After completing her second internship at Walt Disney Imagineering in Orlando, Florida, Carly received the news of a lifetime. Her father called her from his home in Michigan to let her know that he had received a letter from the Angelo Donguia Foundation. “I was immediately filled with both excitement and fear when I learned that this letter could change my future,” Carley said. She asked him to open it and read it. At that moment, he told her that she was one of only 15 scholarship recipients selected this year.
“I was overwhelmed with emotion. At that moment, I knew that all the stress, sleepless nights and passion I put into this project was definitely worth it. The recognition that I deserved this prestigious award was the strongest confirmation of my growth and confidence as a designer.”
The Angelo Donguia Foundation was founded by the late internationally recognized design icon Angelo Donguia. The foundation focuses on the advancement of education in the field of interior design. For more than 20 years, the company has awarded Senior Student Scholarship Awards to benefit eligible students entering the final year of their Interior Design bachelor’s degree program at accredited universities, colleges, and schools.
Karlee’s winning project, The Wave Hub, is a surfboard and apparel company committed to sustainability and ocean cleanup. Inclusive design embraces diverse individuals in the workplace through areas of focus, collaboration, and comfort zones, creating a sense of belonging. The hub integrates LEED-certified materials and natural elements such as sunlight and clean air to enhance physical and mental health.
