Winning designs in the 2018 contest will be realized in a home for a deserving family.
By Dianne M. Pogoda

The Student Design Competition is in full swing, with just over two months to go before the deadline for submissions on May 7.

In a new twist on the competition, the National Kitchen & Bath Association has partnered with the local branch of Habitat for Humanity, near NKBA’s national headquarters in Warren County, New Jersey. The winning designs for kitchen and bath in the student competition will be incorporated in the live build for a family in need. Both first-place student designers will be brought to the build site, joining celebrity designers Jennifer Bertrand, AKBD, and Chip Wade, AKBD, to help during construction.

Also this year, NKBA has doubled scholarship awards to $5,000 each for first place in kitchen or bath design; $2,500 for second-place prizes, and $1,000 for third place.

This is a great opportunity for students to see their designs come to life, and know that their work will help a deserving family get back on its feet.

Habitat for Humanity’s housing projects provide safe, affordable housing and are volunteer efforts. The top entries go a long way toward helping the recipients benefit from beautiful aesthetics as well as the latest methods and education in kitchen and bath design.

Habitat doesn’t give houses away; the recipient families must be able to repay a zero-percent mortgage and must put in 250 hours of “sweat equity” per adult. The Warren County chapter of HFH was founded in 1999 and is currently working on its 15th house, a home for a veteran’s family in Washington Township, N.J.

More than 100 schools participate in NKBA’s Affiliated Schools Program, although any student member may enter the competition. The cost of membership as well as the contest entry fee is free to students.

NKBA is grateful to the sponsors of these worthy programs. The Student Design Competition is sponsored by Wilsonart, and student membership is covered by Monogram Appliances.

Full details on contest requirements and eligibility are available by clicking below:

Questions? Email: SDC@nkba.org