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From Home Furnishing Business

WithIt Announces 2026 Academic Scholarship with New Sustainability Award

February 11, 2026  by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry   

The new Sustainability Scholarship adds on to the more than $25,000 in academic scholarships the nonprofit awards each year. Those eligible for the new Sustainability Scholarship must have completed at least four semesters of study in fields related to renewable resources, environmental science, circular design, or sustainability. A minimum 3.0 GPA is also required.

Recipients will be selected by the WithIt Scholarship Board as well as selected members of the ISPA Board of Trustees and ISPA Sustainability Committee, which includes leaders from mattress manufacturers and component suppliers across the industry. In addition to the monetary aspect of the scholarship, recipients will also receive a complimentary registration to attend the ISPA Sustainability Conference in 2026 and a travel stipend.

Eligible applicants for WithIt academic scholarships are full-time college sophomores or juniors in good standing at the time of application. Scholarship funds must be used for tuition at an accredited institution of higher learning.

Students must have a major in one of the following as it applies to the home industries: Accessory Design, Architectural Design, Forestry, Furniture Design, Textile Design, Graphic Design, Interior Architecture, Marketing with a Design or Furniture minor, Sustainable Design or majors related to the home and furnishing industries.

WithIt received a $50,000 grant from the Heritage Home Group Charitable Trust for scholarships for the 2026 calendar year, which includes the opportunity for students to attend the WithIt Professional Conference in August in Kansas City on Aug 12-14. 

Additionally, the Boardman Family Foundation donated $17,500 to WithIt for academic scholarships.

“Having been in their shoes a few years ago, I know exactly what it’s like,” says Ceci Flores, WithIt’s VP of Scholarship and Retail Trainer with Sunbrella. “This is where WithIt is so vital because it creates community. It provides more than financial support, but it's also about access. It really does give you a front row seat to our mentorship programs where you can learn from the women in the industry. You can access educational resources and attend networking events that really helped me early in my career.”

All academic scholarships also include a trip to the WithIt Professional Conference in August, where students will be introduced to women in the home furnishings industry and given the ability to connect with mentors and internship opportunities.

Applications for scholarships are due by March 2. More information can be found at https://withit.org/scholarship/.