Hickory Hardware Sponsors Withers Endowment Award at Kendall College of Art and Design

Furniture World Magazine

Hickory Hardware™, a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of decorative, functional and industrial hardware, announced that Suzanne Smalligan and Alexis Brannan have been named recipients of the 2007 Withers Endowment Award at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Smalligan and Brannan, both seniors in Kendall College's Furniture Design program, were awarded the $1,500 prize for outstanding achievement in the program. The Withers Endowment at Kendall College was established in 1993 by a contribution from FKI plc, parent company of Keeler Brass which is now part of Hickory Hardware. The endowment is named in honor of Joseph W. Withers for his years of valuable service as president of Keeler Brass. The award is presented each year to exceptional students in furniture, industrial, or interior design who intend to pursue careers in furniture or furniture-related industries. "Our company strongly believes in supporting talented and innovative young designers," said John Pelka, vice president of marketing, Hickory Hardware. "This endowment allows us to invest in the future of the industry by giving students, like Suzanne and Alexis, the opportunity to pursue an education in the field of furniture design. We have high hopes for all Withers Award winners and look forward to seeing their talent flourish in the coming years," he added. In addition to providing financial opportunities for students, Hickory Hardware currently employs four graduates of the school's furniture design program — Kevin Dewald, product manager for Hickory Hardware's decorative department, and designers Debra Mattson, Jonathan Lorenz, and Lisa Koskela. Kendall College students who would like more information about the Joe Withers Endowment are encouraged to contact the financial aid office at Kendall College at (616) 451-2787 or (800) 676-ARTS. About Hickory Hardware: Hickory Hardware brings together some of the finest hardware companies in the world — Belwith International, Faultless Caster, Keeler Brass Company, Madico, and Wright Products. The company designs, manufactures and markets decorative, functional and industrial hardware to the retail, wholesale distribution, and OEM furniture and cabinetmaker markets under the brand names Hickory Hardware, Belwith, Faultless Caster, Keeler Brass, Madico, Period Brass, and Wright Products. For more information, visit www.hickoryhardware.com . About Kendall College: As a part of Ferris State University, Kendall College of Art and Design offers programs that prepare the college's graduates for professional lives as artists and designers. Kendall's undergraduate programs include art education, art history, digital media, fine arts, furniture design, graphic design, illustration, industrial design, interior design, metals/jewelry, painting, photography, and sculpture and functional art. Kendall also offers the MFA in Fine Arts and the MBA with a Concentration in Design and Innovation Management. Kendall is an active community partner and annually provides over 2,000 children and adults the opportunity to pursue courses in art and design through a richly varied continuing studies program. Visit Kendall on the web at www.kcad.edu .