Board Member Vaughn Lewis, Assoc. AIA, Reflects on the Impact of AF Scholarships
by: Vaughn Lewis, Assoc. AIA, Architects Foundation Board Committee Chair
As a proud board member of the Architects Foundation, I’m honored to share my deep belief in the power of scholarships to transform lives—and in our responsibility as a foundation to build pathways for the next generation of architects.
I know this firsthand. Throughout my academic journey, I was fortunate to receive several transformative scholarships, including the Next Generation Scholarship—formerly the AIA/AF Diversity Scholarship—and the Architects Foundation/McAslan Fellowship. These opportunities enabled me to explore architecture across continents, revealing how the built environment both shapes and is shaped by the diverse cultures and communities it serves. These experiences expanded my worldview and deepened my commitment to design, equity, and service.
For the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of serving as chair of the Architects Foundation’s Scholar Selection and Support Committee. In this role, I’ve continued to witness the enduring spirit of service reflected in the Next Generation Scholarship—established in 1970 in response to Whitney M. Young Jr.’s urgent call for a more just and inclusive profession. To this day, it remains a powerful vehicle for supporting students from all backgrounds who are passionate about architecture and driven to make a difference.
Lewis addressing scholars and guests at an event during the 2023 Conference on Architecture in Design in San Francisco, CA.
This year, many organizations face challenges that threaten their ability to support students in pursuing their education. In this moment, our role as a foundation is more critical than ever. We have a duty to advocate for our scholars and to ensure they have the resources and community they need as they begin their architectural journeys.
Our goal remains clear: to cultivate a profession that reflects the full richness and diversity of the communities it serves—and to uplift the future designers and changemakers who will shape our built environment for generations to come.
Together, we are building a more inclusive, inspired, and impactful architectural landscape.
For the fourth year in a row, Fireclay Tile has partnered with the Architects Foundation to support our scholarships!
This year, Fireclay is aiming to raise $50,000. Fireclay has committed to donating $25,000, and we invite you to help us reach our goal to support the education of three future architects! Join Fireclay Tile and donate today >
Architects Foundation Honors WLS Grant Founders at Boston Summit
At this year’s AIA Women’s Leadership Summit (WLS), AIA and the Architects Foundation were honored to join Payette for a celebratory happy hour at their Boston office to honor the donors and recipients of the Sho-Ping Chin WLS Grant. Established in 2017, the grant is named in memory of Sho-Ping Chin, FAIA, a principal at Payette and one of the founders of the Women’s Leadership Summit. The grant covers the travel and registration costs to attend the summit, enabling a greater number of women architects to experience the community, knowledge-sharing, and leadership training that the Summit offers.
This year’s grant recipients, Laura Sherman of Decatur, GA; Libertad Lauren McLellan Harris of Beverly, NJ; Seher Hashmi of Orlando, FL; Mika Naraynsingh of Washington, DC; and Tooba Jalal of New York, NY; were joined at the reception by many past recipients. Also joining the happy hour were several Summit attendees who received funding from their local AIA chapters to attend the Summit, a testament to the impactful vision and generosity of Sho-Ping Chin, the WLS founders, and the donors who initiated the inaugural WLS grant in 2017.
Payette President Kevin B. Sullivan, FAIA, chats with Annping Chin, sister of Sho-Ping Chin, and Heather Taylor, AIA, a founding donor of the WLS SPC Grant.
A spectacular exhibition produced by Payette shared the life and legacy of Sho-Ping Chin and celebrated the success of the Women’s Leadership Summit and the community of women architect leaders it has inspired and cultivated.
Payette exhibition honoring the life and legacy of Sho-Ping Chin.
The Architects Foundation was honored to recognize some of those visionary donors at the happy hour, with Executive Director Marci Reed and board president Bill Roschen, FAIA, presenting the Architects Foundation’s inaugural Inspiration Award to Carol Burns, FAIA; Heather Taylor, AIA; Janet Ross, AIA; Katy Flammia, AIA; Jeanne Lukenda, FASLA; and Carole Wedge, FAIA.
AF Inspiration Award recipients.
Looking ahead to next year’s Summit, the Architects Foundation is seeking donations to enable another cohort of future women architect leaders to attend. Support women in architecture by donating today.
2023 Architects Foundation Scholars Selected
WASHINGTON – The Architects Foundation today announced the recipients for five of its scholarship programs that support future leaders of the profession in equity, diversity, and sustainability.
The Architects Foundation is continuing to support the future of the architecture profession by recognizing and supporting scholars through an ever-expanding scholarship and grant program offering. Programs listed below represent the latest recipients of the Architects Foundation’s scholarship and grant programs.
2023 Diversity Advancement Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is continuing to support diversity in the architecture profession by awarding its Diversity Advancement Scholarship to 3 students entering architecture school. Each of the students will receive $4,000 per year towards tuition for the next five years totaling $20,000 each. This year’s recipients are:
• Sherwin-Williams Scholar Justin Chappell, a freshman at Florida A&M University.
• Fireclay Tile Scholar Gabriella Doe, a sophomore at University of Notre Dame.
• RS&H Scholar Silvia Kim, a freshman at Carnegie Mellon University.
2023 Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2023 Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship to Alec Harrigan.
2023 Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2023 Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship to 10 emerging professionals to defray the costs associated with the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). Scholarship recipients will receive funds to cover the cost of the ARE, as well as $500 for study materials to prepare for testing. This year’s recipients are:
• Fallon Barrett
• Calvin Gallion
• Nancy De La Vega
• Jason Hegenauer
• Brittany Leneave
• Taisa Peree-Sehic
• Oswaldo Rivera-Ortiz
• Caroline Sorge
• Maddison Wells
• Ruichen Xu
This year, we had an extraordinary number of exceptional applicants to the Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship. Thanks to Tiffany Brown, Assoc. AIA, NOMA, 400FORWARD will fund the exam costs for an additional three applicants, expanding the reach and impact of this program and encouraging these emerging professionals at a pivotal point in their career. The applicants supported by 400FORWARD are:
• Darius Mathius
• Dezha McKoy-Overton
• Stephanie White
2023 Student Loan Relief Grant
The Architects Foundation is awarding the inaugural Student Loan Relief Grant to provide $5,000 of support to architecture graduates who are struggling with student debt. This year’s recipients are:
• Jasmyn Byrd
• Joshua Foster
Meet the 2023 Richard Morris Hunt Prize Laureates
The Architects Foundation is proud to present the 2023 Richard Morris Hunt Prize Fellow and scholar, selected at the December 2022 jury in Washington, DC at The Octagon. Congratulations to Lurita and Marika!
Lurita McIntosh Blank, NCARB, RBEC, APT RP, has received a 6-month travel fellowship to France to study Vertical Timber Framing Practices.
Lurita is a Principal with Raths, Raths & Johnson, Inc., a national engineering, architecture, and forensics consulting firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. She is a Registered Architect in multiple states, a Registered Building Envelope Consultant through the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC), a Recognized Professional through the Association for Preservation Technology (APT), and holds of Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Columbia University.
With a 15+ year career in architectural forensics, Lurita’s practice focuses on issues with material degradation, building performance, and water intrusion. Her expertise includes masonry, heavy timber, and roofing/waterproofing. At RRJ, Lurita leads the historic preservation and federal markets, providing investigation, diagnosis, and repair design for heritage structures across the country. Her current work includes multiple projects in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, on French colonial vertical log structures.
Marika Dalley Snider, PhD, AIA is the recipient of the 5-week scholarship whose research topic focuses on Curating Paris’s Layers through Historic Preservation.
Marika is an architect, educator, and storyteller who celebrates the small, the forgotten, and the under-appreciated architecture and its associated people through film and visualization, writing, and historic preservation.
Marika’s architectural practice spans a wide variety of small and medium-sized project types but her passion is history and historic preservation. Museum-quality restorations to state owned historic sites such as the home of former U.S. President Warren G Harding and investigative fieldwork on Harriet Beecher Stowe’s House are some of her proudest work. She is equally proud of her work on historic storefronts and supporting preservation in small towns in Ohio, Utah, and Tennessee.
Marika teaches undergraduate and graduate comprehensive studios and the history of architecture series at the University of Memphis. Her research focuses on virtual and augmented reality for interpretation of historic African-American neighborhoods.
Learn more about the Richard Morris Hunt Prize here.
Architecture scholarships now open!
The Architects Foundation, the philanthropic partner of The American Institute of Architects (AIA), is now accepting applications for five scholarships awards for architecture students and emerging professionals.
Diversity Advancement Scholarship This multiyear scholarship supports high school and undergraduate minority students who are entering, enrolled in, or transferring into an undergraduate architecture program recognized by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Scholarships may be renewed every year for up to five years or until the degree is completed ($20,000 total award toward tuition and fees).
Scholarship sponsors include The American Institute of Architects, Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation, ConstructConnect, The Curry Stone Foundation, The Custom Residential Architects Network, Fireclay Tile, GGLO, HKS, Lord Aeck Sargent, Material Bank, RS&H, Safdie Architects, Semihandmade, The Sherwin-Williams Company, and ZGF.
Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship
The Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship is a $10,000 award toward tuition and fees supporting a woman studying architecture within a NAAB-accredited bachelor or master’s degree program. The awardee will also receive a senior mentor from Payette for the scholarship year.
Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship
The Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship supports a graduate student whose work demonstrates an exemplary focus at the design intersection of sustainability, resilience, wellness and beauty. The scholarship recipient receives $5,000 toward tuition and fees and mentorship from Yann Weymouth, AIA, for the scholarship year.
