HIGH POINT, N.C. — The WithIt Scholarship Foundation has given more than $26,000 in various amounts to students for the 2025-26 school year. A total of 15 sophomores and juniors studying for degrees in the home and furnishings industry received the scholarship funding.
Ten of the students were able to attend the WithIt Professional Conference, which took place in June in Kansas City, Missouri. There they participated in a welcoming dinner focused on how to network, conference sessions and roundtables designed to help them move forward in their leap to business careers.
“I had an incredible time at the conference and left Kansas City with so much more knowledge than I entered with,” said Hannah Huff, student at the Savannah College of Art & Design. “The connections I made and the insights I gathered really make me feel like I gained an advantage compared to my peers at school. Meeting the other scholarship recipients was very enlightening, and I am thankful for the opportunity to meet peers in my field from across the country. I am so grateful for the welcoming and fun environment the women at WithIt created.”
This year WithIt received funding for the scholarships from the Heritage Home Group Charitable Trust, Andmore and the AHFA Furniture Foundation.
“We are so thankful to all of the organizations that donate to such deserving young students,” said Paris Gholston, from the Mattress Recycling Council and the vice president of scholarship for WithIt. “This year’s applicants were so impressive and engaged. Our industry is fortunate to have so many talented women entering the industry.”
The recipients are as follows:
Noor Abdulrahman, architecture, University of Houston.
Lilianna Allen, interior design and French, High Point University.
Grace Avery, textile design, N.C. State University.
Cristina Battistini, interior design, Salem College.
Greta Campbell, interior design, Texas Christian University.
Isabella Faria Guzman, interior architecture, University of North Carolina-Greensboro.
Ashley Gonzalez, architecture and art history, University of Houston.
Sarah Harris, interior design, University of Georgia.
Paige Holmes, architecture, University of Houston.
Hannah Huff, furniture design, Savannah College of Art & Design.
Olivia Jury, interior design, University of Georgia.
Olivia Salinas, architecture, University of Houston.
Margaret Summers, interior design, University of Georgia.
Esther Umoh, architecture, University of Houston.
Theia Wetzel, interior design, Virginia Commonwealth University.
Companies and individuals can donate to the WithIt Scholarship Foundation with a fully tax-deductible donation at withit.org.
WithIt also will host a networking event during the upcoming Las Vegas Market. TempurSealy will co-host the event in the Sealy showroom, Building C-1496, on July 28, 4-6 p.m.
“What sets WithIt events apart is the genuine connections that are forged. Unlike other professional gatherings where interactions can feel superficial, the atmosphere at our events is one of authenticity and camaraderie,” says Sydney Harris, from Furnitureland South and WithIt’s vice president of professional development. “Within WithIt, there’s a sense of openness and mutual support that fosters deep connections across the organization.”
