Two fourth-year students in the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the U of A have each been awarded $30,000 from the Angelo Donghia Foundation, the most prestigious scholarship in interior design education. Founded by late international interior designer Angelo Donghia, the foundation is a non-profit organization that promotes design education.

Students Cassie Roberts and Olivia Everett were recognized with the foundation's 2024 Senior Student Scholarship Awards based on projects they submitted to the foundation. They were among 12 students selected from accredited universities in the 2024 awards program.

Previously, four other Fay Jones School students have received this honor. In 2015, Kelly Walsh became the first U of A student to receive the scholarship. Then, Jessica Baker and Christine Wass both received the scholarship in 2016, and Anna Arendt received it in 2019. In total, over the past 10 years, the Department of Interior Architecture and Design has received more than $310,000 in faculty research grants and student scholarships from the Donghia Foundation.

"The continued support from the Donghia Foundation is a testament to the excellence of our students and their faculty," said Carl Matthews, professor and head of the Department of Interior Architecture and Design.

For their submissions, Roberts and Everett both selected projects they had worked on during a third-year design studio in the spring 2024 semester, led by Jennifer Webb, associate professor of interior architecture and design. Students were asked to design a "library of things," meant to enhance the Fayetteville Public Library's core services and contributions to the community.

Students were given an existing building site near Dickson Street in Fayetteville and were each assigned one of four library categories: Tools, STEM Education, Music and Outdoor Recreation. Everett was assigned Outdoor Recreation and created her Ark Outdoors design in a studio section led by Lucky McMahon, an instructor. Roberts was assigned Tools and created her Fay Tool Hub project in a studio section led by Charles Sharpless, assistant professor of interior architecture and design.

CONCEIVING THE DESIGN

Everett began her project by considering the recreational activities within Arkansas with the intention to bring together resources, access to gear and equipment, and community involvement to improve overall outdoor engagement and well-being.

The reception area for Olivia Everett's Ark Outdoors deign. Artwork courtesy of Olivia Everett.

"The concept for this project is 'Bridging Interconnection,' which is based on interconnecting the site and outdoor destinations, learning and the community," Everett said.

Roberts' Fay Tool Hub was designed with sustainability, collaboration and creation in mind. Through encouraging the sharing of resources, the project promotes environmental responsibility by reducing waste and material consumption.

The woodshop for Cassie Roberts’ Fay Tool Hub project. Artwork courtesy of Cassie Roberts.

"What stood out to me," Roberts said, "was the potential for tool libraries to create equal opportunities for education and hands-on experiences by providing access to tools and equipment that might be financially or logistically out of reach for many community members."

NAVIGATING THE DESIGN PROCESS

Extensive research and planning played a key role in designing both projects. By evaluating libraries, hardware stores and educational spaces, Everett and Roberts gained insight into how to start their design.

Everett used a series of collages, concept models and design charrettes to bring her design to life. Her concept model was developed early in the design process and became a metaphorical representation of the connection between the site and outdoor destinations.

"I enjoy a balance of digital and physical work," Everett said, "and believe schematic, often messy work is a powerful tool in presenting the evolution of a project."

Through research, Roberts concluded that her space needed to support a diverse range of programming and educational opportunities, including areas for both solo and group projects.

To communicate her design ideas, Roberts used collages, figure-ground drawings, concept models and diagrams. The models directly influenced her space planning, leading to a layout that naturally encourages movement, interaction and collaboration.

"I think overall what makes this design special," Roberts said, "is the way it physically embodies the values of interconnectedness, accessibility, sustainability and creativity."

MANAGING THE STUDIO EXPERIENCE

Early into their design education, Everett and Roberts learned the importance of maintaining a balance between the demands of their school work and mental health. Their studio experiences have allowed both designers to become more confident in their projects. Despite numerous hours of time spent on projects, high expectations and pressure, both Everett and Roberts have found these experiences rewarding.

"Hard work often means sacrificing other things, but knowing I have done my best at the end of a project and the pride it yields makes everything worth it," Everett said. "Whether it is going outside, listening to music, experiencing something or someplace new, or spending time with friends, I find that I am a better designer when experiencing additional engagements that bring me joy."

Roberts agreed that handling the pressure and stress of the immersive studio experience can be a journey, and it can be easy to tie one's perception of self-worth to one's work. She has learned how to separate herself from her projects and develop a healthier mindset.

"Ultimately, studio has shaped me into a designer who is deeply thoughtful about the environments I create and the people who experience them," Roberts said. "It's been challenging, but also one of the most transformative aspects of my education."

DESIGNING A PATH AT THE U OF A

When first visiting Fayetteville from Overland Park, Kansas, Everett took notice of how friendly everyone on campus was, often smiling as they walked by. Feeling like she was at home, Everett decided to pursue her love for design at the U of A.

Everett's passion for design developed through music. Since age 11, she studied the violin, joining the Youth Symphony of Kansas City throughout high school. While this experience taught her discipline, dedication, leadership and collaboration, music also exposed her to enriching architecture and cultural experiences as she traveled with the orchestra. She performed with the orchestra at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and they toured across Ireland and Austria.

"These experiences demonstrated how space can impact a person and be transformed through creative expressions, whether it be music, dancing, acting, singing or any other act," Everett said. "That's when I knew I wanted to be a designer."

Last summer, Everett interned at DLR Group in Overland Park, Kansas, where she was able to collaborate with architects, interior designers, landscape architects and engineers. Following graduation in May, she's excited to return to the firm to work as an interior designer in their K-12 Education sector.

As a Fayetteville native, staying close to home and in-state tuition were perks for Roberts, but a tour of the Fay Jones School confirmed her decision to become a Razorback.

Roberts has always been both creative and analytical, which made choosing a career path difficult. Her affinity for fine arts and community service, combined with a passion for math and science, made interior design and architecture feel like the perfect intersection.

"This field blends creativity with problem solving, art with logic and design with human experience, having the power to shape how people feel, connect and live," Roberts said. "That's what pulled me in. I wanted to create spaces that aren't just functional or beautiful, but spaces that truly support and uplift the people who use them."

MANY REWARDS OF SCHOLARSHIPS

These Senior Student Scholarship Awards have given Everett and Roberts the ability to pursue opportunities to enhance their design education, equipping them with skills and confidence to create spaces for the community around them.

For Roberts, the Donghia scholarship allowed her to spend last semester studying at Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland, where she explored spatial and graphic design through a new cultural lens. She took courses not offered at the U of A and gained a global perspective on design. She said the experience pushed her to think more broadly, consider cultural context and design for communities beyond her own.

Everett had the opportunity to study abroad in London for photography two summers ago, and this scholarship award allowed her to begin paying off study abroad and student loans, as well as putting funds toward rent, software subscriptions, equipment and architectural supplies. Without the time and pressure of a student job, the scholarship enabled her to focus solely on studio work and crafting her portfolio for design competitions and job applications.

In addition, Everett is this year's Senior Scholar, as the graduating senior from the Fay Jones School with the highest grade-point average. Everett also was selected as one of three winners of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) 2025 Student Portfolio Competition. View her portfolio here.