March 3, 2000
KALAMAZOO -- A student from Western Michigan University is one of 25 undergraduates from recognized architecture, interior design and industrial design programs in North America accepted to Steelcase University 2000.
Jennifer Rigterink, a junior from Hamilton, Mich., is the first WMU student to be accepted into the annual summer program, which this year is June 4-30. She is one of 25 students from North America and five students from the United Kingdom and France who were selected based on rigorous criteria that included a portfolio review, honors and awards, extracurricular activities, a recommendation and a written essay about future design goals.
Steelcase University is the only collegiate scholarship summer program that focuses on the business of design. It provides four weeks of intensive study for undergraduate students of architecture, interior design and industrial design at Steelcase headquarters in Grand Rapids. Students have a chance to learn from some of today's most influential designers and meet peers from around the world who share the same passion in their chosen field.
Over the past five years, 144 students from 12 countries have graduated from Steelcase University. Those countries are Australia, Brazil, Canada, Columbia, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Mexico, Singapore and the United States.
Students awarded scholarships receive tuition, housing and meals compliments of Steelcase Inc. Candidates must be nominated by the program chairperson at their college or university. Programs must be accredited by either the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research or the National Architectural Accrediting Board or recognized by the Industrial Designers Society of America.
Sponsored by Steelcase Inc., the Steelcase Design Partnership and Steelcase International, Steelcase University brings together more than 20 presenters who are nationally recognized design leaders, writers and professionals.
Students take part in hands-on, collaborative design activities. Each year, more than 60 percent of graduates land jobs in the top 100 architectural and design firms.
Steelcase Inc. is one of the world's preeminent designers and manufacturers of high-performance work environment products. Founded in Grand Rapids in 1912, the company has led the office furniture industry in sales every year since 1974.
Media contact: Mark Schwerin, 616 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu
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