The Ellen Cheever Student Certification Scholarship program is in full swing. By Dianne M. Pogoda
Professional development and continuing education are key components of NKBA’s mission. And to make it a little easier for students committed to the kitchen and bath field, the association has launched the Ellen Cheever Student Certification Scholarship, effective with the fall 2019 semester.
“We’re so happy to make this scholarship available to students pursuing a career in our industry,” said Suzie Williford, executive vice president of industry relations and chief strategy officer for NKBA. “We’re proud to recognize talent and potential in aspiring designers and reward their efforts with a path to certification. It’s critical for the future health and prosperity of the industry to encourage excellence and perpetuate the highest standards in design and performance.”
The scholarship is awarded to deserving NKBA student members at NKBA Affiliated Schools who are pursuing a course of study related to K&B design and remodeling. One student at each school, in each of the fall and spring semesters, may be selected by the program coordinator or instructor to receive the AKBD Grad Pack Bundle.
The award includes:
- Access to the NKBA online Knowledge Base, based on the NKBA Professional Resource Library (1-year subscription)
- AKBD application and exam fee
- AKBD online practice exam
- 30 education hours of on-demand exam prep courses
- Certification study guide
- Exam prep flashcards
- NKBA Kitchen & Bathroom Planning Guidelines
- Shipping & handling in the US & Canada.
To be eligible, the scholarship recipient must be an NKBA student member and a full-time student in good standing, finishing their degree or certificate at an NKBA Affiliated School. They will be selected based on such factors as their volunteerism, financial need, desire to pursue NKBA certification, work and internship experience. Educators nominating a student must submit a testimony of 150 words (maximum) explaining why the nominee is deserving of the scholarship. Submissions must be entered by Dec. 15 for the fall semester and May 15 for the spring semester. Information is available on nkba.org under the Schools tab.
The award is named for Ellen Cheever, CMKBD, ASID, CAPS, CLIPP, who has been in the kitchen and bath industry for some 50 years. She helped create the industry’s technical standards and protocols, truly impacting and shaping the kitchen and bath as we know them. Last fall, she donated her life’s work to theVirginia Tech Apparel, Housing and Resource Management department, which unveiled the Cheever Design Library featuring “The Ellen Cheever Kitchen & Bath Collection, 1971-2018.”
A longtime dedicated member of NKBA, Cheever served as Director of Educational Services for the association in the Eighties, and is renowned in the industry as a designer, author, educator and researcher on the art and science of kitchen and bathroom planning and design.
“Throughout her distinguished career, Ellen has been an educator and mentor to thousands of students,” Williford noted. “We couldn’t have picked a more worthy individual after whom to name this award, which, hopefully, will launch the careers of hundreds more kitchen and bath professionals.”
