Current Grant Recipients

Columbia College Chicago in 2024
This $30,000 Nuckolls Grant is to create a course called “The Science Behind Light: Early Integration of Light Design to Improve Mental Health and Cognitive Learning”. Principal Investigator for this grant is Dave Broz.

University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 2024
This $30,000 Nuckolls Grant is to create a course called “Elective Course on Premiumization, Sustainability, and Making of Bespoke Lighting”. Principal Investigators for this grant are Jinoh Park and Jake Tucci.

Colorado State University in 2024
This $30,000 Lesley Wheel Grant is to develop a course called “Lighting Applications for Health-Promoting and Sustainable Interiors”. Principal Investigators for this grant are Kami Stutzman and Leah Scolere.

Edison Price Fellowship Award in 2024
A $20,000 Edison Price Fellowship Grant was awarded to Alana Pulay of Washington State University for an internship with NAC Architecture.

Current Award Recipients

Jonas Bellovin Scholar Achievement Award in 2024
This $5,000 Award was given to Kelsi Weilage from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Jules Horton International Student Achievement Award in 2024
This $5,000 Award was given to Abraham Shakara Silva from Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute.

Designers Lighting Forum of New York Student Achievement Award in 2024
This $5,000 Award was given to Aditi Dhingra from Parsons School of Design.

Designers Lighting Forum of New York Student Achievement Award in 2024
This $5,000 Award was given to Aaron Zimmerman who is studying lighting at Pennsylvania State University.

Past Grant Recipients

2023 Grant Recipients

Texas Christian University in 2023
This $30,000 Nuckolls Grant is to integrate a program called “CAD to BIM: The Design Process and Technology Paradigm Shift in Architectural Lighting Design Education & Practice” throughout the existing lighting curricula at Texas Christian University.  Principal Investigator for this grant is Alyssa Humphries Stewart.

Oregon State University in 2023
This $30,000 Nuckolls Grant is to develop and deliver a new lighting course called “Daylighting Design through Experiential Learning Pedagogy”.  Principal Investigator for this grant is Clotilde Pierson.

University of Southern California in 2023
This $30,000 Lesley Wheel Grant is to develop and deliver a new lighting course to be called “Exploring Exterior Lighting Design and its Effect on Health, Community and Nature.”  Principal Investigator for this grant is Lauren Dandridge.

Tennessee State University in 2023
This $30,000 Lesley Wheel Grant is to develop and deliver a new lighting course to be called “Introductory Lighting Course”.   Principal Investigator for this grant is Robert Davis.

2022 Grant Recipients

University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 2022
This $30,000 Nuckolls Grant is to develop and run an upper-level advanced lighting course coordinated by the department of Interior Design. The 3-credit hour multi-disciplinary professional elective will be offered to students within the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, including Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture and Master of Design Students. Principal Investigator for this grant is Jake Tucci. 

Virginia Polytechnic and State University in 2022
This $30,000 Nuckolls Grant is to develop a new course “Exploring the Intersection of Lighting, Health, and Wellbeing”. Principal Investigators for this grant are James Jones Ph.D and Ron Gibbons Ph.D.

Mississippi State University in 2022
This $30,000 Nuckolls Grant is to develop and implement a new course called “Historic Lighting Environment”. Principal Investigator for this grant is Robin Carroll. 

Texas Tech University in 2022
This $7,500 Lesley Wheel Grant is to help support the induction of an architectural lighting course on the Llano Estacado with focus on applied learning through building and testing lighting tools as well as result-based design integration. The Principal Investigator is Victoria McReynolds. 

2021 Grant Recipients

Otis College of Art and Design in 2021
This $30,000 Nuckolls Grant is to develop a new lighting course called “Online Modules for Existing Lighting Design Certificate Courses.”  Principal Investigator for this grant is Linda Pollari. 

The Pennsylvania State University in 2021
This $30,000 Nuckolls Grant is to develop a new lighting course called “Color Science Course for Architecture, Design and Engineering.”  Principal Investigator for this grant is Dorukalp Durmus.

