September 06, 2017
Interior Design Student at La Roche Earns Prestigious $30,000 Scholarship Award
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 6, 2017 – La Roche University student Brittany Craig is one of 13 candidates across the country to receive the prestigious 2017 Angelo Donghia Foundation Senior Student Scholarship Award.
Established by one of America’s most influential interior designers, the Angelo Donghia Foundation provides scholarships to promising interior design students in the United States. This year’s recipients were selected by an expert jury of designers, architects and members of the press, including editors from Interior Design Magazine, Elle Décor, Wall Street Journal and Cultured.
Ms. Craig’s project on corporate office design was selected from 69 student projects submitted by accredited institutions. The $30,000 award will cover the cost of Ms. Craig’s senior-year tuition, board, maintenance and books. Her project proposed the design of an office headquarters in Providence, R.I., for Graduate Hotels, a collection of boutique hotels in the university towns of America.
“The aesthetic of Graduate Hotels is unique and distinctive to the character of the brand,” Ms. Craig explained. “It provides similarities to the atypical style I initially tend to design myself, sparking my interest and compelling a gravitation toward the company. I particularly enjoyed this project because I could relate myself, as a designer, to the mission of the company.”
In her submission, she describes her design as capturing the town’s essence through one-of-a-kind colonial and classical elements while reflecting the youth of the Graduate Hotels brand. Ms. Craig writes: “The space intends to promote a unified community that allows all employees and visitors to be curiously engaged through the uniqueness of the space. This will create an adventurous journey throughout the office, discovering new and unique elements around every corner.”
A graduate of Connellsville Area Senior High School, Ms. Craig is the daughter of Randy and Debbie Craig of Mill Run, Pa. She is a senior at La Roche.
La Roche Design Division Chair Lisa Kamphaus stated, “Brittany is a gifted and thoughtful designer who is able to identify intrinsic details through her research and effectively incorporate them into her solutions through her design process. Her finished work displays creativity and refinement along with sensitivity to sustainable and global concepts.”
Previously Ms. Craig earned high honors in Positive Space, the University’s annual student art show which is juried by outside design professionals. Her retail project, Fusion Furnishings, took first place, and her restaurant project, RAW, earned Best of Show in Interior Design.
“La Roche’s rigorous design program has accelerated my success with each project assigned, allowing my time to be managed properly and priorities to be managed, ultimately assuring deadlines are met,” she said. “Also, communication between classmates, professors and professionals is critical, for the relationships I have made directly correlate with the paths I will take after graduation.”
Ms. Craig serves as treasurer of the La Roche student chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers, a community service coordinator for the National Society of Leadership and Success, and member of the Interior Design Legislative Coalition of Pennsylvania. Ms. Craig also belongs to La Roche’s ECO Club, a special interest group focusing on sustainability and improving aspects of a campus in an ethical manner.
“Ultimately, after graduation, I plan to focus on historical preservation projects, saving the integrity of aging buildings while incorporating modern amenities to allow for a unique mixture of old and new,” Ms. Craig said. “I am personally distinguished and notorious for my unusual and eclectic plans and designs. Therefore, I hope to express myself fully through future projects and endeavors.”
Ms. Craig is the second La Roche student to earn this prestigious award. Julie Dulski, a 2009 graduate, also received the award in 2008.
La Roche is one of only two colleges in the area to be fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design. The interior design program has been continuously accredited by the Council of Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) since 1985, giving La Roche the distinction of achieving and holding CIDA accreditation longer than any other Pittsburgh interior design program.
The Design Division is dedicated to preparing students for professional practice. By maintaining accreditations, implementing curriculum that balances theory and application while supporting interdisciplinary experiences, the division focuses on teaching students to create rich interactions that transform human experiences. The Division supports the University’s global mission by emphasizing the value and exploration of social and cultural awareness.
About La Roche University: A private liberal arts college in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, six graduate degree programs and one doctoral program, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, psychology, and health and medical sciences as well as interior design and graphic design. This residential college provides a vibrant campus community for more than 1,500 men and women enjoying 30-plus student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.
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