West Valley College Interior Design Students Take Top National Honors

May 27, 2010

The NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) recently awarded scholarships to three West Valley College Interior Design students. Lisa Womach received a 2nd place for bathroom design, with a $1500 scholarship.

"Lisa's achievement is impressive, since it's one of four awards out of 119 entries from U.S. and Canadian colleges and universities," says Diane Hurd, chair of the Interior Design department at West Valley College in Saratoga.
Womach, who lives in Morgan Hill, says interior design is her second career. “The company I was with restructured and my husband was very supportive when I decided to go back to school. I thought the Interior Design program was just what I would love to do if I had to do it over again," she says.

“Going to college a second time (I went to SJSU right after high school) has been great. It's amazing how much more I enjoyed learning now that I'm older. Not only did I get a great education, but I've made great friends. I hope to either get a job with a residential interior design firm or start an interior design firm with a concentration in kitchen and bath.”

Womach was honored at the NKBA Design Competition Awards Luncheon in April at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Chicago.

West Valley College student Sanchali Srivastava (San Jose resident) received a $4000 scholarship from the NKBA/GE Charette Competition. "Sanchali's submittal was one of 93 entries in this competition," says Hurd.

The 2010 NKBA/GE Charette Competition, which awards students over $20,000 in scholarships, recognizes students who each demonstrate kitchen design skills by planning a safe, functional kitchen within a three-hour period.

More than 500 students from 31 colleges participated in the challenge.

Angela Victoria Rasmussen (Campbell resident) received the 2010 NKBA Outstanding Student Award.

This West Valley College student was recognized for demonstrating excellence in kitchen and bathroom design and participation in the NKBA.

A WVC student is selected each year by the interior design faculty for this award.  Angela's name will be added to the plaque and displayed in the Interior Design Resource Library on campus.

All students were honored at a recent Lunch 'N Learn sponsored by the West Valley College Interior Design Club and hosted by Standards of Excellence in San Jose.

Contact: Ruth Carlson, 408-741-2652
Ruth.carlson@wvm.edu