Thomas Jefferson University in 2021
This $30,000 Nuckolls Grant is to develop a new lighting course called “Interdisciplinary Light and Health.”  Principal Investigator for this grant is Lyn Godley. 

University of Minnesota in 2021
This $20,000 Nuckolls Grant is to develop a new lighting course called “Expanded Lighting Design Minor.”  Principal Investigators for this grant are Abimbola Asojo and Mary Guzowski. 

Morgan State University in 2021
A $30,000 Nuckolls grant to develop a course called “Lighting Design and Environmental Controls.  Principal Investigators for the grant are Edward Bartholomew and Greg Guarnaccia.

2020 Grant Recipients

In the year 2020, the largest annual number of grants and awards in its thirty-one-year history has been distributed by The Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education.

Oregon State University in 2020
This $45,000 Milham Catalyst Grant is to develop a program called “Applied Architectural Lighting”, a sequence of three courses that will form the core lighting curriculum in the Architectural Engineering program. The program will be shared with lighting educators worldwide. Principal Investigator for this grant is Kevin Houser.

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 2020
This $35,000 Milham Catalyst Grant is to develop a program called “Lighting Education: Deep Learning from Fundamentals to Integration”.  This program will be applied to the school’s lighting program and encourage architecture and design students to explore the integration of lighting with such topics as health, climate, materials, form, energy, heating/cooling, and affect. Principal Investigator for this grant is Sandy Stannard.

The University of Colorado at Boulder in 2020
This $35,000 Milham Catalyst Grant is to develop a program called “Expanding Lighting Education with Online Certificates”.  The program will allow for a foundational Professional Certificate in Lighting to be offered each year and two Advanced Professional Certificates, one in Lighting Engineering and one in Lighting Design.  The certificates will enable a stream of professionals, through mid-career shifts or interdisciplinary work, to continue building the lighting industry as a high-quality field of practice in a time of rapid technological advancements. Principal Investigator for this grant is Sandra Vasconez.

Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston in 2020
This $35,000 Milham Catalyst Grant is to develop a program called “Lighting Design Education Portal”.  The program will help students understand the art and science of lighting design from the beginning phase through post-occupancy.  Principal Investigator for this grant is Seunghae Lee.

New York School of Interior Design in 2020
This $20,000 Nuckolls Grant is to develop a new lighting course called “Health Factors of Lighting and Daylighting.” This advanced course will introduce students to light and health research and applications.  Principal Investigator for this grant is Shaun Fillion.

Carnegie Mellon University in 2020
This $20,000 Nuckolls Grant is to develop a new lighting course called “Shaping Light.”  This project is a new approach to teaching students how to design with and for light while understanding the paradox of lighting design – that it is both art and science. Principal Investigator for this grant is Azadeh Omidfar Sawyer.

Edison Price Fellowship Awards in 2020
A $10,000 Edison Price Fellowship Grant was awarded to Mejedeh Modarres Nezhad of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for a summer internship with Available Light in Boston.

A second $10,000 award was awarded to Glenn Shrum from the Parsons School of Design, for a research residency at Aalborg University, Copenhagen, Denmark.

2019 Grant Recipients

Mississippi State University in 2019
This $20,000 Nuckolls Fund Grant is to assist in the development of a new class, Lessons from the Theatre: Architectural Lighting Design. The addition of the course to the current lighting curriculum will allow students to complete the requirements for a lighting certification. Principal investigator for this grant is Robin Carroll.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2019
This $20,000 Nuckolls Fund Grant is to develop and deliver a new course in lighting, Lighting for Plant Growth and Health. Mark Rea, Ph.D. is the Principal Investigator with Co-Principal Investigator Leora Radestky.

Edison Price Fellowship Award in 2019
This $10,000 Edison Price Fellowship Grant was awarded to Asha Hegde, Ph.D. from Texas State University who will pursue an eight-week mentorship program with Professor Mariana G. Figueiro of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

2018 Grant Recipients

University of Cincinnati in 2018
This $20,000 Lesley Wheel Introductory Lighting Program Grant is to establish a Cross-disciplinary Architectural Lighting Education by developing and delivering a new architectural lighting course in the three programs of Architecture, Interior Design and Architectural Engineering with Julian Wang as the Principal Investigator. This grant is scheduled to be completed in 2022.

