NYSID’s Nancy Jean Fulop Short Scholarship Means You’re Top of the Class
A Dinner Hosted by William P. Short III Brings Together Nancy Jean Fulop Short Scholarship Winners
for an Additional Layer of Mentorship with David Scott & Kati Curtis
Paulina Castillon Gomez, Kati Curtis, David Scott, Susanna Koning, Gina Caputo, Charlotte Doody, Brooke Wilson, Cal Nugent, Elaine Gahagan, William Short, Susan Grant Lewin, David Sprouls
“My wife was brilliant and went to high school, college, law school and graduate law school on merit-based scholarships. These merit scholarships made her who she was. She made me who I am. There is no better way I could honor her memory.”—William P. Short III
The story of the Nancy Jean Fulop Short Scholarship is the tale of an extraordinary woman, and her husband’s profound love for her and respect for her accomplishments. Nancy Jean Fulop Short was an AAS student at NYSID from 2008 to 2010. Mrs. Short came to NYSID after a 30-year career in securities law — from legal publishing, to practice as a corporate and securities attorney, to teaching corporate finance and securities law. She was awarded a J.D. degree from The University of Toledo College of Law, where she was first in her class, and an LL.M. degree from Yale Law School. At the New York School of Interior Design, she pursued an associate degree in interior design with a goal of working in the interior design industry and was exhilarated by her studies. Mrs. Short was so intelligent and resourceful that she was awarded merit scholarships at successive stages of her education: high school, college, law school, and graduate law school.
After Mrs. Short passed away in 2014, her husband, William P. Short III worked with NYSID to establish The Nancy Short Award Fund in 2015, with the intent of awarding a graduating student who, like Nancy, made a career change from the legal profession. Given there were only two students who met that criteria since 2016, Mr. Short and NYSID President David Sprouls determined the best course of action would be to create five scholarships for the spring 2021 semester from excess funds. Mr. Short saw this as an opportunity to reframe the scholarship requirements and make it about what really matters to him: rewarding the kind of academic excellence and drive his wife displayed throughout her life. The Nancy Jean Fulop Short Scholarship evolved into a merit scholarship awarded to BFA and MFA-1 students with the highest GPAs in their classes.
The Short scholarship, awarded in the Spring semester only, to students in the 6th semester of the BFA program or the 4rd semester of the MFA-1 program, is not something an individual can apply for. Mr. Short designed it to be “a windfall for top students with the highest GPAs” and “an honor that gives these kids’ reputations a boost.” The scholarship covers an entire semester of NYSID tuition and must be used for tuition.
The 2021 winners of the scholarship were Elaine Gahagan (MFA-1), Cal Nugent (MFA-1), Brooke Wilson (MFA-1), Alexis George (BFA) and Aaron Schechter (BFA).
NYSID Names Paulina Castillon Gomez (BFA) and Charlotte Doody (MFA-1) the 2022 Nancy Jean Fulop Short Merit Scholars
NYSID is proud to announce the 2022 winners of the Nancy Jean Fulop Short Scholarship Paulina Castillon Gomez (BFA) and Charlotte Doody (MFA-1). These women had the highest GPAS in their respective classes in January 2022.
“This has shown me how with dedication and hard work everything is possible. I am very thankful for the Nancy Short Scholarship. Nancy Short was such a remarkable woman, she has truly influenced my life,” says Paulina Castillon Gomez. “The scholarship has empowered my academic and career goals by removing the financial barrier. I would not have the same access to an amazing education that provides great opportunities if it were not for Mr. Short’s generosity.”
“Mrs. Short sounded like a remarkable woman and it was an honor to accept the award in her memory,” says Charlotte Doody. “As a senior in college, I made the important but scary decision to turn down my job in real estate and pursue a graduate degree in design. A career in interior design was always a lifelong dream of mine but often felt out of reach as a business major. This scholarship will greatly reduce the financial burden of completing my master’s and bring me one step closer to pursuing my true passion.”
Feting These Merit Scholars
On May 12, at The Leopard at Des Artistes in New York City, five of the seven recent recipients of the Nancy Jean Fulop Short Scholarship gathered with NYSID President David Sprouls; NYSID Trustee and alumnus David Scott; principal of David Scott Interiors: NYSID advisory board member and interior designer Kati Curtis: principal of Kati Curtis Design: philanthropist William P. Short III and several of his friends. The event celebrated the accomplishments of the Short Scholars. Mr. Short, the evening’s host, intended to provide an additional layer of mentorship to the scholars, who had a chance to have in-depth conversations with David Scott and Kati Curtis about careers in design. “Katie Curtis and David Scott gave a glimpse of what is possible in the industry,” said BFA student Paulina Castillon Gomez. “Their involvement in the school showed the strength of the NYSID community. They provided great advice that I am sure I will implement throughout my career.”
The evening started with levity, with Mr. Short joking about an SNL skit that centered on paint from Farrow & Ball, but then took on a more serious tone when the students began speaking about the impact of the merit scholarships on their lives. Mr. Short reported being extremely moved by the stories the scholars told him at the dinner about what this award has meant to them. He says, “One of the students told me she was so shocked when she got the award email that she thought it was spam. Another told me that when she called her parents to tell them an entire semester was paid for based on her GPA, her father broke down into tears. Yet another told me she used the funds to pay down her student loans because of this scholarship.” He added, “I walked out of the dinner with this wonderful feeling that I helped some people out of the blue and this will make an immense positive difference in their lives.”
Interested in leaving a lasting legacy?
Please contact Joy Cooper at giving@nysid.edu to learn more about naming and endowing NYSID scholarships.
