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2027 IDEC FOUNDATION CAROLE PRICE SHANIS SCHOLARSHIP

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 11:59 pm (PST) Tuesday, December 1, 2026

PURPOSE

This scholarship provides support to individuals for the purpose of professional development while advancing their interior design education by earning a graduate degree after earning a CIDA-Accredited undergraduate or graduate degree. The award provides:

  • Funding to participate in professional development to enhance your education, such as attending a professional conference, workshop, or other opportunity for learning.

AMOUNT

The total funding available is $3,000, which will be awarded either as one, two, or three scholarships depending on the merit and funding needs of the proposals selected for award. Recipients will be informed tentatively by January 3, 2027.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must hold a CIDA-Accredited degree. Applicants must be members of a professional interior design organization such as IDEC, ASID, IIDA, and CID. Applicants must be currently enrolled (full time or part time) in a graduate program emphasizing Interior Design. Current educators and practitioners are eligible for this award. Previous recipients of the Carole Price Shanis Scholarship are not eligible. Current and former IDECF Board Members from the last five years are not eligible to apply.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

  1. Online application form.
  2. An essay responding to the questions below. Be clear, focused, and concise in your answers. Your response to the following questions should not exceed (2) 8 ½” x 11” pages at 12 pt. font. Create a heading for each question so that reviewers may easily navigate your application.
    1. Post-Secondary degrees you have earned and year completed including Associates, Bachelors, Masters, and/or Doctoral degrees.
    2. Attestation of membership in a professional interior design organization such as IDEC, ASID, IIDA, and CID.
    3. What propelled you to seek a post-professional graduate degree in Interior Design?
    4. How will the professional development activity you are requesting funds to attend support your educational and professional goals?
    5. What is the exact nature and itemized budget for the professional development experience for which you are requesting funding? Include the following in a heading: name (with link), type of professional development, dates of attendance, location.  The budget items must include registration fee, detailed travel expenses, and lodging expenses.

DISQUALIFICATION

Any of the following will result in the disqualification of the applicant, resulting in the rejection of the application without review:

  1. An application that exceeds the (2) 8 ½” x 11” pages at a 12 pt. font limit.
  2. An incomplete application; all required questions must be answered.
  3. Inclusion of additional materials beyond those requested for the application.
  4. The applicant has received the award previously.
  5. The applicant is not a graduate student in a program emphasizing interior design.
  6. The applicant has not earned a CIDA-Accredited degree.
  7. The applicant is not a member of a professional interior design organization.
  8. Any identifying information within the essay, including the revealing of name, program, institution, location, etc. Docs saved with identifying information in the file name will be disqualified.
  9. The application is submitted past the deadline.

BLIND REVIEW

Applications are assessed through a blind review process.

QUESTIONS?

Grant Coordinator: Anna Ruth Gatlin, annaruth@auburn.edu
Scholarship Coordinator: Rana Abudayyeh, rabudayy@utk.edu

RUBRIC
Submit Your Application

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© 2026 Interior Design Educators Council