Each year the NKBA recognizes the top kitchen and bath design students at NKBA-accredited colleges across North America by rewarding top students with a $100 scholarship. Schools with kitchen and bath design programs accredited by the NKBA each selected a student to honor this year.
The top design students for 2012 are:
| Alexandria Technical & Community College | Ellen Peterson |
| Arapahoe Community College | Elizabeth Long |
| Baker College of Clinton Township | Jennifer Murray-Huffman |
| Brevard Community College | Gayle McCaughin |
| Brigham Young University- Idaho | Kimberly Fetzer |
| Canada College | Kirsten Malone |
| Century College | Katherine (Kate) Roos |
| Harper College | Sara Gerdes |
| Lakeland College | Courtney Federspiel |
| MSU-Gallatin College | Jamey Cunningham |
| San Diego Mesa College | Eric Poulsen |
| Sullivan College of Technology & Design | Roberta Vincent |
| University of Nebraska & Kearney | Emily E. Moore |
| University of Southern Mississippi | Jessica Brown |
| Virginia Tech | Brittany Usiak |
| Weber State University | Shalin Tucker |
