Stephen Small Memorial Endowed Scholarship

The Stephen Small Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established in 1997 in loving memory of Stephen Small and to support transportation design students demonstrating both financial need and merit.

Stephen Small was an ArtCenter alumnus (BS 89 Transportation) who died in a tragic motorcycle accident in 1997 in France at the young age of 30. Steve had worked in GM’s Advanced Design Studio where he was involved with the designing of their ultra-light concept car. He subsequently moved on to Paris, France, and developed a remarkably successful career as a car designer at Peugeot, when the accident occurred.

As a surprise gift of consolation to Steve’s parents, the Stephen Small Endowed Scholarship was established by friends and family to honor his memory. Steve had greatly enjoyed his educational experience at ArtCenter and was himself the recipient of a General Motors Scholarship while in school.

On Steve’s interest in transportation design, his uncle wrote, “I was living just outside of Monaco when ‘Stevie’ became enthralled with Jackie Stewart and the exciting cars at the Monte Carlo Grand Prix. Steve’s precocious gift for intricate, detailed artwork, coupled with his love of cars, was a natural mix that eventually led him to pursue automotive design at your prestigious institution [ArtCenter]. It was his passionate dream to attend your school. He was so pleased to be granted the generous scholarships that you awarded him when he enrolled. Perhaps Steve’s memorial scholarship fund can financially help some other future enrollees with outstanding talent.”