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The Architecture Department offers a number of scholarships and awards to architecture majors. These scholarships and awards recognize need, promise and achievement in a broad range of activities related to architecture. Recipients are selected in the spring quarter and the financial award is given in the fall.
Application Scholarships
The Architecture Department offers the following scholarships that are awarded based on the evaluation of student applications. The application document containing criteria and forms is posted here each spring. Students will be sent an email when the application materials and deadlines are posted.
Download the 2009-2010 Scholarship Application Form (pdf)
Link to the List of CAED Scholarships
Emily N. Alstot Memorial Scholarship ($600)
In memory of Emily N. Alstot, this scholarship is presented to a third-, fourth-, or fifth-year architecture student in good academic standing who successfully exhibits a special combination of talents and humanistic skills. The student selected for this award has demonstrated academic diligence, overall helpfulness to design lab peers, and generosity in sharing time, advice and project materials. Students will have the opportunity to either apply for this award directly or be nominated by peers and/or instructors. As a part of completing an application of interest, students or those making the nomination, will be required to include a minimum of two reference statements, one each from a "lab peer" and an instructor.
2009 Award Recipient: Huangyuan Chen
bfgc Architects Planners, Inc. Scholarship ($1800 or 2 @ $900)
The firm of bfgc Architects Planners awards this scholarship to third-year and higher architecture students who exhibit well-rounded professional and social skills, exemplary dedication to their studies as shown in their all-around design studio grades and leadership skills through student clubs and/or community activities.
2009 Award Recipients: Francisco Mendoza and Aramis Arciga
Alfred B. Berghell & Joy G. Berghell Scholarship ($1500)
The Alfred B. Berghell and Joy G. Berghell Scholarship was established in 1997 and is awarded to third-, fourth-, or fifth-year architecture students who exhibit outstanding scholastic achievement in all their studies.
2009 Award Recipient: Huangyuan Chen
Douglas W. Butzbach Memorial Scholarship ($1800)
Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Butzbach established this memorial scholarship in memory of their son, Douglas, a 1954 graduate in architectural engineering. This scholarship provides financial assistance to architectural students who show exceptional promise in the field.
2009 Award Recipient: Kara D. Moore
Darden Architects Student Scholarship (Not Offered in 2009)
This scholarship is made possible through the generosity of Darden Architects, Inc. who want to to recognize, support and encourage the professional development of students interested in Architecture from California’s Central San Joaquin Valley. To be eligible, students must be Architecture majors with a minimum GPA of 2.8 and have graduated from a high school in the Central San Joaquin Valley. The Architecture Department Head, in consultation with the Director of Financial Aid, will select the recipient from among qualified applicants based on merit.
Richard Lee Fisher Memorial Scholarship (3 @ $3000)
The Fisher family established this scholarship in 1991 in memory of Richard Fisher. The scholarship is distributed among three students who have been selected to participate in the Danish International Studies (DIS) Architecture and Design Program in Copenhagen, Denmark. Students are selected on the basis of their demonstrated outstanding accomplishment and promise in design and superior academic achievement.
2009 Award Recipients: Juan Olivarria, Allison N. Pell and Brian P. Vargo
R. L. Graves Jr. Scholarship (1 @ $500)
The R. L. Graves Scholarship was established in 2007 to provide financial support for an architecture student participation in the Danish International Study Program (DIS). It is the intention of this scholarship to encourage and assist students in broadening their academic studies in architecture through participation in the DIS Program, and to provide support to top design students in architecture who have been approved for study at DIS. The Award from the endowment shall be granted to the top ranked applicant(s) as determined by the Architecture Scholarship Committee.
2009 Award Recipient: Catherine Nguyen
Thor & Juanita Gulbrand AIA Memorial Scholarship (Not Offered in 2009)
Mrs. Juanita Gulbrand established this scholarship in 1984 in memory of Thor Gulbrand to recognize exceptional ability in architectural design.
D. Stewart Kerr Scholarship (Not Offered in 2009)
Mrs. Elizabeh Kerr sponsored this scholarship in memory of former Santa Monica Architect and part-time Cal Poly architectural instructor, D. Stewart Kerr. Mr. Kerr taught in the architecture program between 1965-1972 and through his expertise, patience and dedication helped to shape the professional careers of many architecture graduates. This scholarship is given to a student to recognize the superior accomplishment of their architectural studies.
Don & Caryl Koberg Architecture History Scholarship ($900)
Don and Caryl Koberg established this scholarship in 1992 to recognize academic excellence in architectural history course work. The recipients of this scholarship are selected by the architectural history faculty. According to Don Koberg, "The specific subject area of history was chosen as a result of our personal concern for strengthening the importance of history as a key ingredient in the undergraduate curriculum."
2009 Award Recipient: Bethany Gomes
Kruger Bensen Ziemer Scholarship ($1000)
This award was established by the Santa Barbara firm Kruger Bensen Ziemer Architects, Inc. This award is offered to a talented student who shows interest in becoming a registered architect in California. Applicants must write a concise statement about how they would use the award funds if granted.
2009 Award Recipient: Christopher Wagner
Andrew C. Lowery ($300)
Dru Ann Copping established this scholarship in honor of her father, Andrew Lowery, who had a keen interest in architecture and admired Cal Poly’s Architecture program as one of the best in the country.
