WASHINGTON – June 12, 2025 – The Architects Foundation has selected recipients for three of its scholarship programs, which aim to support the next generation of leaders in architecture.
As the philanthropic partner of The American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Architects Foundation is continuing to invest in the future of the profession by recognizing and supporting scholars through ever-expanding scholarship and grant programs. Names listed below represent the latest recipients of the Architects Foundation’s scholarship and grant programs.
2025 Next Generation Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is continuing to expand pathways into the architecture profession by awarding scholarships to six students entering and completing architecture school. Architecture is about enhancing the human experience by creating buildings that reflect, serve, and strengthen communities. This scholarship was created in 1970 with an initial grant from the Ford Foundation, after Whitney Young Jr. challenged architects in 1968 to create a more responsible field. Read more about Whitney Young Jr.
In 2025, the Architects Foundation updated the name of this award to the Next Generation Scholarship, reflecting its belief that the next generation of talented design leaders can, and should, reflect the society that they serve. This year’s Next Generation Scholars join a select group of students who through imagination, commitment to excellence, and participation in a supportive network, can change the landscape of the profession and future of the built environment.
Each student will receive $4,000 per year towards tuition for the next five years totaling $20,000 each. This year’s recipients are:
Marcus Ezidore – Howard University
Estefania Soto – Rice University
Menkhu Jones – Pratt Institute
Salma Rodriguez [Sherwin-Williams Scholar] – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Holland Harrell [Fireclay Tile Scholar] – Pennsylvania State University
Lola Diaz-Suarez [Jacobs Scholar] – Cornell University
2025 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2025 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship to Anna Karel, attending Illinois Institute of Technology.
2025 Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2025 Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship to Krystel Jacinto, attending University of California, Berkeley.
About The Architects Foundation
The Architects Foundation leads philanthropic efforts that champion the future impact of architecture. From its headquarters, the historic Octagon, the Foundation demonstrates the cultural and societal impact of architecture and architects’ potential to create a just society; invests in the next generation of the profession through seven national scholarship programs; and utilizes design thinking to help communities solve critical challenges through the Communities by Design (CxD) program. For more information on the Architects Foundation’s mission and programs, visit architectsfoundation.org/org or follow on LinkedIn.
