PAVE Announces 2016 Eric Feigenbaum Academic Scholarship

The Planning and Visual Education Partnership (PAVE) has announced that it is now accepting submissions for its 2016 Eric Feigenbaum Academic Scholarship. The award recognizes and supports leadership potential in the field through a $5000 award funded by B+N Industries. The scholarship is solely academic-based and applications must be received by Feb. 29, 2016.

The PAVE Scholarship Program, now in its seventh year, provides financial assistance to students in educational programs, preparing them for careers in the retail environments industry, including, but not limited to, careers in design and planning and visual merchandising industries.

“[The industry's] future lies in the hands of today’s students; they are tomorrow’s leaders, movers and innovators,” says Feigenbaum. “I am delighted that this PAVE initiative will identify and support an aspiring retail designer as they jumpstart their career in our dynamic industry.”

Founded in 1992, PAVE was developed to help ensure a future talent pool for the industry by eliminating barriers to studying these fields. The funds assist students who are experiencing financial difficulties that may prevent them from continuing school. PAVE has awarded more than $150,000 in financial grants to students over the past six years.

Feigenbaum, a founding member of PAVE and VMSD Editorial Advisor/New York Editor, is a recognized leader in the visual merchandising and store design industries with both domestic and international design experience. He served as corporate director of visual merchandising for Stern’s Department Store, a division of Federated Department Stores, from 1986 to 1995. After Stern’s, he assumed the position of director of visual merchandising for WalkerGroup/CNI, an architectural design firm in New York City. Feigenbaum was also an adjunct professor of Store Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology and formerly served as the chair of the Visual Merchandising Department at LIM College (New York) from 2000 to 2015.

“As an educator and long time member of the retail design community, I fully recognize some of the challenges that students aspiring to enter the profession may face,” explains Feigenbaum. “Our continued support of the educational process, and of individual students in need, will provide opportunities and support that will be invaluable to these young designers as they climb the ladder of success. Their future contributions will must assuredly drive the industry through the coming years.”

For guidelines, requirements and the application, visit PAVEinfo.org. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 29, 2016.