The University of Minnesota in 2018
This $20,000 Nuckolls Fund Grant is to assist in the development of a Lighting Design Minor and to develop and deliver a new course in lighting design titled Lighting Design Innovations and Technological Advances with Abimbola Asojo and Mary Guzowski as the Principal Investigators.  This grant is scheduled to be completed in 2019.

The University of Oregon in 2018
This $20,000 Nuckolls Fund Grant is to develop and deliver a new course in lighting design to be called Virtual Lighting Design with Slobhan Rockcastle as the Principal Investigator and project support by Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg, David Grigsby, Zachary Suchara, Nathaniel Jones and Naomi Miller.  This grant is scheduled to be completed in 2019.

Edison Price Fellowship Grant in 2018
This $10,000 Grant was awarded to Seunghae Lee Ph.D. from Oregon State University who will pursue a summer internship with the lighting design firm of Lam Partners in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

This $20,000 Lesley Wheel Introductory Lighting Program Grant was given to Jae Yong Suk Ph.D. as the Principal Investigator to develop and deliver a new course in lighting for upper level undergraduate students in both their Architecture and Interior Design Programs.  This grant is scheduled to be completed in 2021.

2017 Grant Recipients

University of Texas at San Antonio in 2017
This $20,000 Lesley Wheel Introductory Lighting Program Grant was given to Jae Yong Suk Ph.D. as the Principal Investigator to develop and deliver a new course in lighting for upper level undergraduate students in both their Architecture and Interior Design Programs.  This grant is scheduled to be completed in 2021.

2016 Grant Recipients

University of Idaho in Boise Idaho in 2016
This $20,000 Lesley Wheel Introductory Lighting Program Grant was given to Leyla Sanati Ph.D. as the Principal Investigator to develop and deliver a new course in lighting in the College of Art and Architecture, but the course will also be available to students in interior design.  This grant is scheduled to be completed in 2020.

Philadelphia University in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in 2016
This $20,000 Lesley Wheel Introductory Lighting Program Grant was given to James Doerfler, Lyn Godley, Matthew Gindlesparger, and Lauren Baumbach as the Principal Investigators to develop and deliver a new course called “Lighting Design”.  This course will be the first of four courses that will create an undergraduate Lighting minor and a graduate Lighting concentration across two colleges at the university.  This grant is scheduled to be completed in 2020.

2015 Grant Recipients

C & C LIGHTING
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
To develop and deliver a series of four workshops for both faculty and students at schools of architecture in the United States with Cindy Limauro and Christopher Popowich as the principal investigators.
$20,000 in 2015

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY
Starkville, Mississippi
To develop and deliver a new course in lighting to be called “Integrated Lighting Solutions” with Robin Carroll and William Riehm as principal investigators.
$20,000 in 2015

Past Award Recipients

2023 Award Recipients

Jonas Bellovin Scholar Achievement Award in 2023
This $5,000 Award was given to S M Ashik Rahman who is studying lighting at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Jules Horton International Student Achievement Award in 2023
This $5,000 Award was given to Nayoun Ryu, from Seoul, South Korea, who is studying lighting at Parsons School of Design.

Designers Lighting Forum of New York Student Achievement Award in 2023
This $5,000 Award was given to Bentley Tonniges who is studying lighting at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Designers Lighting Forum of New York Student Achievement Award in 2023
This $5,000 Award was given to Aaron Zimmerman who is studying lighting at Pennsylvania State University.

2022 Award Recipients

Jonas Bellovin Scholar Achievement Award in 2022
This $5,000 Award was given to Sachintha De Vas Gunawardena who is studying lighting at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Jules Horton International Student Achievement Award in 2022
This $5,000 Award was given to Wangyang Song who is studying lighting at Pennsylvania State University.

