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NKBA Awards Top College Kitchen and Bath Design Programs

Contact:
Sherylin Doyle
Manager of Academic Relations


The National Kitchen & Bath Association Presents the NKBA Excellence in Education Awards

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (May 19, 2009) – For the third year, the National Kitchen & Bath Association has recognized NKBA-accredited schools that demonstrate the highest standards of kitchen and bath instruction. Formerly titled "Most Outstanding Annual Requirements," this year the name has been changed to "NKBA Excellence in Education Awards."

Each NKBA-accredited college, university, or technical institute submitted two student bath design projects, following the requirements of the 2008/2009 NKBA Student Design Competition, sponsored by American Woodmark and Sub Zero/Wolf. Student work samples included a floor plan, elevation, construction plan, and mechanical plan. The work samples were assessed on their compliance with the NKBA Planning Guidelines and NKBA Graphic and Presentation Standards.

The top entries from among all the schools that submitted student projects this year were announced at the Educators’ Forum held during the NKBA’s 2009 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference (K/BIS®) in Atlanta. This year, the NKBA recognized nine schools for achieving excellence in design instruction. Each of these schools met the NKBA’s challenging goal of earning an average score of at least 93 out of a possible 100 on its two student designs.

All of this year’s top schools, along with their kitchen and bath design program coordinators, received trophies at the Educators’ Forum in recognition of this achievement. The winning schools and their kitchen and bath design program coordinators are:

Alexandria Tech Alexandria, MN Betty Ravnik, CMKBD
*Arapahoe Community College Littleton, CO Dawn Viola
Brigham Young University–Idaho Rexburg, ID Wendy Harris, CKE, ASID
East Carolina University Greenville, NC Nacmiye Yaprak Savut, CKE, CBE
Lakeland College Vermilion, AB Cindi Plant
Palm Beach Community College Lake Worth, FL Zenaida Espinosa
San Diego Mesa College San Diego, CA Mimi Moore
University of Georgia Athens, GA Jaya Rose
University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS Claire L. Hamilton

*One student project from Arapahoe Community College received a perfect score of 100.

NKBA Accreditation

NKBA accreditation is available to two- and four-year colleges, universities, and technical institutes throughout the United States and Canada with kitchen and bath degree or certificate programs that meet the National Kitchen & Bath Association's standards. By becoming NKBA accredited, students considering these schools know that these institutions of higher learning provide consistent, quality education in kitchen and bath design.

There are currently more than 50 schools that have either earned NKBA accreditation or have achieved the intermediate NKBA-supported status. To determine eligibility, NKBA-accredited programs are evaluated with respect to mission, administration, curriculum, faculty, and resources in their ability to meet required student competencies.

About the National Kitchen & Bath Association

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is a non-profit trade association that owns the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference (K/BIS®). With approximately 40,000 members, the NKBA has educated and led the kitchen and bath industry for more than 45 years. The mission of the NKBA is to enhance member success and excellence, promote professionalism and ethical business practices, and provide leadership and direction for the kitchen and bath industry worldwide. For more information, visit the NKBA Press Room at NKBA.org/Press or call 800-THE-NKBA (843-6522).