For more than fifty years, the scholarship program has helped emerging designers through scholarships and mentorship, supporting more than 3,200 students who today lead firms, teach, and contribute to civic life around the country.
Architecture remains one of the most expensive professions to enter. Master of Architecture graduates finish their degrees burdened by more than sixty-five thousand dollars in student debt, while starting salaries average just sixty thousand dollars. This financial gap limits who can access and remain in the field.
Scholarships from AF open doors for talented students from all backgrounds. Donors help communities benefit from architects who understand a range of needs and perspectives. Each annual gift is an investment in the future of the profession.
With your support, the Architects Foundation expands opportunities for students reflecting the full diversity of our society. Communities grow stronger when architects are prepared to address today’s challenges. Every contribution helps students focus on their education and future, not on overwhelming debt.
Current scholars are using this support to drive change in their universities and local communities .Read more below to learn how our current scholars are already making an impact in their schools and communities.
Make your gift today to help more students achieve their goals and strengthen the profession. If you would like to establish a named scholarship starting at twelve thousand five hundred dollars, and payable over multiple years, contact us at development@architectsfoundation.org to discuss this special opportunity. Your support keeps the field strong and growing for years to come.
Featured Scholars
Silvia Kim
Silvia is a rising junior at Carnegie Mellon University. She is passionate about using storytelling and graphic design to make architecture more accessible and community-centered. With a minor in Human-Computer Interaction, Silvia aims to connect architecture and interaction design to shape user experiences in both physical and digital spaces while exploring the intersection of architecture, graphic design, and urbanism. In the past year she served as a research assistant on a project about game design as a representation of architectural thinking, presented work at a university research conference, competed in the Eisenhower Fund Real Estate Competition, and served as President of the Artist Alley Club.
Omar Leon
Omar is a Colombian-born interdisciplinary artist and designer whose work uses architecture as a medium for healing and uplifting communities. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture at Cornell University, where he currently serves as co-president of the campus chapter of NOMAS. Omar is also the co-founder of Granito de Mostazas Miami Foundation serving underprivileged students in his hometown. He has interned at Safdie Architects, Gensler, Zyscovich, and Urban Promise while also collaborating on award-winning exhibits and earning multiple design and scholarship awards. Omar hopes to work in New York or Miami after graduation.
Gabriella Doe
Gabriella is a fourth-year McNeill Common Good Fellow at the University of Notre Dame pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture with a concentration in Preservation and Restoration and a minor in Latino Studies. Following a year abroad in Italy, Gabriella plans to connect what she learned with building traditions, climate change, and underrepresented communities in the U.S. and Panamá. She is conducting independent research through the McNeill Common Good Fellowship on preserving Emberá and Ngäbe-Buglé traditional architecture amid climate change and Indigenous tourism in Panamá. This semester she hopes to continue writing for STOA, the student-run architecture magazine, and complete her final McNeill Fellowship project. Outside the classroom, volunteers with La Casa de Amistad tutoring K–5 students in South Bend.
Cassius Palacio
Cassius is a proud Chicagoan and Los Angeles transplant currently in his fourth year at the USC School of Architecture. He is eager to pursue a career in design research, innovation, or product design, with excitement to explore uncharted creative directions. His design work is rooted in narrative, viewing architecture as a machine that creates experiences, inspires imagination, and drives innovation. This perspective has guided Cassius through recent experiences conducting independent research in Belize on intercontinental architectural assimilation, developing concept technology as a design research intern with Corgan’s Department of Research and Innovation, and exploring design philosophies and material innovation in Tokyo.
