Awards
- IUPUI Spirit of Philanthropy Award (2019)
In 2017, J. Mack Huston established the Huston/McDermed Gay Men's Scholarship at the Herron School of Art and Design. Created in memory of his grandfather, J. Lee McDermed, the scholarship provides support for gay men who are pursuing education, creativity, travel, study abroad, and career development while enrolled at Herron.
As a young Indianapolis Public Schools student, Mack attended Saturday School at the John Herron Art Institute. Throughout his life, art and design remained important to him. He served as assistant architect for the Indiana Department of Administration for over 30 years.
Mack has been an active member of the John Herron Society as well as the Herron Legacy Society.
As Dean Nan Goggin shares, "The Huston/McDermed Gay Men's Scholarship is the first of its kind at Herron and will serve as an important resource for students as they prepare for their professional lives. We are extremely grateful to Mack." Herron is proud to recognize J. Mack Huston for his philanthropic spirit.