This scholarship covers the full cost of the Architect Registration Exam and provides study materials for emerging professionals working toward their architecture license.
This grant covers $5,000 in loan payments for emerging architects with student debt.
The application period for these five scholarships is open through Jan. 20, 2023. More information on the Foundation’s scholarship programs can be found online. Interested applicants should read the scholarship FAQ.
Earlier this year, the Architects Foundation awarded the 2022 Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship to Cheyenne Yamada. Yamada, a student at the University of Pennsylvania, will receive a $5,000 scholarship towards tuition for demonstrating an exemplary work focus of design that includes sustainability, resilience, wellness, and beauty. The scholarship honors practicing architect Yann Weymouth, FAIA, who will also mentor Cheyenne.
“Cheyenne demonstrated in her student work a practical and imaginative focus on creating environments to support those in society with few resources. She made inventive use of available local materials to respond to local climate and conditions. Her strongest project combined hand-drawn and digital images with which she portrayed her vision of a safe and welcoming community for homeless persons camping in remote Oahu beaches. The unexpected combination of techniques demonstrated a sensitive empathy and mature presentation,” said Weymouth.
“Ms. Yamada’s talent is coupled with a sense of responsibility for how it should be applied to creatively address issues of equity and sustainability.”
Prior to studying at the University of Pennsylvania, Cheyenne graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional Architecture in 2021.
Cheyenne is of Chamorro and Filipino descent, born in Saipan of the Northern Mariana Islands and raised in the mainland U.S. just outside of Washington D.C. Coming from these dual landscapes of a fourteen by five mile long island in the Pacific versus a metropolitan area, she has been exposed to incredibly diverse natural, built, and socioeconomic environments. It is her unique upbringing to which she attributes her continuing curiosity about how design influences people from different walks of life as well as how it affects the natural environment in which it intervenes. This curiosity has sustained throughout her architectural studies thus far as her studio projects have naturally gravitated towards sustainable design efforts to simultaneously promote both cultural and environmental resilience.
Applications for the 2023 Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship will open November 7. Sign up to receive notifications about the application opening.
Meet Jada Cannon, 2022 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Scholar
This award honors late architect Sho-Ping Chin, FAIA, a long-time principal at Payette and a healthcare practice leader who was instrumental in defining and elevating the national discourse for women in design. As part of the prize, Jada will receive a $10,000 scholarship and will be mentored by an architect at Payette for the scholarship year.
Jada has acted as a historian for the University of Colorado Denver National Organization of Minority Architecture Students and as a volunteer for Architexx, a feminist architecture collective. Jada is now pursuing a Master’s in Architecture at Cornell University, and serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Council. Jada plans to utilize their background to become an architect who considers an array of different, often underrepresented, perspectives, and represents communal values in an accessible form.
“We are thrilled with the selection of Jada Cannon as the recipient of the 2022 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Scholarship,” said Kevin Sullivan, CEO of Payette.
“Jada’s vision and passion for architecture to positively affect change in our environment and the communities and culture of the places that we live and work, is inspiring. Jada embodies all the characteristics of someone that Sho-Ping would have much admired and would have loved to have met.”
Applications for the 2023 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship will open November 7. Sign up to receive news about the scholarship opening.
AF announces 2022 Sho-Ping Chin Women’s Leadership Summit Grantees
The Architects Foundation is recognizing and supporting women in architecture with the Sho-Ping Chin Women’s Leadership Summit Grant.
The Sho-Ping Chin WLS Grant provides travel and registration to the AIA Women’s Leadership Summit, empowering women through leadership, knowledge, and community. This year, the grant will fund ten women to attend the summit, which is being held from September 28-Oct 1 in Silicon Valley. This year’s recipients are:
The grant was established in 2017 in memory of Sho-Ping Chin, FAIA, a Principal at Payette who founded the inaugural AIA Women’s Leadership Summit in 2009.
“The Architects Foundation is privileged to honor Sho-Ping Chin’s legacy through this grant program, which was established by her colleagues and is now entrusted with us,” said Architects Foundation Executive Director, Marci Reed. “We are thrilled to be gathering again in person to share one another’s passion and wisdom and to support and empower women in architecture.”
The Architects Foundation is seeking donations for the next class of recipients. Support women in architecture and donate today.
AF Announces recipients of 2022 AIA LFRT ARE Scholarship
The Architects Foundation today announced recipients for the AIA Large Firm Roundtable (LFRT) ARE Scholarship.
The Architects Foundation’s AIA LFRT ARE Scholarship helps fulfill the LFRT’s goal to double the number of licensed Black architects by 2030. The scholarship defrays the costs associated with the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), provides a one-year subscription to ArchiPrep and covers one year of Associate AIA or NOMA member dues.
“The future of our profession is bright. These scholarship winners will continue to build upon efforts to push our profession to be equitable, inclusive, and diverse,” said Jonathan Moody, AIA, chair of the review committee and co-chair of the LFRT Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) committee.
“I look through the list and see 34 steps on our continued journey of progress. The result will be better outcomes for all those we serve.”
2022 Architects Foundation Fireclay Tile Scholar Selected
The Architects Foundation has announced the recipients of its Diversity Advancement Scholarship, including the scholarship sponsored by Fireclay Tile. Oni Thornell of Brooklyn, NY will receive $4,000 per year towards tuition for up to five years to attend Syracuse University.
“Fireclay Tile is thrilled to partner with the Architects Foundation to support talented, inquisitive, and compassionate future architects like Oni Thornell” said Lindsey Bourcier, Fireclay Tile Brand Manager.
“Oni’s dedication to making meaningful change, her desire to lean into sustainable practices, and most importantly, her advocacy for equal access to the rights inherent in architecture resonated strongly with our team at Fireclay and aligns with our ethos of continuous improvement in building an inclusive world.”
Embracing diverse viewpoints and cultures in architecture is an asset to the profession, and the Diversity Advancement Scholarship offers students with a passion for studying the discipline of architecture an opportunity to successfully complete their studies no matter their color or where they come from.
The Diversity Advancement Scholarship was created in 1970 with an initial grant from the Ford Foundation, after civil rights leader Whitney Young Jr. challenged architects in 1968 to create a more responsible and equitable field. The Architects Foundation has been managing the program since 2009 and has expanded the program size thanks to the support of sponsors like Fireclay Tile.
2022 Architects Foundation Scholars Selected
The Architects Foundation today announced the recipients for four of its tuition scholarship programs that support future leaders of the profession in equity, diversity, and sustainability.
The Architects Foundation is continuing to support the future of the architecture profession by recognizing and supporting scholars through an ever-expanding scholarship and grant program offering. Programs listed below represent the latest recipients of the Architects Foundation’s scholarship and grant programs.
2022 Diversity Advancement Scholarship The Architects Foundation is continuing to support diversity in the architecture profession by awarding its Diversity Advancement Scholarship to 7 students entering architecture school. Each of the students will receive $4,000 per year towards tuition for the next five years totaling $20,000 each. This year’s recipients are:
2022 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2022 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship to Jada Cannon. Cannon, a student at Cornell University, will receive a $10,000 scholarship intended to support the education of women in architecture. They will also be mentored by an architect at Payette for the scholarship year. This award honors late architect Sho-Ping Chin, FAIA, a long-time principal at Payette and a healthcare practice leader who was instrumental in defining and elevating the national discourse for women in design.
2022 a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp AIA Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2022 a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp AIA Scholarship to Jennifer Stieben (University of Kentucky) and Sabrina Lem (University of Illinois at Chicago). Each will receive $5,000 to be used towards tuition for demonstrating a strong interest in practice and risk management. The scholarship honors David W. Lakamp, who was a founder of a/e ProNet and a trusted advisor to the profession of architecture.
2022 Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2022 Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship to Cheyenne Yamada. Yamada, a student at the University of Pennsylvania, will receive a $5,000 scholarship towards tuition for demonstrating an exemplary work focus of design that includes sustainability, resilience, wellness, and beauty. The scholarship honors practicing architect Yann Weymouth, FAIA, who will also mentor Yamada.
Applications are now open through May 31, 2022 for a summer travel grant. The winning architecture student will engage with McAslan+ Partners and the Manifattura Tabacchi restoration project in Florence, Italy, which features a series of important works by the master architect/engineer Pier Luigi Nervi.
Architects Foundation and Fireclay Tile’s 2021 partnership honored for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion In the Inaugural Anthem Awards
WASHINGTON – The Architects Foundation and Fireclay Tile announced today that their 2021 partnership for the Diversity Advancement Scholarship for Black Women has been named Best in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion – Partnership or Collaboration, Silver Medal Class in the Inaugural Anthem Awards.
Anthem Winners are selected by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Members include Daniel Dae Kim (actor, producer, and activist); Ashley Judd (Author, Actor, and Social Justice Humanitarian); Mitchell Baker (CEO and chairwoman, Mozilla); Lisa Sherman (president and CEO, Ad Council), Sarah Kate Ellis (president and CEO, GLAAD); Renata Erlikhman (chief investment officer, OW Management); Shayla Tait (director of philanthropy, The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation); Russlynn Ali (CEO and co-founder, XQ Institute); Marc Ecko (chief commercial officer and board member, XQ Institute); Heidi Arthur (chief campaign development officer, Ad Council); and Alexis M. Herman (chair and chief executive officer, New Ventures, and former U.S. secretary of labor).
