About the Fund

The Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education was established in 1988 to support college-level lighting programs that enable students to learn, appreciate, and apply the basics of lighting and design.

Each year, the Fund solicits proposals from colleges and universities for innovative educational ideas that will inspire students with an understanding of light in architecture. Submissions are evaluated by the Fund's Board of Directors, which includes people from a cross section of the lighting industry as well as the academic community.

The Fund has been awarding grants in support of lighting programs since 1989. Currently it funds three annual grants and two annual awards. The Nuckolls Fund Grant is given to assist the development of a new or expanded course in lighting in an established lighting program. This grant is funded at $20,000. The Lesley Wheel Introductory Lighting Program Grant is given to assist the development of a lighting course at a college or university which has minimal or no lighting courses. This grant is funded at $20,000. The Edison Price Fellowship Grant enables a lighting educator to enhance his or her own education in order to improve the ability to teach lighting. This fellowship is funded at $10,000. The Jonas Bellovin Student Achievement Award is a reward to a student who has demonstrated outstanding performance in an established lighting program. This award is funded at $5,000. The Jules Horton International Student Achievement Award is a reward to an international student studying lighting in the United States who has demonstrated outstanding performance in an established lighting program. This award is funded at $5,000.

In addition to its grants, the Nuckolls Fund organizes a luncheon annually at LIGHTFAIR International as a way of bringing together practitioners and educators to explore a topic of common interest.