First Peterson scholarship winner named
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, August 5, 2002
HIGH POINT — HIGH POINT — The recipient of the first Bill Peterson Scholarship and the first winner of the Peterson Leadership Award will be honored at a breakfast here during the October furniture market, sponsored by the Young Home Furnishings Executives.
The scholarship and award are named in memory of Bill Peterson, founding editor of Furniture/Today and an industry icon for three decades, who died last year.
The scholarship is for students in the Home Furnishings Marketing and Interior Design programs at High Point University. This year's winner is Erin Turner of Thomasville, N.C., a rising junior.
The recipient of the first Peterson Leadership Award, honoring a rising young industry executive, will be named at the breakfast.
"We are thrilled to be a part of these programs honoring the memory of Bill Peterson," said David Preuss, executive vice president of marketing and sales at Good Cos. and current YHFE president. "The support of talented students and the recognition of bright young executives is in keeping with Bill's well-known interest in the future of the furniture industry."
Tax-deductible donations to The Bill Peterson Scholarship Fund may be sent to HPU, University Station, 833 Montlieu Ave., High Point, N.C., 27262.
The fund is approaching $100,000.
"Our family is grateful for the continuing response of people in the furniture industry who want to remember my father in this special way," said Laurel Rosenthal, Peterson's daughter and administrator of the scholarship. Rosenthal, an alumnus of HPU's Furniture Marketing Program, is a regional training director for Atlanta-based retailer Havertys.
The breakfast is set for Wednesday, Oct. 16, in the International Home Furnishings Center. To make reservations, call Wendy Jones at (336) 299-6224 or send her an e-mail at wendyjones@ triad.rr.com.
Serving on the scholarship selection committee are Joe Carroll, publisher of Furniture/Today; Clarence Smith, president of Havertys; Steve Pond, co-founder and former publisher of Furniture/Today; Bonnie Peterson, Peterson's widow and a home furnishings writer; and Rosenthal.
