with more opportunities for success in our field.”
