Charlotte, N.C. – Canopy Housing Foundation, the charitable arm of Canopy Realtor® Association envisioned and launched the Innovation Award, a new award to foster creative ideas related to the issues of affordable housing.  In establishing this award, the Foundation in partnership with its Pearl Society Donors, seeks to embrace ideas that highlight new possibilities and improvements in advancing local housing initiatives.

In examining the topic of innovation, the Foundation sought to tap into the potential for creativity within a younger generation and challenged student communities at three area colleges/universities, to bring their best ideas and compete using the central theme of adaptive reuse. 

Students from Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC), Johnson C. Smith University, and UNC-Charlotte competed for a total of $10,000 in scholarship funds. The teams partnered and received assistance from mentors within the industry during the months-long competition, which culminated in November with teams presenting to real estate and affordable housing industry experts. Each team's presentations further addressed one of the following areas: Policies and Procedures, Design and Construction, as well as Funding. The presentations also examined elements of social equity in relation to these housing issues.   

Students from UNC-Charlotte placed first in the competition and were honored with $5,000, while the CPCC student team placed second and received $2,500 and the Johnson C. Smith University team placed third and received $1,500.

Charisma Southerland, president of Canopy Realtor® Association/Canopy MLS said, “Canopy Housing Foundation is dedicated to safe, sustainable, and affordable housing.  We also are aware of the untapped potential for innovation, particularly at the college level. The Foundation’s Innovation Award allows these fresh ideas to be brought to the forefront and considered for practical reality, while effectively cultivating and promoting the next generation of problem-solvers in the housing industry.”

The 2024 student presenters for the Canopy Innovation Award and Scholarship recipients are as follows:

UNC- Charlotte Team (1^st Place Award Recipients)
Marcus Boxdale
Matthew Gregory
Setara Kong
Elijah Smith

Central Piedmont Community College (2^nd Place Award Recipients)
Faith Blom
Reuben Evans
Itala Flores
Daniel Ramirez
Amanda Sanchez
Yin Theint

Johnson C Smith University (3^rd Place Award Recipients)
Holiness Mhlanga

As part of the process, the Foundation launched the Realtors® Choice Award, which allowed the Realtor® community to view the recorded presentations and vote to select a team to win an additional $1,000, for a combined $10,000 given in 2024.  The Realtors® Choice was awarded to team Central Piedmont Community College. The Innovation Award scholarship recipients were announced at Canopy Realtor® Association’s annual Holiday Awards Luncheon and Meeting on December 13, 2024.

About Canopy Housing Foundation and the Innovation Award

The Canopy Innovation Award is an initiative of the Canopy Housing Foundation with funding provided by the members of the Pearl Society, the Foundation’s Legacy Giving Society.

Through Canopy Housing Foundation, Realtors® work to address unmet housing needs and advocate for fair and affordable housing standards and practices. The Foundation has a mission to create housing opportunities through advocacy, education, funding, and leadership. Through education, programs, and events, the Foundation is able to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families, to bring about a community where all housing needs are met.

For more information about the Innovation Award or Canopy Housing Foundation, visit  www.CanopyHousingFoundation.org.

Original Publish Date: 12/13/2024