In order to support the progress of aspiring Black women architects and narrow the racial disparities in our industry, Fireclay Tile partnered with the Architects Foundation in February 2021 for Black history month to sponsor a Diversity Advancement Scholarship specifically for Black women pursuing architecture.
Fireclay Tile’s campaign was wildly successful, reaching the initial $25,000 goal (1 scholarship) by February 3rd. Fireclay ended up doubling the goal to $50,000 and reached that as well from a total of 173 supporters. Highlights include feature by Digital Media Solutions and an IG feature by Bobby Berk.
“It is our distinct honor to recognize the work that brands, organizations, and individuals are all making to create an impact in their community,” said Jessica Lauretti, Managing Director, The Anthem Awards. “We launched this platform to show the world that all corners of our culture, from sports and entertainment to business leaders and celebrities, are all standing up to say, it is time for systemic change and that social good is what we value as a society.”
“This is a tremendous partnership, and we are honored to support the work of the Architects Foundation to help educate and inspire more amazing talent,” said Fireclay Tile CEO Eric Edelson.
Winners for the inaugural Anthem Awards will be celebrated at the first annual Anthem Voices conference followed by a star-studded virtual Awards Show on Monday, February 28, 2022. Fans will be able to hear from social impact leaders during the day and then watch the show, featuring special moments, and hallmark speeches from all you and your fellow winners at anthemawards.com.
The Anthem Awards was launched in response to the prevalence social good has taken within the national conversation and cultural zeitgeist in recent years. The inaugural competition received nearly 2,500 entries from 36 countries worldwide. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, the Anthem Awards are defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their communities. A portion of program revenue will fund a new grant program supporting emerging individuals and organizations working to advance the causes recognized in the inaugural Anthem Awards.
ABOUT FIRECLAY TILE
Since 1986, Fireclay Tile has been committed to making tile a better way. This mission has earned them B Corp certification, Climate Neutral certification as well as a reputation for producing the most coveted handmade tile available. Made to order, Fireclay offers an array of materials, alongside complimentary design services for homeowners, a program for residential trade professions, and dedicated commercial support for large projects. Their customers can boast that their beautiful, sustainably made tile is handcrafted with 100% renewable energy, which qualifies for industry-leading certifications, including LEED. Their products are also made for good. From their partnerships with Allies in Arts, National Parks Conservation Association, and its Pledge1% commitment, they work and design with good intentions. Visit FireclayTile.com
The Anthem Awards, the Webby Awards newest initiative, was developed to recognize the breadth of social good work (online and offline) around the globe by honoring the organizations, brands, and people creating long-lasting impact; including, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion; Education, Art, & Culture; Health; Human & Civil Rights; Humanitarian Action & Services; Responsible Technology; and Sustainability, Environment, & Climate. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, the Anthem Awards are defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their communities. Founded in partnership with the Ad Council, Born This Way Foundation, Feeding America, Glaad, Mozilla, NAACP, NRDC, WWF, and XQ. Visit anthemawards.com
About The Webby Awards:
Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by The New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites; Video; Advertising, Media & PR; Apps, Mobile, and Voice; Social; Podcasts; and Games. Established in 1996, The Webby Awards received more than 13,500 entries from all 50 states and 70 countries worldwide this year. The Webby Awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include Verizon, WP Engine, YouGov, Brandlive, Canva, NAACP, KPMG, Fast Company, Wall Street Journal, MediaPost, Podcast Movement, and AIGA. Visit webbyawards.com
Fireclay Tile announces Diversity Advancement Scholarship with the Architects Foundation
AROMAS, Calif., (Newswire.com) – Fireclay Tile, a Certified B-Corp handmade tile manufacturer and retailer, is proud to announce its latest scholarship partnership with The Architects Foundation, the philanthropic partner of The American Institute of Architects (AIA). The Diversity Advancement Scholarship, which aims to support equity for Black women pursuing architecture and narrow racial disparities in the design industry, is now accepting donations on fireclaytile.com.
For Fireclay Tile, success is measured by more than just square feet. Whether it’s donating tile or investing in the community, Fireclay believes the biggest difference their craft can make is by giving back.
As part of their Made for Good commitment, Fireclay first partnered with The Architects Foundation in 2021 to create a Diversity Advancement Scholarship aimed to support the progress of aspiring Black women architects and help narrow the racial disparities in the design industry.
“We are honored to be working with Fireclay Tile and the greater design community to help award more scholarships to deserving students,” said Marci Reed, Executive Director of the Architects Foundation. “Our community of scholars is full of bright, creative, driven students who will create inclusive spaces, places, and communities. Being able to put more Black women in the pipeline of future architects goes a long way in our mission as the philanthropic partner of the AIA to create a more just, equitable, and diverse profession.”
With the help of the community and industry partners, Fireclay was able to raise over $50,700 to support the education of two prospective students.
This year, Fireclay Tile is excited to announce that they’re doubling down by committing $25,000 as part of their Fireclay Gives program and setting an even higher fundraising goal of $100,000, which can support four students.
Said Fireclay Tile CEO Eric Edelson, “This is a tremendous partnership, and we are honored to support the work of the Architects Foundation to help educate and inspire more amazing talent.”
Fireclay believes that architecture should reflect the diverse society it serves and invites you to visit their Fundraising Page to learn more and to donate.
For all press and scholarship partnership inquiries, please reach out to Kali@Fireclaytile.com.
New ARE scholarship for aspiring Black architects
New scholarship launches in partnership with AIA Large Firm Roundtable to meet goal of doubling the number of licensed Black architects by 2030.
The Architects Foundation is launching its inaugural LFRT Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) scholarship this month.
The scholarship will cover the cost of the ARE, provide $500 in study materials, a one-year subscription to AIA’s exam prep resource, ArchiPrep, one year of dues to AIA or the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), and one year of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ (NCARB) record fees. In order to be eligibile, applicants must be Associate AIA or a member of NOMA, hold an NCARB Record, and must be eligibile for the ARE. A brief essay is required to apply and letters of recommendation are optional. More than 30 awards are available.
“We wanted to remove as many barriers as possible for young people seeking this award,” said Jonathan Moody, AIA, NOMA, co-chair of the LFRT Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) committee. “And being the first year of granting these scholarships, we’re not sure how many applications to expect, but if you run the numbers, the need exceeds current resources. That being said, I believe the LFRT is committed to providing continued financial support and work with the Architects Foundation and others to support aspiring Black architects.”
According to a joint survey, Baseline on Belonging, by NCARB and NOMA, minority professionals experience more barriers as they pursue licensure. Results indicate that affordability of the ARE exam is disproportionately reported by Black and Latino candidates, and most applicants spend more than $500 on study materials.
“Improving access to the exam is one step the profession can take to help open doors to a more diverse pool of aspiring architects. NCARB is excited to partner with the LFRT on this new scholarship,” said NCARB President Alfred Vidaurri, NCARB, NOMA, FAIA.
Interested candidates for the LFRT ARE scholarship can learn more online. The deadline to apply is Jan. 14, 2022.
About NCARB
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ membership is made up of the architectural licensing boards of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NCARB, in collaboration with these boards, facilitates the licensure and credentialing of architects to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
To achieve these goals, NCARB works with its Member Boards and volunteers to develop and facilitate standards for licensure, including the national examination and experience program. NCARB also recommends regulatory guidelines for licensing boards and helps architects expand their professional reach through the NCARB Certificate. Connect with NCARB on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
Applications now open for 2022 tuition and ARE scholarships!
The Architects Foundation, the philanthropic partner of The American Institute of Architects (AIA), is now accepting applications for five scholarships awards for architecture students and emerging professionals.
Diversity Advancement Scholarship This multiyear scholarship supports high school and undergraduate minority students who are entering, enrolled in, or transferring into an undergraduate architecture program recognized by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Scholarships may be renewed every year for up to five years or until the degree is completed ($20,000 total award toward tuition and fees).
Scholarship sponsors include The American Institute of Architects, Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation, ConstructConnect, The Curry Stone Foundation, The Custom Residential Architects Network, Fireclay Tile, GGLO, HKS, Lord Aeck Sargent, The Meehan Foundation, RS&H, Safdie Architects, Semihandmade, The Sherwin-Williams Company, ZGF, and Anonymous.
Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship
The Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship is a $10,000 award toward tuition and fees supporting a woman studying architecture within a NAAB-accredited bachelor or master’s degree program. The awardee will also receive a senior mentor from Payette for the scholarship year.
Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship
The Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship supports a graduate student whose work demonstrates an exemplary focus at the design intersection of sustainability, resilience, wellness and beauty. The scholarship recipient receives $5,000 toward tuition and fees and mentorship from Yann Weymouth, FAIA, for the scholarship year.
The a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp Scholarship The a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp Scholarship is awarded annually to two students who demonstrate a strong interest in practice and risk management in the field of architecture. Each student receives a $5,000 award toward tuition and fees.
The AIA Large Firm Roundtable Scholarship
The Architects Foundation’s Large Firm Roundtable (LFRT) ARE Scholarship helps fulfill the LFRT’s goal to double the number of licensed Black architects by 2030. The scholarship defrays the costs associated with the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), provides a one-year subscription to ArchiPrep and covers one year of Associate AIA or NOMA member dues
The application period for these five scholarships is open through Jan. 14, 2022. More information on the Foundation’s scholarship programs can be found online.
Scholar Feature: Zuleika Baldeo
If you were at a pool party with Zuleika Baldeo and her cousins Holly and Quinn in June, your relaxing day was likely interrupted by quite a scene.
