Interior Design Society named Outstanding Student Chapter of 2007

By Cheryl Jones
University News Service
July 6, 2007

Texas State University-San Marcos’ interior design society has won the 2007 outstanding student chapter of the year award for the nation from the American Society of Interior Designers. The award recognizes a single student chapter that has provided exceptional service to its student members, professional associates, and community.

ASID is the nation’s largest and oldest professional organization for interior designers and incorporates more than 311 student chapters. Texas State’s chapter entered into the competition with a portfolio that showcased the talents of many aspiring designers over the year. It was submitted in April to Washington, D.C., and judged in mid-June. Gloria Kilpatrick, an interior design senior from Canyon Lake and president-elect for the university’s ASID chapter, was appointed to develop the student chapter’s portfolio. It included documentation of past fundraisers, programs, events, speakers, trips and more.

“To me, not entering was not an option,” Kilpatrick said. “All of our hard work on documentation paid off. Our binder entry was at least three inches thick.”

The future interior designers were recently notified of their win and a ceremony is set for July 21 in Illinois.

The hard work and determination of the students in the organization has not gone unnoticed.  Winning the prestigious national award has placed the Texas State chapter of ASID in the limelight, and corporations such as Classic Design & Décor and Stone Solutions, Inc., have sent congratulations.

“This is not a frivolous profession as some may believe. We are highly trained to design spaces for the health, safety and welfare of the public,” Kilpatrick said.

Texas State’s chapter, coordinated by Nancy Granato and advisor Peter Dedek, is a fast growing organization that provides students in San Marcos the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in interior designing. Not only does the organization open doors to the business, but many alumni of the chapter have landed jobs all over Texas as well as out of state.

“For the past four years, this organization has grown tremendously; before the end of this past year membership was at 84, now there are over 133 members,” said Ashley Elks an interior design senior from the Woodlands and president of the university’s ASID chapter.

This is the organization’s first national win but it is not their first major recognition. Last year the chapter won the ASID’s outstanding student chapter award for the state of Texas. Texas State’s chapter did enter into the state competition this year but results will not be announced until late October.

“The national recognition in winning this honor manifests the quality of our program and students,” said Granato. “I could not be prouder. This can only be compared to the final jewel in the crowning achievement that I feel has always been a potential for this amazing organization.”

“This is such a great accomplishment for our chapter, school, and for the state of Texas. I hope this sets the bar for the program as well as for our chapter, to keep striving for the best of the best,” Elks said.