The Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education had a banner year in 2010, presenting a total of $85,000 in lighting education grants and awards-a record for the Fund. Leading the list, and in honor of the Fund’s twentieth anniversary, a new $50,000 grant was awarded to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL) for its winning proposal “Lighting Across the Design Curriculum.”
Developed by Katherine Ankerson, associate dean of UNL’s College of Architecture and professor in the interior design program, the multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary project is organized around a series of teaching modules at four universities-the University of Nebraska, Miami University of Ohio, Kansas State University, and the University of Texas at Austin. Approximately 1,600 students will have access to the seven interactive digital modules, and the Fund hopes that in future, the program’s reach will broaden.
The Fund’s Board also offered a new $25,000 grant option for intensive study in lighting design to individuals either beginning a new career, making a career change, or enhancing existing design or education skills. The Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles is the 2010 recipient of this award. Linda Pollari, chair of the Architecture/Landscape/Interiors Department, will apply the grant to develop a new lighting design certificate program at the school.
Awards were also made directly to students. Michael Royer, a Ph.D. candidate in lighting education and research at the Pennsylvania State University received the Jonas Bellovin Scholar Achievement Award and a $5,000 stipend. Giang Nguyen a junior in the Architectural Engineering program at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln was awarded the Jules Horton International Student Achievement Award and a prize of $5,000.
The Nuckolls Fund, named in honor of the late lighting designer and educator, James L. Nuckolls, has awarded $695,000 over the past 21 years. The Fund receives its support by way of generous contributions from companies and individuals in the lighting community. Feb. 4 is the deadline for 2011 proposals. Go to www.nuckollsfund.org for complete information.