“I read the email and burst out crying,” she recalls. “I was jumping up and down with my cousins. They were confused at first about what I was talking about until I showed them the email.”
Zuleika Baldeo, a sophomore student at Morgan State University, had just received news that she won the Curry Stone Foundation Diversity Advancement Scholarship. successfully.
Her journey to that memorable moment highlights what it means to be a Black woman in the architecture industry and what the industry is currently doing to provide more resources for students like her to enter the field.
When Zuleika started her college journey, she had one goal in mind. “Get a degree. No matter how long it takes, whether it was five or fifty years, I needed to graduate.”
The goal was clear, but the path forward would be more complicated. Unsure of what she wanted to study, Zuleika began at Ithaca College as a psychology major before transferring to community college in her hometown and changing her interest to criminology. She then studied mechanical engineering at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where her path toward architecture truly began.
“I realized that I was interested in something tactical and hands-on. I enjoyed the classes I was taking at UMBC, but I wasn’t interested in the functional aspect. My heart was in the design of the buildings.” With a lifelong love for art, she understood that this was an opportunity to combine her passion for creativity with her talents in math and science.
Like many, architecture wasn’t a field that Zuleika would have considered before her experiences at UMBC. “Architecture is a pretty expensive pursuit,” says Kimberly Dowdell, former president of the National Organization of Minority Architects. “Aside from tuition costs for five to seven years, there are the books, the drafting and modeling materials, the needed software and more. It can quickly add up.”
Kimberly’s work helps foster collaboration between students and senior staff at architecture firms through mentorship programs and networking opportunities. But there’s a largescale visibility issue within the industry to even get Black people to consider architecture as an option for a career path. According to the Directory of African American Architects, there are less than 2,500 licensed Black architects in the United States. This number is just a fraction of the more than 100,000 total licensed architects in the country.
This fact, combined with growing unrest and social action against police brutality toward African Americans, pushed Kimberly to combine forces with more than 400 other architects and major firms to sign on to an announcement. On October 25, 2020, they took out a full-page ad in The New York Times’ Sunday edition with the important message: Black Lives Matter.
“It wasn’t so much a political statement,” Kimberly says, “but it certainly was recognition that the livelihood of Black people matters, and within the architecture industry there is a clear disparity and need to close the gap.”
The ad included a call to action to contribute to the Diversity Advancement Scholarship through an appeal of the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) fund. As a direct result, Clifford Curry, FAIA and Dr. Delight Stone, RPA, funded the Curry Stone Foundation Diversity Advancement Scholarship. Zuleika was selected as the recipient of this transformational scholarship of $20,000 per year for five years.
“Today, there are many people who are interested in increasing representation in the architect industry, but more still needs to be done,” says Cliff. “This scholarship is a way to encourage more diversity in the industry. I hope that this award will enable Zuleika to worry a little less on paying her tuition costs and excel her forward as an architect.”
Zuleika almost missed out on the opportunity. “I only heard about it through a former coworker, who isn’t even an architect. She knew that this was my field and thought I’d be a good fit for it.” But there was one problem: “I only had a week to apply.”
The near-miss opportunity and scramble for materials such as recommendation letters and transcripts highlights some of the obstacles students encounter, especially those of color. “We may hear that there are scholarships and funds available, but if we don’t have the right connections or proper resources and time to apply to them – and believe me, they take a lot of work – then it doesn’t work in our favor.”
Zuleika hopes that opportunities like her scholarship can be made more readily available to Black people like her. “This scholarship allowed me to dream about things that I thought were out of grasp for me, like being a homeowner. It could open a doorway for so many others to realize their full potential by lifting the burden of tuition and make it just a little easier for people who look like me to enter the profession.”
As for what’s next, Zuleika hopes that this is just the start of her new path forward in the profession. Through the twists and turns that she has experienced, one thing has remained constant. “On my first day in the architecture school’s center, seeing all of the models and posters from student work, I knew in my heart that I was in the right place.”
The Diversity Advancement Scholarship program is one of several facilitated by the Architects Foundation. The Architects Foundation leads philanthropic efforts that lay the foundation of architecture’s future, by attracting, inspiring, and investing in new and diverse generations of architects who will create inclusive spaces and places. Last year, the Architects Foundation raised more than $500,000 to support 66 students. To donate or learn more, visit https://architectsfoundation.org/
WASHINGTON– The Sherwin-Williams Company has made a permanent endowment to the Architects Foundation to support a Diversity Advancement Scholarship.
Through their $150,000 gift, Sherwin-Williams will support a minority architecture student’s career path by funding their college experience with $20,000, to be distributed evenly over the course of up to five years.
“At Sherwin-Williams we are committed to advancing a culture of inclusion and equity, where our differences are welcomed, celebrated and appreciated,” said Yentil Rawlinson, vice president of inclusion, diversity and equity at Sherwin-Williams. “This endowment reflects our pledge to support the advancement of underrepresented students in their educational journey and our continued focus and commitment to inclusion, diversity and equity in our workforce, workplace and communities we serve.”
“Sherwin-Williams’ commitment to advancing equity, diversity and philanthropy in the architecture profession is an inspiration, especially for building product manufacturers across the country,” said Architects Foundation 2021 President R. Steven Lewis, FAIA. “We are committed to advancing these critical and long overdue pathways in the profession. It’s leadership from manufacturers like Sherwin-Williams that can help make progress a reality.”
The Architects Foundation annually runs an application process for Diversity Advancement scholars. Applications for the 2021-2022 academic year are under review and will be announced in late spring of 2021.
Founded in 1866, The Sherwin-Williams Company is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution, and sale of paints, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. Sherwin-Williams manufactures products under well-known brands such as Sherwin-Williams®, Valspar®, HGTV HOME® by Sherwin-Williams, Dutch Boy®, Krylon®, Minwax®, Thompson’s® Water Seal®, Cabot® and many more. With global headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, Sherwin- Williams® branded products are sold exclusively through a chain of more than 4,900 company-operated stores and facilities, while the company’s other brands are sold through leading mass merchandisers, home centers, independent paint dealers, hardware stores, automotive retailers, and industrial distributors. The Sherwin-Williams Performance Coatings Group supplies a broad range of highly-engineered solutions for the construction, industrial, packaging and transportation markets in more than 120 countries around the world. For more information, visit www.sherwin.com.
Five strategic partnerships making an impact in 2021
Source: Digital Media Solutions
This year, Black History Month is hitting a little differently for a lot of people, and brands are responding accordingly. After a year of COVID-19, in which Black and Brown people were disproportionately impacted, and the racial justice uprisings in the summer of 2020, the expectation from consumers is that brands and retailers will take Black History Month more seriously. In lieu of one-off campaigns that can be perceived as performative, brands this year are aiming to create lasting impact by embracing partnerships and collaborations with Black creators, Black storytellers and nonprofits that amplify Black voices.
“As brands make plans to celebrate diverse communities through Black History Month and others, it’s important that they approach their campaigns with authenticity, empathy and cultural intelligence,” said Cassandra Blackburn, director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Sprout Social. “Center your campaign on advancing the mission and purpose of the celebration by seizing the opportunity to honor the accomplishments of Black Americans.”
1. Fireclay Tile X Architects Foundation
Architects Foundation, a philanthropic organization which undertakes “philanthropic efforts that lay the foundation of architecture’s future, by attracting, inspiring and investing in new and diverse generations of architects who will create inclusive spaces and places of tomorrow” partnered with decor brand Fireclay Tile to promote more Black women in architecture. According to an Instagram post from Fireclay Tile, only “0.4% of all licensed architects in the U.S.” are Black women. Fireclay Tile teamed up with Architects Foundation to create a “Diversity Advancement Scholarship” that will be used specifically for Black women pursuing architecture.
WASHINGTON – The Curry Stone Foundation (CSF) has pledged $125,000 to the Architects Foundation’s 2021 Diversity Advancement Scholarship program, to support five scholars through 2025.
The multiyear scholarship will support students of an ethnically diverse background, with a preference for those attending one of the seven accredited architecture programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
The CSF, whose mission is to empower the practice of community-driven social impact design, is co-founded by Clifford Curry, FAIA, and Dr. Delight Stone, RPA.
“We are extremely grateful to Cliff and Delight for their continued support of the Architects Foundation,” said Architects Foundation President R. Steven Lewis, FAIA. “The opportunity created by the CSF is a huge stride toward our goal of a more diverse and inclusive profession.”
The Architects Foundation annually runs an application process for Diversity Advancement scholars. Applications for the 2021-2022 academic year are under review and will be announced in late spring of 2021.
ABOUT THE CURRY STONE FOUNDATION
CSF’s mission is to empower the practice of community-driven social impact design. The Foundation supports groups and individuals using design to build healthier, more vital communities. CSF actively advocates for the use of design as a tool for social change, especially in marginalized communities. In all cases, the Foundation encourages designers and communities to work in close collaboration.
Safdie Architects funds $20K scholarship
WASHINGTON – Safdie Architects today announced their commitment to support the Architects Foundation’s Diversity Advancement Scholarship by funding a five-year student scholar entering or transferring into an architecture program in fall 2021.
The recipient will be supported throughout their scholarship by a mentor from Safdie Architects, as well as a paid internship at the firm following their 3rd, 4th or 5th year of school. In addition to the $20,000 scholarship, Safdie Architects will select a current Diversity Advancement Scholar for a paid internship this summer.
