The WithIt Scholarship Foundation has distributed $36,000 in various amounts to students for the 2024-25 school year. 17 sophomores and juniors studying for degrees in the home and furnishings industry, as well as one woman from the field, earned scholarship funds.
WithIt received $45,000 from the Heritage Home Group Charitable Trust for tuition scholarships and to provide student scholars with the chance to attend the WithIt Annual Professional Conference, which will be held in Greenville, South Carolina, on June 10-12.
“Any opportunity to provide more resources to students, especially women in a male-dominated industry so we can showcase our own abilities is critical for our industry,” said Paris Gholston, vice president of scholarship at WithIt and customer relations and compliance coordinator at Mattress Recycling Council. “During the first round of scholarships, I saw there were incredible women out there with great ideas, and they deserve everything they can get to showcase those ideas and their brilliance.”
In addition to the general scholarship recipients, Grace Avery, a textile design major studying at N.C. State University, received the Jena and Stephen Hall Scholarship, given annually to recognize the highest achieving student.
Other recipients are:
- Ashlee Lowe, business administration, High Point University
- Ashley Garcia Martinez, interior design, Randolph Community College
- Charlene Garcia, interior design, Randolph Community College
- Elayna Brown, interior design, Randolph Community College
- Faith Kiss, interior design, Salem College
- Haley Grimbeek, industrial design, Appalachian State University
- Ihsan Mohammed, interior design, Meredith College
- Katarina Jovic, interior design, New York School of Interior Design
- Kristie Butcher, interior design and architecture, Randolph Community College
- Kristy Larabee, interior design, Randolph Community College
- Lauren Koster, interior design, Western Carolina University
- Mary Abigail Streble, interior design, Forsyth Technical Community College
- Natalie Mangen, architecture, Savannah College of Art and Design
- Rebecca Grace Porterfield, textile design, NC State University
- Sarah Marie Johnson, interior design, Randolph Community College
- Skyler Trogdon, interior design, Randolph Community College
Billie J. Rhinehart, Home by Hart, was awarded a continuing education scholarship to complete her bachelor’s degree in interior design at Maryville University of Saint Louis.
WithIt has awarded $283,000 in tuition scholarships since its debut.
The WithIt Scholarship Foundation is a 501-C3 non-profit supported and funded by WithIt member donations and funding from industry foundations such as the HHG Charitable Trust and the AHFA Furniture Foundation.