RECAP: LOU|LEX Sophia Dant Student Day 2026

April 22nd, 2026 | Pritchard Community Center | 404 S Mulberry St, Elizabethtown, KY 42701

Student Day brought together the next generation of interior designers for a day filled with connection, creativity, and career-building opportunities.

We were proud to recognize Sophia Dant, our 2026 IIDA Student of the Year from Western Kentucky University. Sophia’s dedication to academic excellence, leadership, and professional growth reflects the bright future of our industry. On behalf of IIDA OHKY, with additional sponsorship from Ohio Valley Supply, Sophia was awarded a full year of IIDA membership post-graduation. Congratulations, Sophia!

The event kicked off with an important conversation around advocacy, where students learned about the role advocacy plays in protecting public health, safety, and welfare, and the ongoing efforts in Kentucky to advance legislation that strengthens the profession. As emerging professionals, students were encouraged to stay informed, get involved, and help shape the future of the industry.

The day continued with an engaging presentation on the Psychology of Color Story led by Sissy Judy (Steelcase) and Kourtni Kesler (ORI & Chapter President Elect), followed by a vendor trade show and breakout sessions focused on professional growth. Students gained valuable advice on soft skills, elevator pitches, portfolios, mentorship, and building meaningful connections. A special thank you to our panelists: Leslie Lewis-Sheets (LL&A Interior Design), Crystal Smith (Bittners), Crystal Cosson (Baird), Kristian Jolly (Kimball), Brianna Shirley (Furniture Solutions), and Kennedy Lindolms (Champlin EOP Architects) for sharing their time and expertise.

One of the most meaningful moments of the day was our Beads of Courage initiative, where students created polymer clay beads to donate to children and teens facing serious illnesses—a reminder of how design and creativity can make an impact beyond our industry.

To close out the day, we celebrated our Student Conference giveaway winners—Emily Allison and Madelyn Slaughter—who will join us this September in Cleveland. Congratulations, Emily and Madelyn! We invite all students to be part of this exciting experience and encourage submissions for the Student Design Awards to showcase their creativity and talent.

A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors: ID+A, Ghent, Interface, Tarkett, LBI Boyd Design Resource, Armstrong Ceilings, and MillerKnoll for your generosity and continued support of our design community.

To all of the students, vendors, and speakers who showed up, shared, and connected—thank you for making Student Day such a success. We’re excited to keep building opportunities, strengthening connections, and supporting the next generation of interior designers.