“We are thrilled to join with the Architects Foundation in its mission to broaden diversity within the field of architecture. At a time when systemic racism persists and the rights of many are being violated, we recognize the need for our industry to be proactive and outward-focused,” said Christopher Mulvey, Assoc. AIA, Safdie Architects’ Managing Principal. “We are committed to creating more opportunities for Black, Indigenous and people of color, both within the firm and in the profession-at-large.”
Foundation President R. Steven Lewis, FAIA, expressed gratitude for the firm’s generosity. “The Architects Foundation is so pleased to work with Safdie Architects to create a more diverse profession,” Lewis said. “As the philanthropic partner of The American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Foundation is working to create a culture of philanthropy within the AIA. Let’s hope other firms follow this example.”
The Architects Foundation annually runs an application process for Diversity Advancement scholars. Applications for the 2021-2022 academic year are under review and will be announced in late spring of 2021.
About Safdie Architects
Safdie Architects is an architecture and urban design studio imbued with a spirit of idealism and innovation. The practice is research oriented and forward thinking, drawing upon a depth of experience to solve contemporary building challenges in imaginative and unexpected ways. Headquartered in Somerville, MA, with offices in Toronto, Jerusalem, Singapore and Shanghai to support ongoing projects, Safdie Architects is constantly engaged in the design of a diverse range of projects in terms of building type, scale and geographic location.
David Adjaye, Forensic Architecture and Daniel Libeskind donate works to support black women in architecture school
David Adjaye‘s gold sketch of multifaith complex The Abrahamic Family House and Mark Foster Gage‘s satirical plan for a Trump presidential library are among works for sale in an auction fundraising to support black women in architecture school.
Organised by architectural initiative ARCH, the auction launches today and will run for one week to raise funds for a scholarship programme for black women.
“To tackle systemic racism in the field of architecture and design, we need to make studying these subjects more accessible to aspiring black, indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) architects, who have historically been underrepresented and under-supported,” said ARCH, which stands for Architecture for Change.
The 2021-2022 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship
Source: Payette In partnership with the Architects Foundation, we are pleased to announce the 2021-2022 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship. This $10,000 grant is intended to support women pursuing a professional degree in architecture recognized by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). In addition, to help the scholarship recipient establish contacts within the profession, she will be assigned a senior mentor from Payette for the scholarship year. Qualified students entering at least their third year of undergraduate, or any level of graduate study, are encouraged to apply. The deadline is January 15, 2021.This scholarship honors the late architect Sho-Ping Chin, FAIA, a long-time principal at Payette and a health-care practice leader who was instrumental in defining and elevating the national discourse for women in design. Allexxus Farley-Thomas (Cornell University) was the 2020-2021 recipient. Earlier recipients of the scholarship, which was established in 2016, are: Michelle Badr (Yale), Naureen Mazumdar (Harvard GSD), Olivia Huang (MIT) and Orli Hakanoglu (Yale).
Among other requirements, applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and are required to provide an essay that discusses the influence of architecture and architects to improve the human condition and quality of life their resume, a professional resume, a portfolio of their creative work and two letters of recommendation. To apply, visit the Architects Foundation.
We’re incredibly proud to offer this scholarship as a way to honor Sho-Ping’s legacy and mentor future architects. Sho-Ping was a wonderful mentor and the impact of her work at our firm and in the profession is still felt today. I’m always inspired by the applicants and am thrilled we’re able to offer this opportunity.
CHING-HUA HO, PRINCIPAL
REMEMBERING SHO-PING CHIN, FAIA During her tenure at Payette and throughout her career, Sho-Ping Chin, FAIA brought a fierce determination to designing high caliber spaces for those in need. This determination translated to a passion for civic responsibility and equity in the profession, as evidenced by her work for Saint Boniface Hospital in Haiti, among other endeavors. Sho-Ping led the healthcare practice at Payette from 2000 to her untimely passing in 2015. At Payette she focused exclusively on healthcare because she felt passionately about it. She worked continuously to inspire others to feel similarly. Her involvement on projects was comprehensive from inception with planning and programming to occupancy. She firmly believed successful outcomes are derived from an inclusive design process where she worked effectively to build and obtain consensus. In addition to her contributions as a Principal of the firm, she was a wonderful mentor and instilled her teams with a sense of camaraderie and commitment to design.
Architects Declare “Black Lives Matter”
Over 400 architects and design professionals ran a stark full-page advertisement in the October 25 edition of the New York Times in “complete commitment to and support for the protection of Black lives and the advancement of Black livelihood.”
Scholarships recognize and support diverse future leaders of the profession in equity, practice management, sustainability, and global practice
WASHINGTON – The Architects Foundation today announced the recipients for five of its scholarship programs that support future leaders of the profession in equity, diversity, global practice, and sustainability.
The Architects Foundation is continuing to support the future of the architecture profession by recognizing and supporting scholars through an ever-expanding scholarship and grant program offering. Programs listed below represent the latest recipients of the Architects Foundation’s scholarship and grant programs.
2020 Diversity Advancement Scholarship The Architects Foundation is continuing to support diversity in the architecture profession by awarding its Diversity Advancement Scholarship to 6 students entering architecture school. Each of the students will receive $4,000 per year towards tuition for the next five years totaling $20,000 each. This year’s recipients are:
2020 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2020 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship to Allexxus Farley-Thomas. Farley-Thomas, a student at Cornell University, will receive a $10,000 scholarship intended to support the education of women in architecture. She will also be mentored by an architect at Payette for the scholarship year. Farley-Thomas is the fifth recipient of the scholarship, which honors late architect Sho-Ping Chin, FAIA, a long-time principal at Payette and a healthcare practice leader who was instrumental in defining and elevating the national discourse for women in design.
2020 a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp AIA Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2020 a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp AIA Scholarship to Trey Hammond, University of Oklahoma, and Xinyuan Ma, Carnegie Mellon University. Each will receive $5,000 to be used towards tuition for demonstrating a strong interest in practice and risk management. The scholarship honors David W. Lakamp, who was a founder of a/e ProNet and a trusted advisor to the profession of architecture.
2020 Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2020 Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship to Michael Paraszczak. Paraszczak, a student at Cornell University, will receive a $5,000 scholarship towards tuition for demonstrating an exemplary work focus at design that includes sustainability, resilience, wellness, and beauty. The scholarship honors practicing architect Yann Weymouth, AIA, who will also mentor Paraszczak.
2020 McAslan Fellowship The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2020 McAslan Fellowship to Michael Lidwin, University of Tennessee and Melissa Smith, University of Kansas. The scholarship supports research and travel experiences for two top graduating students to engage with UK-based firm McAslan+Partners.
In its 30th Year, the Richard Morris Hunt Prize Redoubles its Impact
PARIS- At a moment of global environmental concern, one organization is supporting greater scholarship in conserving the built environment — the Richard Morris Hunt Prize. Founded in 1990, the Richard Morris Hunt Prize awards two prizes each year to two laureates, a Fellow and a Scholar, practicing architects specializing in historic preservation. Grants are alternatively given to French and American recipients to support in-depth research travel in the two countries. During the Richard Morris Hunt Jury on December 6th, 2019, the remarkable quality of all four finalists motivated the decision to give not only the annual RMHP Fellow and Scholar awards, but also two special 30th Anniversary Grants. Their subjects were thoroughly relevant and contemporary.
The 2020 RMHP Fellow, Simon Petot-Bottin, presented a subject entitled “National Parks and Their Amenities: The Paradox of Architecture Within Parks.” Petot-Bottin will receive a grant of $20,000 to support six months of research in the United States. Barbara Lambec, 2020 RMHP Scholar, presented a subject entitled “Waste or Opportunity: Reuse as a Vector for Renewing the Economics of Materials.” Her five-week research trip to the United States will be supported by a $5,000 grant. Runners-up Bérénice Gaussuin and Pierre Gommier will each benefit from a $2,500 award for travel and research.
During their travel and study, Fellows, Scholars, and grant recipients will benefit from the support of the Richard Morris Hunt Prize, the American Institute of Architects, (AIA), and the Architects Foundation (AF) managing teams. Scholars typically engage with the foremost experts in their chosen fields, exploring unique and exemplary sites while confronting new approaches and techniques. Finally, they become part of a rich network comprised by the thirty-seven RMHP Laureates.
Architects Foundation Now Accepting Applications for Scholarship Programs
WASHINGTON –The Architects Foundation, the philanthropic partner of The American Institute of Architects (AIA), is now accepting applications for five scholarships supporting students pursuing architecture degrees.
Diversity Advancement Scholarship
This multiyear scholarship supports high school and undergraduate minority students who are entering, enrolled in, or transferring into an undergraduate architecture program recognized by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Scholarships may be renewed every year for up to five years or until the degree is completed ($20,000 total award toward tuition and fees).
Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship
The Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship is a $10,000 award toward tuition and fees supporting a woman studying architecture within a NAAB-accredited bachelor or master’s degree program. The awardee will also receive a senior mentor from Payette for the scholarship year.
Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship
The Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship supports a graduate student whose work demonstrates an exemplary focus at the design intersection of sustainability, resilience, wellness and beauty. The scholarship recipient receives $5,000 toward tuition and fees and mentorship from Yann Weymouth, AIA, for the scholarship year.
The a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp Scholarship
The a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp Scholarship is awarded annually to two students who demonstrate a strong interest in practice and risk management in the field of architecture. Each student receives a $5,000 award toward tuition and fees.
