Michelle Chen, a 4th year interior architecture student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s College of Architecture and Design, has been named as a 2025 recipient of the esteemed Angelo Donghia Scholarship in Interior Design.  

Named for renowned interior designer Angelo Donghia, the scholarship provides senior interior architecture and interior design students with financial support in their final year of undergraduate study. Created in 2002, this prestigious scholarship is given each year to a select few undergraduates from across the nation. Submissions are evaluated by a jury composed of prominent figures in the fields of interior design, architecture, and design media.  

Chen’s winning design took an iconic piece of the Knoxville skyline and reimagined it as an urban oasis. Her project transformed the Sunsphere into a dynamic aviary and research facility, where ecology and interior design intersect. The overall purpose of the project was to create a spatial system in which each element builds upon the next throughout the interior space, creating an immersive environment that invites exploration, interaction, and reflection. 

Along with the encouragement of her family, Chen says the support she has received from the College of Architecture and Design has been invaluable. “The School of Interior Architecture has fully supported me throughout every stage of my design journey,” said Chen. “The faculty members have played a very important role in aiding my growth as a designer, especially Professor Rana Abudayyeh, who led the studio where I curated my submission. I am so grateful for my time in this program!” 

Chen’s educational journey took a different path than she initially expected, but through interior architecture, she discovered a way to use design to positively impact others. “I started in the nursing program but realized it wasn’t the right fit for me,” said Chen. “Then, in my third year in the interior architecture program, my studio worked with a center in Knoxville called the Metro Drug Coalition. That experience showed me how I can use my skills to design for a better world.” Her gratitude is something she hopes to pay forward. 

Chen is set to graduate from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in the spring of 2026. She is currently completing a co-op with an interior design firm in Nashville this fall but is as eager as ever to be back on campus for her final semester. Chen believes the Donghia Scholarship will help her stand out on her graduate school applications in the future. “This is such a highly regarded award, and I believe it will help open doors for me as I take the next step in my career as a designer,” Chen remarked. “I’m truly thankful.” 

The Angelo Donghia Foundation’s support extends beyond student scholarships. In 2021, the College of Architecture and Design was the recipient of a $72,000 grant from the foundation to support design/build projects within the School of Interior Architecture. The grant has funded studio initiatives like the Airstream Mobile Design Lab designed in partnership with Lenoir City Intermediate/Middle School and the Portable Japanese Teahouse which was ultimately dedicated to the Knoxville Asian Festival. These studios provided students with immersive, hands-on learning experiences while also fostering community engagement.