PAVE Mission Statement
To support students studying in the field of retail design and planning and visual merchandising through its annual Student Design Competition. PAVE also seeks to encourage retail management, store planners, visual merchandisers, architects, and manufacturers to interact with and support design students. This is accomplished through projects, seminars, workshops, and the annual fundraising Gala with proceeds dedicated to educational programs and projects benefiting students.
The Vision of PAVE
The PAVE Board of Directors met in October 2007 for a Strategic Planning session. As a result of the meeting, PAVE is striving to accomplish the following by 2010:
• Create a $1 Million Endowment.
By achieving net assets of $1 million by 2010, PAVE will be financially secure to provide programs and events benefiting students. This also will involve the creation of a PAVE Scholarship program.
• Increase Industry Awareness.
Raise PAVE's industry profile across all segments. |
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PAVE Programs
PAVE generates revenues through ticket sales and sponsorships of its annual gala, sponsorship of its annual Student Design Competition, and its raffle at GlobalShop. In 2009, PAVE awarded $22,000 to students and the schools they represented in the annual Student Design Competition. PAVE's Helping Hand Fund awarded $15,000 to the University of Memphis for a new Retail Lighting Lab. Through this fund, colleges and universities with students participating in the annual Student Design Competition are eligible to apply for grants to assist with their school’s projects and programs for students. In 2009, PAVE launched the new Student Aid Program, providing financial assistance to student’s facing compelling financial situations. Six students benefitted from grants totalling $10,000 from this new program in 2009.
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Student Design Competition
This competition is open to college–level students involved in retail planning, visual merchandising, store design, and branding programs. Students may enter in one of two categories, visual merchandising design or store planning design, each with separate design challenges. Both design challenges are designed to provide excellent opportunities for students to gain real–life retail design experience. Prizes include grants to students and schools.First place in each category will receive $5,000; 2nd place $2,500, 3rd place $1,500, and honorable mentions $500. The schools of students placing in the top three of each category receives a $1,000 stipend for each student in the top three to use for their schools programs and services. Macy's was the corporate sponsor for the 2008 and 2009 competitions. |
PAVE the Way 3D Design Challenge
Created in 2009, this design challenge offers students a chance to see their designs come to life, gain exposure at a major industry trade show, and win cash awards. Students design and construct in 3D (model or 3D rendering) a branded countertop store fixture that is specified in the design challenge. The top entries will be selected to be built into prototypes in conjunction with the competition’s sponsor. Prototypes of the finalist’s designs will be displayed in a booth during GlobalShop, with the awards announced during A.R.E.’s Design Awards program on the opening evening of GlobalShop. First place receives $5,000; second place $2,500; third place $1,500; and up to nine honorable mentions receive $500 each. |
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Helping Hand Fund
The PAVE Helping Hand Fund provides grant funds to accredited two– and four–year educational institutions to enhance the quality of programs and services to students entering into careers in the retail design and planning, and visual merchandising industries. Grant award amounts are based on the size and scope of the program for which the applicant requests funding. There is no stated limit as to the amount that can be requested or granted by each educational institution. If the grant request meets the criteria, the application will be submitted to a PAVE Board task force for review and the final award decisions. |
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Rising Star Award
In keeping with the Planning and Visual Education Partnership’s (PAVE) mission of nurturing and encouraging young talented individuals to ensure the future of the retail design and visual industry, PAVE will once again be presenting the Rising Star Award to recognize the achievements of individuals who have demonstrated talent, vision, and implementation in the retail environment. This award was launched in 2007, and Victor Johnson at Ann Taylor was the winner. Rachel Zsembery, AIA, LEED AP, associate, Bergmeyer Associates Inc., was the 2008 winner. The 2009 winner was Travis Burnham, senior manager, creative services, J. Crew.
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Student Aid Program
PAVE’s Student Aid Program, launched in 2009, provides grant funds to students facing a compelling financial situation that will impact their education. $10,000 in grants was awarded to students in the Fall of 2009.
PAVE GlobalShop Seminar
PAVE holds a seminar during GlobalShop, the industry trade show, each year with proceeds benefitting PAVE.
Internship Opportunities
Students can post their resumes on the A.R.E. career center website at no charge. Then, designers and retailers have access to the resumes when they are seeking candidates to fill their positions. The student resume campaign was launched in April 2008. In 2008, Chute Gerdeman offered the overall store design winner from the 2007 Student Design Competition a paid internship at the Chute Gerdeman offices in Columbus, Ohio.
Many PAVE supporters volunteer their time to have students visit their showrooms or speak to their classes, as well as to hold job shadowing days.
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