The Architects Foundation / McAslan Fellowship
Established in 2019, the Architects Foundation/McAslan Fellowship supports travel for two students to engage with UK-based firm John McAslan+ Partners. Each student will receive a $7,500 award to work with the firm on a homelessness initiative in Scotland.
The application period for these five scholarships is open through Jan. 17, 2020. More information on the Foundation’s scholarship programs can be found online.
Architects Foundation announces 2019 Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship recipients
Scholarship recipients receive funds, a subscription to ArchiPrep® and study materials for the Architectural Registration Examination.
WASHINGTON –The Architects Foundation is awarding ten recipients with its 2019 Jason Pettigrew Memorial Architect Registration Examination (ARE) Scholarship.
The Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship recognizes the significant contributions of emerging professionals at early stages in their careers and helps defray the costs associated with the ARE. Each of the scholarship recipients will receive funds to cover all sections of the ARE, as well as a free subscription to ArchiPrep® and up to $500 worth of ARE 5.0 study materials. This year’s scholars include:
Evan Berger, Assoc. AIA
Hiba Bhatty, Assoc. AIA
Ethan Coverstone, Assoc. AIA
Michele Crawford, Assoc. AIA
Gustavo Diez Presilla, Assoc. AIA
Tasanee Durrett, Assoc. AIA
Johanna Forman, Assoc. AIA
Tiara Hughes, Assoc. AIA
Sandra Montalbo, Assoc. AIA
Ofunne Oganwu, Assoc. AIA
Three additional scholarships are also being donated this year by 2018 Pettigrew Scholarship recipient Tiffany Brown, Assoc. AIA. Brown’s scholarship will cover the cost of AREs for African American females who did not already receive an award this year through her organization 400 FORWARD, which aims to support the next generation of licensed women architects. Recipients of Brown’s award, include:
Tasheria Shorts, Assoc. AIA
Gloria Spellen, Assoc. AIA
Zandria Mims Tolliver, Assoc. AIA
“We’re astounded every year by the caliber of the applicants for this scholarship, and this year was no exception,” said Architects Foundation Board member and jury chair Bill Roschen, FAIA. “We very much appreciate Ms. Brown stepping in to provide additional help, which is a great testament to the strong alumni network of our Architects Foundation scholars.”
The Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship was established in 2004 by the AIA National Associates Committee, to honor the memory of their late friend and colleague, Jason Pettigrew, Associate AIA. The scholarship has been with the Architects Foundation since 2015.
Graduation reflections from Architects Foundation Scholars
Orli Hakanoglu 2018 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Scholar May 2019 Graduate, Yale University
It has been [a few months] since I graduated with my M-Arch degree from Yale, and have had a bit of time to relax and reflect on the past three incredible years. When I started school, I had no idea what world I was about to enter; all I knew was my own curiosity and eagerness to join a community that spoke my language. What I didn’t anticipate was the richness of this language, and that it had such a wealth of “dialects,” so to speak. I was introduced to countless angles of investigation that greatly expanded my understanding of the process of design. Anchoring me and my peers’ exploration was an understanding of history, context, and an essential reflexivity about the role of the profession itself. This multifaceted quality of inquiry was encouraged from all directions: students, faculty, visiting critics and jurors, members of the University, and the broader New Haven community.
The semester-long teaching fellowships I held were probably the highlight of my time at Yale, particularly those in which I was given a hands-on role as an instructor. I would have never imagined that my own knowledge of the subject could be so deepened through work with brilliant peers only a year or two my junior. The school’s encouragement of a richness of perspective and ways of seeing is likely its most powerful pedagogical tool, and I hope to cultivate the same open-mindedness within the communities I belong to in my post-graduate life. I am endlessly thankful to Payette and the Architects Foundation for their support in making this education possible for me. Having graduated, I am now ready to experience the aspects of the profession less dwelled-upon in the classroom, and am planning my next steps as an architect with optimism and excitement.
Vaughn Lewis 2014 Diversity Advancement Scholar, AF/McAslan Fellow May 2019 Graduate, The Cooper Union
My acceptance into The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at The Cooper Union in 2014 was an incredible opportunity which was both exciting and challenging. It came at a difficult time, a complex year in the 155-year history of the institution when there was a change in Cooper’s tuition policy. Because of this, my first studio Architectonics, led by David Gersten with Wes Rozen and Rikke Jørgensen, was the most formative during my education. In that semester my professors worked to create situations within which the students could inhabit questions and create new works that would embody the current moment in the life of the institution. Together with my classmates, we measured, drew and built a six-foot-high scaled model of the Foundation Building’s exterior, filled with each student’s interpretation of salient interior spaces. Speaking metaphorically, our professors placed the weight of the school in our hands, to care for the school in the most profound sense of “building it.” We built a model of The Cooper Union while acknowledging that The Cooper Union is itself a model of education. This approach was unlike anything I thought studying architecture would be and as a result of this experience, each studio thereafter became a social poetic act, a collection of gestures of ethics and imagination.
Throughout my studies, I committed myself to seek out programs which would provide me the foundation I needed to become a valuable member of any design team. Aside from my design studios and classes, it was extremely important to me that I supplemented my education with teaching. I learned about the school of architecture while I was in high school and attending a Cooper Union pre-college program called The Saturday Program. The program offered free studio art courses to New York City Public High School students and gave students individual advisement on applying to colleges along with preparing their art and architecture portfolios. It was because of this program that I gained the necessary skills I needed to create a competitive application for acceptance to The Cooper Union. So in my sophomore year, I became an instructor and taught a class each semester thereafter until I graduated. It was important for me to help give to others what was given to me because I fully understand that service is the price we
pay for the space we occupy.
I also received several prominent scholarships/grants and fellowships including: a grant from The National Science Foundation, 2018 William Cooper Mack Thesis Fellowship, 2017 Palmer Hayden Travel Fellowship and the 2015 AIA /AF Diversity Scholarship. These fellowships and organizations have provided me with a tremendous amount of financial and moral support. As a result of these opportunities, I was fortunate enough to travel to places like Mexico, Italy, Germany, Hong Kong, China, and Africa.
An integral aspect of architecture is its engagement with different cultures and communities around the world. Furthermore, I pursued architecture fully aware of the disparity between the total number of African American in the U.S. population and the percentage of licensed African-American architects.
However, I believe that without greater diversity in the architecture field, the profession threatens to limit its views, perspectives, and ideas. As we live in a multicultural society, it is my belief that the architecture profession should support professionals who reflect and represent the diverse communities they serve.
Jalen Price 2014 Diversity Advancement Scholar May 2019 Graduate, Drury University
My time in architecture school is one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences in my life. Going into this course of study, I had a base understanding of architecture. I was unaware of the depth at which architects and other design professions do impact society. Throughout my five years at Drury University, I grew as a person and largely as a designer. I was challenged to design in a variety of typologies and user groups. My designs ranged from a singular space to complexes, to a 25-year master plan. Outside of design, I solidified my commitment to using design to impact my community through the student organizations Art of Space and the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS). I was able to grow my leadership skills as a Residential Assistant for the university.
In addition to working part-time, keeping up with course requirements, and participating in various organizations, I am proud of receiving the following recognition during my time in architecture school: Three-time recipient of a scholarship from the AIA St. Louis Scholarship Fund; Community Award recipient from the Hammons School of Architecture; and Alpha Rho Chi Bronze Medal recipient from the Hammons School of Architecture. I completed two architecture internships. I was a Summer Intern with Grice Group Architects -St. Louis, MO in 2017. I completed a Spring internship with Agency Landscape and Planning – Cambridge, MA in 2019.
As I enter the professional world, I will begin with a position as an Architectural Designer with BRR Architecture in Kansas City, MO. I am excited to see where this opportunity takes me. I carry two pieces of advice as I begin this phase of my life. A professor once told me keep growing and refuse to become stagnant in my path as a designer and person. The second piece of advice came from a mentor who told to always seize opportunities from those who believe in me. The intersection of design and positive community impact I learned at Drury has sparked an interest in urban design; therefore, I plan to pursue an additional degree in the future.
AIA Knowledge Community becomes Foundation’s first donor providing support in perpetuity for the Foundation’s diversity initiative.
WASHINGTON – The Architects Foundation is receiving a permanent endowment from The American Institute of Architects’ Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN) to fund additional Diversity Advancement Scholarship recipients.
Through its $150,000 gift, CRAN will support a minority architecture student who shows interest in residential architecture as a career path by funding their college experience with $20,000 to be distributed evenly over the course of up to 5 years.
“CRAN is pleased to further the educational needs of future residential architects,” said 2019 CRAN Chair Mary S. Cerrone, AIA. “The positive experience from this first scholarship investment prompted CRAN to invest more fully in the education of future minority architects.”
This is not the first time CRAN has supported the Diversity Advancement Scholarship. Last year, the CRAN Legacy Committee—a volunteer group comprised of the knowledge community’s past chairs—previously gave $20,000 to support one scholar in 2018.
“This very generous gift from CRAN has set the stage for new foundation pillars of giving focused on scholarships in perpetuity” said Architects Foundation President James Walbridge, AIA. “Our board has created a fundraising campaign called ‘Pillars for the Future.’ Each pillar represents one Diversity Advancement Scholarship in perpetuity.
‘With this gift, CRAN has become the foundation pillar. We are so delighted to have CRAN as our partner in this effort to attract, inspire and invest in a diverse next-generation design community.”
The Architects Foundation has been working to expand the Diversity Advancement Scholarship. Last week, the Foundation awarded ten minority students entering or transferring to accredited architecture programs with scholarships.
