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College of Design

Support the Design Lab for K-12 Education

Did you know that all programs at the Design Lab are funded through registration fees and external gifts?

With rising costs of program expenses and higher demand than ever for quality programs for motivated K-12 students, it is our goal to build financial support to offer free to low-cost design education outreach programs and develop a scholarship fund for our registration-based programs, such as Design Camp. We hope that you will consider contributing to help the Design Lab grow and offer more opportunities for students in need. Every gift, large or small, will help us continue to offer high-quality design education programming. Visit the College of Design giving site today to support the K-12 Design Lab Fund!

About Our Programs and Goals:

The Design Lab embodies the College of Design’s longstanding commitment to K-12 design education and outreach by offering design education opportunities for K-12 students and teachers in North Carolina and beyond. Primary areas of focus and activity include:

  • Pre-College Design Education Programs
  • Educator Development and Teacher Resources
  • Outreach, Engagement and Scholarship Projects and Programs

In order to fulfill the College of Design and NC State University’s strategic mission for outreach, the Design Lab seeks the help of Alumni and Friends in contributing financial support for these programs.

Malecha Dream Scholarship

Marvin Malecha was a dean emeritus of NC State University and in 2015, he and his wife, Cindy, established an endowment to the Design Lab to make this scholarship possible. Of the scholarship, Malecha wrote: “The study of design is a liberating experience but it is a much misunderstood course of study and practice. It is made even more opaque by the general lack of art and design instruction in the schools leading toward higher education. Frequently it is only those students who have access to the resources that provide the opportunities making the design life apparent and achievable. Stories abound relating the experience of individuals who in search of something else in their lives, found the design education experience. Most often this opportune discovery was possible because someone provided the assistance to introduce the idea of the study of design at just the right moment. The Design Camp program conducted by the NC State University College of Design Laboratory for K-12 Design Education is just that such resource.” 

Sadly, Marvin Malecha passed away on May 4, 2020, but his and his wife’s philanthropic mission of supporting pre-college students’ exposure to design will live on. Continue below to learn how to donate to this amazing scholarship.

How to Donate

To donate to the Design Lab and it’s programming, visit the College of Design secure giving page. Make sure to select “K-12 Design Lab Fund” under “How Should We Use Your Gift?” and complete the information and payment steps to finalize your contribution. You may make a one-time or recurring gift, and employer matching program options are also available. A printable confirmation page will provide you with donation information for your records. Your gift, large or small, will make a lasting impact on this program, the College of Design, and on designers of the future. Thank you for supporting the Design Lab for K-12 Education.

Supported by the College of Design and the NC State Foundation.

Gift Covers
$20Lunch and design challenge supplies for one student in our Field Trip program.
$36One day of meals for one student in a residential camp. Includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
$55One set of basic studio supplies and Design Camp swag. Includes canvas pencil pouch with pencil, white polymer eraser, Post it notes, Sharpies, camp stickers, and a sketchbook and camp t-shirt.
$60One welcome package for one Design Connections student. Includes a reusable water bottle, various snacks for dorm room, and an NC State College of Design t-shirt.
$85One dorm package for a Design Connections Student. Includes XL Twin Sheet set, Twin Comforter, Shower Caddy, and Shower Shoes.
$150Housing for one student for one week in one of our residential programs.
$255One week of meals for one student attending a residential camp week.
$450Lunches for a Field Trip group of 30 students from a Title I funded school.
$1000Full program fees for one student to attend Design Connections Residential Experience.
$1500Full program fees for one student to receive the Malecha Dream Scholarship to attend a residential Design Camp week.
All donor gifts are used to support students in need who attend our programs.

Donors, Please Enjoy These ‘Thank You’ Letters:

Additional Resources