The Nuckolls Fund Passes $1Million With 2017 Awards
(USA) – The Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education gave more than $1million in grants and awards to institutions and individuals across North America at its 2017 Awards.
The Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education in 2017 marked its twenty-eighth birthday by surpassing $1million in grants and awards to institutions and individuals in North America. This year’s distribution of $60,000 – $40,000 in grants and $20,000 in awards – brought the total to $1,055,000 awarded for the development and implementation of lighting instructional programs.
“When a foundation to support lighting education in memory of Jim Nuckolls was first introduced by Lesley Wheel, she never could have imagined that one day we would have presented the sum of $1,055,000 in grants and awards,” said Nuckolls Fund president, Jeffrey A. Milham.
“When we give a grant to allow an educator to create a new course in lighting, it is never possible to determine how many students are eventually affected by that grant,” Milham added. “Typically, the course continues beyond the grant period.”
Colleges and universities have been recipients of $730,000 to develop and expand lighting design education. Instructors in lighting have received $170,000 to improve their teaching ability. Students who have shown outstanding performance in an academic lighting design programme have received a total of $155,000.
This year’s winners, who were selected from proposals received and evaluated by the Fund’s Board of Directors, include one $20,000 grant, two $10,000 grants, and four $5,000 awards.
“I’m so proud of The Nuckolls Fund’s commitment to lighting education,” said Paul Gregory, Founder and President of Focus Lighting, and a Nuckolls Fund Board member. “It is the only organisation I know of that has given such a substantial amount of resources to improve and develop architectural lighting design education.”
Fund president Milham reaffirmed the goal to support the development and expansion of programmes in architectural lighting design education in North America. He said: ”In 2019, the Fund will be celebrating its thirtieth year in operation, and the board is actively involved in preparing a long-term strategic plan for the Fund’s future.”