Designers Lighting Forum of New York Student Achievement Award in 2022
This $5,000 Award was given to Makayla Thompson who is studying lighting at the University of Nebraska/Lincoln.

Designers Lighting Forum of New York Student Achievement Award in 2022
This $5,000 Award was given to Paola Kwan who is studying lighting at the University of Colorado/Boulder.

2021 Award Recipients

Jonas Bellovin Scholar Achievement Award in 2021
This $5,000 Award was given to Samantha Komber who is studying lighting at the Pennsylvania State University.  Ms. Komber plans to use the award to help her relocate to Chicago for an internship with Schuler Shook.

Jules Horton International Student Achievement Award in 2021
This $5,000 Award was given to Xiang Sun, who was born in China and grew up in Spain. He is studying lighting at the Parsons School of Design.  Mr. Sun plans to use the award to assist him with next semester’s tuition.

Designers Lighting Forum of New York Student Achievement Award in 2021
This $5,000 Award was given to Jackson Brogan who is studying lighting at the University of Colorado/Boulder.  Mr. Brogan plans to use the award to help him with future tuition costs.

Designers Lighting Forum of New York Student Achievement Award in 2021
This $5,000 Award was given to Akila Udage who is studying lighting at RPI’s Lighting Research Center.  Mr. Udage plans to use the award to help pay for graduate lighting courses.

2020 Award Recipients

Jonas Bellovin Scholar Achievement Award in 2020
This $5,000 Award was given to Andrea Young Fierro who is studying lighting at the Parsons School of Design.  Ms. Young Fierro plans to use the award to expand her knowledge of the lighting industry though continued courses, conferences, and workshops.

Jules Horton International Student Achievement Award in 2020
This $5,000 Award was given to Danah Boabbas, from Kuwait, who is studying lighting at the University of Colorado at Boulder.  Ms. Boabbas will use the award to further her education and pursue graduate courses in lighting.

Designers Lighting Forum of New York Student Achievement Award in 2020
This $5,000 Award was given to John Sloane who is studying lighting at Pennsylvania State University.  Mr. Sloane plans to use the funds to offset his school loans and focus on his career as a lighting designer.

Designers Lighting Forum of New York Student Achievement Award in 2020
This $5,000 Award was given to Kasia Kozak studying lighting at RPI’s Lighting Research Center.  Ms. Kozak plans to use the funds towards tuition costs to complete her degree.

2019 Award Recipients

Jonas Bellovin Scholar Achievement Award in 2019
This $5,000 Award was given to Andi Walter who is studying lighting at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.  Ms. Walter is a graduate of UNO’s Architectural Engineering program and plans to pursue masters courses including Daylighting Design.  She will use this award to offset cost for masters classes and to attend lighting conferences to expand her knowledge of the lighting industry. 

Jules Horton International Student Achievement Award in 2019
This $5,000 Award was given to Rohan Nagare, from India, who is studying lighting at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  Mr. Nagare will use the award to further his education, to share his research with industry experts, to travel to lighting and circadian rhythm conferences and to acquire a computer to help advance his research.

Designers Lighting Forum of New York Student Achievement Award in 2019
This $5,000 Award was given to Aldo Jacques J. Espina who is studying lighting at Parsons School of Design in New York City.  Mr. Espina plans to use the funds toward the development of his graduate thesis and funding for his final semester at Parsons.

Designers Lighting Forum of New York Student Achievement Award in 2019
This $5,000 Award was given to Laura Hinkle who is focusing on the study of light and electrical systems at Pennsylvania State University.  Ms. Hinkle plans to use the funds to offset tuition costs so she is better able to focus on her studies.

2018 Award Recipients

Jonas Bellovin Scholar Achievement Award in 2018
This $5,000 Award was given to Dixon Stein who is studying lighting the University of Colorado at Boulder.  Mr. Stein is graduating in 2018 from the Environmental Design Program with an emphasis in architecture and pursued a lighting design certificate through the architectural engineering program.  He will use his award to start his career in lighting and help offset student loans.

