Legacy paint brand Benjamin Moore teamed up with the Black Interior Designers Network (BIDInc) and Howard University to honor a rising designer with a prestigious, new scholarship. Kayla Chambers, a second-year student at Howard University, was awarded the Howard University Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts Kimberly Elaine Ward Scholarship, earning $30,000 to support tuition fees and educational expenses.
“Selecting the first Kimberly Elaine Ward Scholarship recipient was not easy for the committee,” shares said Rachel Willard-Chang, senior manager, DE&I and social impact at Benjamin Moore. “Kayla Chambers embodies the characteristics the founder of BID Inc., Kimberly Elaine Ward, continuously demonstrated in her work and in the community.”
Chambers, who was chosen based on the strength of her submission, already is hard at work cultivating her distinct design aesthetic, shares Willard-Chang, noting the honoree’s “passion for infusing life into spaces that give back to underserved communities.”
“This collaboration marks a pivotal moment for our organization and the students we aim to support,” adds Keia McSwain, president of BIDInc. “At the heart of this initiative is our commitment to empowering young African American students, like Kayla, to excel in the field of interior design, a path that has not been readily accessible or encouraged. Through this scholarship, we are setting the stage for aspiring designers to receive the necessary support, upliftment, and resources to thrive.”
Kayla Chambers.
Further stressing the impact of this award, Raimi Gbadamosi, chair of the Department of Art at Howard University, notes: “A scholarship is more than immediate financial relief, it is an investment of lifelong impact that sets up yet unimaginable opportunities.”
Pursuing a degree in interior design with a minor in business administration, Chambers plans to open her own interior design firm and jumpstart a non-profit organization to bring design to underserved communities. “I am grateful for the opportunity to change, thrive, create and grow,” she says.
The next round of scholarship applications will open to Howard University students in August, 2025, so stay tuned for more details.