Meet Our 3 Winners of the 2022 Jill Robson Scholarship
The Jill Robson Scholarship is a special, annual opportunity for three members of the Window Coverings Association of America (WCAA) to receive $750 each to put toward their ongoing, professional education.
Winner: Dena Sommers of Loudoun Blinds and Drapery
Dena Sommers owns Loudoun Blinds and Drapery in the Washington D.C. area. She has been involved in the window treatment industry professionally for four years although she has been sewing all of her life for friends and family.
Dena’s passion for sewing began in elementary school, continued through high school and into adulthood when she met and married her husband, Kent. Their two daughters kept her quite busy during their upbringings, but she still found time to sew.
She owned a preschool and after school care center for thirteen years, then launched her drapery business after training with Susan Woodcock at Workroom Technical Center in Tryon, North Carolina. She also trained with Elki Horn of Interior Elegance. Elki, along with her colleagues in the WCAA, have been her rock.
Family challenges created obstacles as Dena began her business. Her husband, Kent, was involved in a car accident in 2018, leaving him with a brain injury. Kent was unable to return to work for 1 1/2 years. Most recently, he was diagnosed with an incurable brain cancer which has a poor prognosis with an estimated 1 to 2 years remaining.
Dena has used the Scholarship Award to attend IWCE. She is extremely thankful for the scholarship and plans on paying it forward and mentor others in the future.
Winner: Donna Redmond of Undercover Sewing
Donna Redmond is the owner of Undercover Sewing. Undercover Sewing started as a dream in 2010 and became a business in 2015 with a change of careers. Over the years, it has expanded into a full time workroom serving mainly to-the-trade clients. Located in Pasadena, Maryland, Donna enjoys creating beautiful window treatments, cushions, and pillows with the mission to create special homes for special people.
Donna volunteers to help both teens and adults learn to sew. Sewing for Missions teaches basic sewing skills while the participants make pillowcase dresses for girls in third world countries.
Donna has been a WCAA member since 2015 and currently serves as the Maryland chapter President.
Winner: Lisa Jones of Lisa Jones Interiors
Lisa started her custom soft furnishings business, Lisa Jones Interiors, in 1999, and works out of her basement studio in her home on a small farm.
Lisa is very driven to learn as much as she can about everything she does, whether it’s sewing, installation, accounting, or raising goats! In January 2021, Lisa decided to go back to school at 56 years old to complete a B.S. in Interior Architecture & Design from the Univ. of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Recently, she was given the opportunity to teach the Window Treatment section in her Textiles class to the young design students. In 2022, Lisa became the President of the WCAA Atlanta Chapter.
Lisa is so thankful for receiving this scholarship and plans to attend the Custom Workroom Conference in October.
About the Scholarship
Jill Robson was a light in the window coverings industry. As a drapery workroom owner, educator, and connector, Jill was an advocate of education and always looked for opportunities to further her knowledge in the window coverings industry.
Jill always entered a room with a smile and a quiet word of encouragement. She was a voice of reason and loved to share ideas. We honor her, her memory, and her contribution to the window coverings industry with these scholarships.
How the Scholarship Can Be Used
We at WCAA are thrilled to share the many virtual education programs available to our members that can strengthen and grow their businesses.
These programs include but are not limited to the following:
Our scholarship winners may allocate their awarded funds toward any educational program of their choosing. Payments will be distributed directly to the institution, program or educator. Any necessary travel and expenses are reimbursed directly to the Member with their submitted receipts.
Would You Like to Apply for a Scholarship?
We’d love to consider your application when the doors of this scholarship reopen for 2023. Please access the application here.