Jules Horton International Student Achievement Award in 2018
This $5,000 Award was given to Archanaa Pradhapan, from India, who is studying lighting at Pennsylvania State University.  Ms. Pradhapan is pursuing a Master of Science degree in their Architectural Engineering Program excelling in six lighting courses to date.   She will use her award to help fund her continued studies and reduce some of her student loans.

Designers Lighting Forum of New York Student Achievement Award in 2018
This $5,000 Award was given to Riley Johnson who is studying lighting at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.  Mr. Johnson completed his Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering with a lighting option and will begin a Master of Science in Architectural Engineering with a lighting option later this year.  He will use his award to help pay the tuition to finish his Master’s degree.

Designers Lighting Forum of New York Student Achievement Award in 2018
This $5,000 Award was given to Joanna Filter who is studying lighting at Parsons School of Design in New York City.   Ms. Filter held the highest cumulative grade point average across all three Parsons lighting design degree programs.  She will use her award to pay for costs related to her thesis research and to pay down a portion of her student loans.

2017 Award Recipients

ELIF TURAL Ph.D., EDISON PRICE FELLOW
VIRGINIA TECH
Blacksburg, Virginia
To pursue a summer internship with Oculus Light Studio in Los Angeles, California
$10,000 in 2017

NAM-KYU PARK Ph.D., EDISON PRICE FELLOW
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Gainesville, Florida
To pursue a summer internship with Francis Krahe at Francis Krahe & Associates in Los Angeles, California
$10,000 in 2017

ROHAN NAGARE, JONAS BELLOVIN SCHOLAR
RPI’S LIGHTING RESEARCH CENTER
Award for demonstrating outstanding performance in an established lighting program.
$5,000 in 2017

FATEMA ALMAJED, JULES HORTON INTERNATIONAL SCHOLAR
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER
Award for demonstrating outstanding performance in an established lighting program.
$5,000 in 2017

MADELINE HALPERN, DESIGNERS LIGHTING FORUM OF NEW YORK SCHOLAR
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO/BOULDER
Award for demonstrating outstanding performance in an established lighting program.
$5,000 in 2017

MICHAEL KUHLENENGEL, DESIGNERS LIGHTING FORUM OF NEW YORK SCHOLAR
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT LINCOLN
Award for demonstrating outstanding performance in an established lighting program.
$5,000 in 2017

2016 Award Recipients

JEFFREY MUNDINGER, JONAS BELLOVIN SCHOLAR
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
Award for demonstrating outstanding performance in an established lighting program.
$5,000 in 2016

THOMAS MNICH, JULES HORTON INTERNATIONAL SCHOLAR
PARSONS THE NEW SCHOOL FOR DESIGN
Award for demonstrating outstanding performance in an established lighting program.
$5,000 in 2016

SHELBY WHITE, DESIGNERS LIGHTING FORUM OF NEW YORK SCHOLAR
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO/BOULDER
Award for demonstrating outstanding performance in an established lighting program.
$5,000 in 2016

ROHAN NAGARE, DESIGNERS LIGHTING FORUM OF NEW YORK SCHOLAR
RPI’S LIGHTING RESEARCH CENTER
Award for demonstrating outstanding performance in an established lighting program.
$5,000 in 2016

2015 Award Recipients

STEPHEN FINNEY, JONAS BELLOVIN SCHOLAR
PARSONS THE NEW SCHOOL FOR DESIGN
Award for demonstrating outstanding performance in an established lighting program.
$5,000 in 2015

ARPAN GUHA, JULES HORTON INTERNATIONAL SCHOLAR
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT LINCOLN
Award for demonstrating outstanding performance in an established lighting program.
$5,000 in 2015

CRAIG CASEY, DESIGNERS LIGHTING FORUM OF NEW YORK SCHOLAR
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
Award for demonstrating outstanding performance in an established lighting program.
$5,000 in 2015

CHARLES JARBOE, DESIGNERS LIGHTING FORUM OF NEW YORK SCHOLAR
RPI’S LIGHTING RESEARCH CENTER
Award for demonstrating outstanding performance in an established lighting program.
$5,000 in 2015