Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

PCC student and alumni earn national interior design victories

Photos and story by Misty Bouse

Students and alumni are sketching out bright futures in interior and architectural design.

Allison Hedrick won first place in the NKBA Student Design Competition Kitchen Design category, which includes a $5,000 scholarship award and a trip to Florida this February for the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. In addition, interior design alums Bethany Broussard and Emma Winn were recognized as NKBA’s Thirty Under 30 Class of 2025.

Hedrick will graduate this fall term from PCC’s Architectural Design and Drafting program, earning her associate degree but will continue studying in 2026 with the college’s NKBA-certified Interior Design Program. Hedrick was born and raised in Portland and has long known she wanted a creative career.

“This will be my first degree,” she said. “This path is a great mix of creative and practical.”

“Allison is so talented and creative, we weren’t surprised but we are so happy,” said Interior Design Chair Robin Rigby Fisher, who was named NKBA’s 2024 Educator of the Year.

Architectural designers and drafters use CAD, design principles and building systems knowledge to develop drawings and 3D models for architects, builders and engineers. Hedrick said the PCC program’s focus on residential and small commercial buildings suits her interests well. She hopes to work at a design-build firm specializing in additions and remodels.

“I love kitchen and bath design,” she said. “I hope to create many beautiful, functional spaces in the future.”

Hedrick’s journey to PCC included owning a small business designing and manufacturing metal decorative signs. When the business became unfeasible during COVID, she decided to return to school and build a new career that combined creativity with technical skill. Her design competition win this year will take her to the national awards ceremony, which is an opportunity she calls “huge” for her future job search.

She credits her instructors with helping her reach this point.

“My teachers at PCC have been amazing,” Hedrick said. “They always go the extra mile to make sure you have the tools you need. The guest lectures and industry connections have made me feel much more prepared for the job hunt.

“This program packs a lot into a two-year degree,” she added. “The breadth of knowledge covered in the program is wonderful. On top of the amazing teachers I also appreciate the focus on software skills, which allows me to be competitive and confident going forward.” 

Thirty Under 30

“Being named NKBA Thirty Under 30 was a confidence boost,” said alum Bethany Broussard.

After earning her associate degree in Interior Design in 2023, Broussard was chosen for the NKBA Thirty Under 30 Class of 2025 from nearly 150 applicants across the U.S. and Canada. She works as a cabinet specialist and designer at Crystal Remodeling and Crystal Cabinetry and Design, and serves as communications chair for the NKBA Columbia River Chapter. She gives back at PCC through student project reviews and will judge the Thirty Under 30 Class of 2026.

Interior design wasn’t her original plan as she once considered ballroom dancing until a COVID-era tiny-home remodel sparked her passion. PCC felt like home after Gateway to College.

“The instructors and students were incredibly welcoming,” she said. “The program not only taught me the technical skills you need day to day but taught me how to achieve creative flow and how to manage the social aspect. It was the roadmap to navigate this industry.”

Emma Winn earned her associate degree in Interior Design and two certificates from PCC in 2022. She calls PCC “the place to go in Oregon” for aspiring kitchen and bath designers, citing its accreditation, affordability, and instructors who genuinely support students. Entering the program as classes moved fully online in 2020, Winn said faculty encouragement helped her thrive.

“For the first time, I was excelling academically because I loved what I was learning,” she said, adding that Fisher gave her the confidence to believe she could succeed in the industry.

Today, Winn works as a design assistant at C Change Design in Portland, supporting residential remodel projects from concept through completion, and will serve as Chapter President for the NKBA Columbia River Chapter for the 2026–27 term.