Applications for the 2020-2021 Diversity Advancement Scholarship will open in fall 2019. Complete details are available on the Foundations website.
Individuals and organizations interested in creating a lasting impact to support and empower a diverse next-generation design community are encouraged to contact the Architects Foundation.
2019 Architects Foundation Scholars Selected
Newly expanded scholarships recognize and support diverse future leaders of the profession in equity, historic preservation, risk management and sustainability
WASHINGTON – The Architects Foundation is continuing to support the future of the architecture profession by recognizing and supporting scholars through an ever-expanding scholarship and grant program offering. Programs listed below represent the latest recipients of the Architect’s Foundation scholarship and grant program.
Architects Foundation/McAslan Fellowship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the inaugural 2019 Architects Foundation/McAslan Fellowship to Cooper Union student Vaughn Lewis and University of Nebraska-Lincoln student Shayla Dick. The scholarship supports travel experiences for two top graduating students to engage with McAslan+Partners and the World Monuments Fund.
Diversity Advancement Scholarship The Architects Foundation is continuing to support diversity in the architecture profession by awarding its Diversity Advancement Scholarship to 10 students entering architecture school. Each of the students will receive $4,000 per year towards tuition for the next five years totaling $20,000 each. This year’s recipients are:
2019-2020 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2019-2020 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship to Yale University student Michelle Badr. Badr will receive a $10,000 scholarship intended to support the education of women in architecture. She will also be mentored by an architect at Payette for the scholarship year. Badr is the fourth recipient of the scholarship, which honors late architect Sho-Ping Chin, FAIA, a long-time principal at Payette and a healthcare practice leader who was instrumental in defining and elevating the national discourse for women in design. Learn more about this year’s Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship.
Sho-Ping Chin Women’s Leadership Summit Grants The Architects Foundation is recognizing and supporting women in architecture with the Sho-Ping Chin Women’s Leadership Summit Grant. Specifically, the grant provides registration and travel to the 2019 AIA Women’s Leadership Summit for women in architecture moving into leadership roles in the profession. This year, the grant will fund eleven women to attend the summit, which is being held from September 12-14 in Minneapolis. This year’s recipients are:
2019-2020 a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp AIA Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2019-2020 a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp AIA Scholarship to Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) student Vardhan Mehta and Texas A&M University student Hassan Anifowose. Each will receive $5,000 to be used towards tuition for demonstrating a strong interest in practice and risk management. The scholarship honors David W. Lakamp, who was a founder of a/e ProNet and a trusted advisor to the profession of architecture.
Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the inaugural Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship to Cornell University student Laura Stargala. Stargala will receive a $5,000 scholarship towards tuition for demonstrating an exemplary work focus at design that includes sustainability, resilience, wellness and beauty.
Architects Foundation now accepting applications for two scholarships
WASHINGTON – Beginning today, architecture students can apply to the Architects Foundation—the philanthropic partner of The American Institute of Architects (AIA)—for two scholarships that can help advance their professional goals.
“Scholarships are key to supporting the next generation of architects,” said Architects Foundation Executive Director Marci Reed. “By providing these opportunities to students matriculating from architecture programs and to graduate students, the Architects Foundation aims to empower students to excel in the profession and have positive impact on their communities and the world.”
Applications are currently being accepted for the Architects Foundation/McAslan Fellowship and the a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp AIA Scholarship. Architecture students that meet all outlined criteria are eligible to apply. Applications must be received for either scholarship by Wednesday, March 20, 2019 in order to be considered.
This is the first year The Architects Foundation/McAslan Fellowship is being offered. The scholarship supports travel experiences for two top graduating students to engage with McAslan+Partners and the World Monuments Fund. Specifically, selected students will participate in the restoration of the Madame Gauthier Villa in Port au Prince, Haiti. The program is part of the U.S. State Department’s newly awarded Ambassador’s Fund. As part of the scholarship, students will travel to New York as well as Port-au-Prince.
This is also the first year the Architects Foundation is offering the a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp AIA Scholarship, which was established in 1990. The scholarship honors David W. Lakamp, who was a founder of a/e ProNet and a trusted advisor to the profession of architecture. Lakamp’s legacy of professionalism and integrity set new standards in the field of insurance services. In his honor, two students who best demonstrate a strong interest in practice and risk management will each receive a $5,000 award that can be used towards tuition.
Call for Applications: Architects Foundation Now Accepting Submissions for Scholarships
WASHINGTON – The Architects Foundation, the philanthropic partner of The American Institute of Architects (AIA), is now accepting applications for three scholarships that support the next generation of architects.
“The Architects Foundation is thrilled to welcome more scholars into our fold,” said Marci Reed, Executive Director. “In addition to financial support, we aim to empower them to succeed in the profession of architecture and have positive impact in an increasingly diverse world.”
Beginning today, architecture students—that meet the required criteria—can apply for either the Diversity Advancement Scholarship, the Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship or the Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship. Applications must be received by Jan. 16, 2019 for consideration.
This multiyear scholarship supports high school and undergraduate minority students who are entering, enrolled in, or transferring into a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) accredited undergraduate architecture program. Scholarships may be renewed every year until the degree is completed, for up to five years ($20,000 total award).
This scholarship is an honor to the legacy of Sho-Ping Chin, FAIA, who helped shape the national discourse on women in architecture and design. The scholarship is open to third and fourth-year women architecture students in a NAAB-accredited undergraduate degree program, as well as women in any level of graduate study in a NAAB-accredited program. In addition to a financial award of $10,000, recipients are also paired with a senior mentor from Payette for their scholarship year.
The Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship was established in 2018 in honor of architect Yann Weymouth, AIA. Weymouth served as chief of design for I.M. Pei on the National Gallery of Art East Wing in Washington, DC and the Grand Louvre Project in Paris. He is now working as the Design Director for a science research laboratory at the University of Miami with Harvard Jolly Architecture. This scholarship is awarded each year to an architecture student with a focus on the design intersection of sustainability, resilience, wellness and beauty. The recipient will receive a $5,000 scholarship as well as the opportunity to be mentored by Weymouth.
Architects Foundation Announces 2018 Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship Recipients
Scholarship recipients receive funds and study materials for the Architectural Registration Examination.
WASHINGTON – The Architects Foundation has selected ten recipients of the 2018 Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship.
The Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship recognizes the significant contributions of emerging professionals at early stages in their careers and helps defray the costs associated with the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). The scholarship recipients will receive funds to cover all sections of the Architectural Registration Examination, as well as study materials from Brightwood College.
“The Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship recognizes the exceptional efforts of individuals in the community who are also seeking architectural licensure” said Pettigrew Scholarship Jury Chair William Roschen, FAIA. “We are excited to be able to support these emerging professionals in recognition of their accomplishments.”
Each year, the jury selects up to ten recipients for the award. This year’s scholars are:
Jose Barajas, Assoc. AIA (Spokane, WA)
Geraldene Blackgoat, Assoc. AIA (Albuquerque, NM)
Maya Bird-Murphy, Assoc. AIA (Chicago, IL)
Tiffany Brown, Assoc. AIA (Detroit, MI)
Denise Everson, Assoc. AIA (Washington, DC)
Sergio Legon-Talamoni, Assoc. AIA (Seattle, WA)
Isela Martinez, Assoc. AIA (Hampstead, NC)
Deborah Perez, Assoc. AIA (Bajadero, PR)
Robyn Savacool, Assoc. AIA (Hamilton, NJ)
Sarah Young, Assoc. AIA (Lafayette, LA)
The Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship was established in 2004 by the AIA National Associates Committee, to honor the memory of their late friend and colleague, Jason Pettigrew, Associate AIA. The scholarship has been with the Architects Foundation since 2015.
Architects Foundation Supports Women in Architecture with Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship
Scholarship honors architect Sho-Ping Chin, impactful mentor and champion of equity in architecture.
WASHINGTON – The Architects Foundation announces architecture student Orli Hakanoglu as the 2018-2019 recipient of the Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship, which is an annual $10,000 grant intended to support the education of women in architecture.
“The opportunity to recognize Orli and honor Sho-Ping through this scholarship elevates the entire profession,” said Architects Foundation Executive Director Marci Reed, CFRE, MPA. “Sho-Ping’s legacy is thriving and Orli’s passion for architecture is proof.”
Hakanoglu is the third recipient of the Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship, which honors the late architect Sho-Ping Chin, FAIA, a long-time principal at Payette and a health-care practice leader who was instrumental in defining and elevating the national discourse for women in design.
“We started this scholarship to honor Sho-Ping’s memory and it is such a privilege each year to meet outstanding students of whom Sho-Ping would have been proud to have known,” said Payette President Kevin B. Sullivan, FAIA. “After reading Orli’s essay and reviewing her portfolio, I knew the jury had selected an ideal candidate. Her commitment to serving socially-conscious design is well aligned with Sho-Ping’s values and approach to architecture. We look forward to supporting Orli as she launches her architecture career.”
Born and raised in New York, Hakanoglu is a third-year student working towards her Master’s degree (anticipated May 2019) at the Yale School of Architecture. Prior to her time at Yale, Hakanoglu studied studio art, art history, and architecture at Wellesley College, where she supplemented her coursework with architecture studio courses at the MIT School of Architecture + Planning through the Wellesley-MIT exchange program. Hakanoglu is passionate about how architecture, art, and design can play a role in promoting equality across a range of societies and cultures. Additionally, she is interested in strengthening diversity and inclusivity within the professional and educational fields of architecture. Hakanoglu has worked at Architizer, the Yale University Art Gallery, and is currently working as a summer intern at Deborah Berke Partners. In her free time she enjoys painting, urban sketching, and exploring New York. Hakanoglu is the third recipient of this first scholarship offered through the Architects Foundation.
Applications for the 2019-2020 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship will open in the fall of 2018. Qualified students—with at least two years of undergraduate or any level of graduate study—are encouraged to apply.
The Architects Foundation was created to celebrate architecture’s value by advancing tomorrow’s design leaders and preserving architectural treasures of the past. Through its scholarship programs, the Foundation aims to attract and cultivate a diverse next generation of architects, and provide new opportunities to support the evolution of the profession. The Architects Foundation also preserves the historic Octagon building in the nation’s capital, seeking ways to best express the values of historic preservation work and keep the Octagon’s legacy alive with exhibits, educational programs and partnerships. For more information, visit the Architects Foundation website.
About Payette
Payette is a leading architectural design firm in Boston, MA. They are a design collective driven to create boldly original buildings for science and healthcare that are as profoundly humane in their accommodation of needs as they are pioneering in their pursuit of environmental performance. For more than three quarters of a century, Payette has practiced innovation in these highly technical buildings while developing a culture based on deep readings of program as one of the essential subtexts of architecture. This thorough understanding of how hospitals and laboratories work has helped clients transcend function to transform places and improve people’s lives. For more information, please visit www.payette.com.
Architects Foundation Quadruples its Diversity Advancement Scholarships
Scholarship expansion provides financial support to 20 students enrolling in architecture studies.
Washington – The Architects Foundation is awarding 20 new multiyear scholarships to students attending NAAB-accredited schools of architecture, quadrupling the number of scholarships made in 2017.
The Foundation–the philanthropic partner of the American Institute of Architects (AIA)—is also more than doubling the number of students currently assisted by its multiyear scholarship program with a $1 million investment from the AIA. As part of the Foundation’s program, scholars receive $4,000 per year for up to five years.
Two of the new 20 scholars are funded by Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation and will receive an additional $1,000 per year. The AIA Custom Residential Architects Network also funded a scholar this year who has expressed interest in residential architecture. Recipients of the 2018-2019 Diversity Advancement Scholarships will be recognized at the AIA Conference on Architecture (A’18) in New York City.
“The Diversity Advancement Scholarship was established by the AIA and the Ford Foundation following a 1968 speech by Whitney M. Young Jr. calling upon architects to do more for the community. Young’s charge included scholarships for minority students, and in 1970, 20 awards were made,” said Marci Reed, Executive Director of the Architects Foundation. “Fifty years after Young’s challenge, we are pleased to be back at this impressive level of effort to create a diverse next generation of architects and community builders.”
Eight scholarship recipients, including new scholars Maly Sears and Caroline Senyszyn, will attend A’18 this week, which was made possible in part by Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation, ConstructConnect, Cooper Carry, and Lord Aeck Sargent.
The 2018-2019 Diversity Advancement Scholarship recipients are:
Esmeralda Aceituno of Los Angeles, CA
Daniel Allen of Chicago, IL
Elizabeth Amigon of Sunnyside, NY
Annabelle Asali of Los Angeles, CA
Shanelle Brown of Fairhope, AL
Nina Crosby Walton of Frederick, MD
Andrea De Haro of Doral, FL
Genesis Gadberry of San Angelo, TX
Isabella Greco of Chicago, IL
Joya Ma of Phoenix, AZ
Lauren McLean of Mount Vernon, NY
Hana Morrison of Honolulu, HI (scholar funded by AIA Custom Residential Architects Network)
Amy Rojas of San Antonio, TX
Sarah Saad of East Elmhurt, NY
Maly Sears of Adrian, MO (scholar funded by Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation)
Caroline Senyszyn of Fort Worth, TX (scholar funded by Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation)
Luiza Vara of Phoenix, AZ
Ania Yee-Boguinskaia of Houston, TX
Nahom Zeleke of Columbia, AL
Carolina Zuniga of Doral, FL
Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation & Architects Foundation announce 2018-2019 Diversity Advancement Scholarship recipients
Paint company’s foundation gives $50,000 in scholarships to two aspiring architects
Washington, DC – May 8, 2018 – Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation, in partnership with the Architects Foundation, is announcing recipients of its 2018-2019 Diversity Advancement Scholarship, which provides assistance to minority students who are pursuing a professional architecture degree recognized by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).
“We are proud to continue to support scholarship programs such as the Architects Foundation’s Diversity Advancement Scholarship and assist and encourage students who are pursuing careers in the architecture and interior design fields,” said Mike Searles, CEO of Benjamin Moore & Co. and Chairman of the Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation. “We congratulate Caroline Senyszyn of Fort Worth, Texas and Maly Searsof Adrian, Missourion earning the 2018-2019 Diversity Advancement Scholarships and look forward to seeing how the next generation of architects shapes the industry.”
As part of the scholarship, Senyszyn and Sears will each receive $5,000 annually for five years and will have the opportunity to attend the AIA Conference on Architecture 2018 in New York City this June.
“Thanks to Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation, we are able to provide the top two Diversity Advancement Scholarship recipients with additional funding and opportunities to travel to AIA’s annual conference,” said Marci Reed, Executive Director of the Architects Foundation. “We are truly grateful to Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation for their support of minority students aspiring to become architects.”
Over the past three years, Benjamin Moore Foundation has been committed to supporting the architecture and design fields, which has included donating $150,000 to support aspiring architects through the Diversity Advancement Scholarship program.
Each year, the program selects two candidates, which must be either high school seniors and transfer students planning to attend architecture school , or first-year college students currently enrolled in a NAAB-accredited architecture program. In order to enroll, qualified candidates must submit two examples of their creative work, a high school transcript, a personal essay, and two letters of recommendation, among other requirements.
Complete details on the Diversity Advancement Scholarship program are available on the Architects Foundation website.
About Benjamin Moore & Co. Benjamin Moore & Co., a Berkshire Hathaway company, was founded in 1883. One of North America’s leading manufacturers of premium quality residential, commercial and industrial maintenance coatings, Benjamin Moore & Co. maintains a relentless commitment to innovation and sustainable manufacturing practices. The Benjamin Moore premium portfolio spans the brand’s flagship paint lines including Aura®, Regal® Select, CENTURY®, Ultra Spec®, Natura® and ben®. The Benjamin Moore & Co. Family of Brands includes specialty and architectural paints from Coronado®, Lenmar® and Insl-x®. Benjamin Moore & Co. coatings are available primarily from its more than 5,000 locally owned and operated paint and decorating retailers.
Charitable Giving at Benjamin Moore & Co. Benjamin Moore and the Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation are committed to enhancing North American communities. Through in-kind and financial donations, Benjamin Moore & the Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation are able to support numerous national and regional nonprofits that embody their giving mission including AIA Architects Foundation, Gary Sinise Foundation, National Trust for Historic Preservation, The Mission Continues and YouthBuild® USA, among others. Additionally, teams of Benjamin Moore employee volunteers give thousands of hours each year to charities across North America.
About The Architects Foundation The Architects Foundation was created to celebrate architecture’s value by advancing tomorrow’s design leaders and preserving architectural treasures of the past. Through its scholarship programs, the Foundation aims to attract and cultivate a diverse next generation of architects, and provide new opportunities to support the evolution of the profession. The Architects Foundation also preserves the historic Octagon building in the nation’s capital, seeking ways to best express the values of historic preservation work and keep the Octagon’s legacy alive with exhibits, educational programs and partnerships. For more information, visit the Architects Foundation website.
About The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Founded in 1857, AIA consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through more than 200 international, state, and local chapters, AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards. AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business. In addition, the Institute engages civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation, and world.
Architects Foundation announces the Yann Weymouth Scholarship
Scholarship to provide financial support to architecture student and mentorship from Yann Weymouth, AIA.
Washington, DC – The Architects Foundation is announcing the establishment of a new scholarship program in honor of architect Yann Weymouth, AIA.
“I am deeply honored to be a part of this scholarship,” said Weymouth. “This opportunity will allow me to engage, mentor, and guide some of the most talented young architecture students so that they can carry the torch forward to shape our future. For that, I am deeply grateful.”
The Yann Weymouth Scholarship will be granted annually—beginning next year—to a graduate architecture student dedicated to integrating exceptional design with sustainable initiatives. In addition to financial support, students will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to personally seek guidance and support from Weymouth.
During his career, Weymouth served as chief of design for I.M. Pei on the National Gallery of Art East Wing in Washington and the Grand Louvre Project in Paris. In addition, he held positions as senior vice president, design director, and worldwide design board member for HOK Architects, where he contributed to four major museum commissions in the state of Florida. He now serves as Design Director of St. Pete Design Group.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate Yann’s world-renowned career with this scholarship,” said Architects Foundation President Jeffery Potter, FAIA. “I look forward to seeing his impact on these students translate into successful careers in the architecture profession.”
The Architects Foundation held a private reception at the Octagon Thursday to honor Weymouth and announce the scholarship. At the event, Weymouth was joined by his daughter Katharine and his wife Susana; David Skorton, Smithsonian Institution; Chien Chung Pei, AIA, Pei Partnership Architects; William Hellmuth, FAIA, HOK; Charles Hine, Salvador Dalí Museum; Laura Hine, The James Museum; Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan, Washington Post.
Marika Dalley Snider, PhD, AIA
Orli Hakanoglu
Vaughn Lewis
Jalen Price