2009 Award Recipient: Kristen A. Fowler
Vern Swansen Scholarship ($500)
The Daedalus Chapter of Alpha Rho Chi is offering an annual scholarship in memory of Vern Swansen. Vern Swansen was a gifted architect, published artist, and a beloved Cal Poly professor. His works are now preserved and curated by the Daedalus Chapter of Alpha Rho Chi at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Alpha Row Chi is a national, professional, co-ed fraternity for students in architecture and the allied arts. This scholarship was developed to aid students with a particular interest in art and travel in the pursuit of their education.
2009 Award Recipient: Bianca C. Clayton
Don Tanklage Scholarship (1 @ $5000)
The Don Tanklage scholarship was established in 2006 to support excellence in construction management and architecture. The award that is shared by two students is made to full-time sophomores, juniors, or seniors.
2009 Award Recipient: Matthew C. Kendall
Whisenant Award for Architectural Practice ($1000)
Awarded through the San Diego Architectural Foundation
During the summer of 2006, the Architecture Department was approached by Jay Whisenant (Cal Poly Grad 1972) and principal of NTD STICHLER with the desire to establish an award demonstrating an integrative approach to architecture practice. In Jay’s words, "I feel the Architectural education process has increasingly removed an understanding of the technical aspects of the practice of Architecture from its curriculum, and I would like to encourage student leaders in pursuing this dimension of the profession." We were delighted by this initiative, vision, and focus on a particular yet critical aspect of architecture.
In 2009, Mr. Whisenant identified the student work of the Collaborative Design Build Studio (ARCH 452 and CM 431) taught by Professors Barb Jackson (CM), Nick Watry (CM), and Margot McDonald (ARCH) for consideration as potential recipient(s) for the award.
2009 Award Recipients: Thor Hoskins (ARCH), Kathryn Stewart (ARCH), Matt Ershov (CM) and Christopher Lloyd (CM)
2009 Award Criteria
This award will recognize a CAED student or student team from the Collaborative Design Build Studio who develop a design solution that includes:
- A thesis statement that describes the problem at hand, including the physical, cultural, historical, sustainability and theoretical context of the project;
- The incorporation of an appropriate program within an architectural framework (i.e., it must be a building with programmed space – not a solution based solely on sculptural elements, landscape, or computer renderings of space without the functional relationships of a building program);
- The integration of technical systems including structure, mechanical systems, accessibility/life safety/egress, and materials within an architectural framework (i.e., the project must attempt to deal with the material reality of architecture). In addition the project will incorporate integrated project delivery considerations, including design-construction approach, risk management strategies, contract structure, costs and schedule; and,
- The depiction of these in the form of coordinated documents, drawings and models (i.e., the presentation should be relatively complete, and not depicted in the form of fragmented or unrelated snippets, including, for example, dimensioned and drawn to scale wall sections illustrating materials and systems).
The winning project need not show a thorough development of all of these aspects, but it should depict enough of them to indicate the intent of the designer or design team to create a comprehensive design synthesis.
Eligibility
Students must be in good academic standing. Only continuing students are eligible for this scholarship award as funds will be deposited with the Financial Aid Office at Cal Poly. The Financial Aid Office is responsible for scheduling disbursement through the Student Accounts Office upon written notification of the selection and request for funds. This activity should occur at least two weeks before disbursement, if award recognition occurs in the spring. The award may also be disbursed in the following fall quarter. Per federal regulations governing overawards, current recipients of need-based aid will have scholarships, awards and other resources coordinated (Overawards Cite 34 CFR 673.5), regardless if need is an eligibility requirement.
Selection Process for the Award
A jury of two faculty and one administrator will select and recommend the top three candidates for the award. The donor, Mr. Jay Whisenant, will select the top award winner from these candidates. This year, the jury consists of Dr. Barbara Jackson and Prof. Margot McDonald and Department Head Henri de Hahn. The award may go to an outstanding individual or team as recommended by the jury and selected by the donor. If a team is selected, the award will be apportioned as follows: 50% shared by 4th Year Architectural Design students and 50% shared by other CAED students on the team. The donor reserves the right to not grant an award should no suitable candidate be identified according to the award criteria.
Past Recipients of the Award
The 2007 recipients of the award were David Aine and Matthew Ridenour; two thesis students, who under the guidance of Prof. Sandy Stannard and Tom DiSanto, poured their life and soul into creating a project that will directly benefit the future of the Masai people of Kenya, Africa. David and Matthew’s thesis topic Hope+architecture [Kenya] "is a focus on understanding and responding to, through architectural intervention, people’s basic needs in order to thrive, thus improving their quality of life. Project: Hope[1] is our vision to design and build an easily reproducible medical clinic for the Masai people of Kenya, Africa. Through our architecture we desire to instill Hope."
NTD Architecture’s web page speaks eloquently about their desire for innovative strategies and the creation of sensitive design solutions. The values of Integrity, Commitment, Creativity, Excellence, and Relationships are key to their success and it is without doubt that David and Matthew’s project had much resonance for the jurors and Jay’s final choice of the project HOPE+architecture [Kenya].
For more information on the firm, go to the NTD Stichler web site.
Frederic Peter Young Memorial Scholarship ($500)
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Young established this scholarship in memory of their son, Frederick. The criteria for selection include financial need, interest in a career in the building, construction or related field, and a junior, senior or above class level in the Architecture Department.
2009 Award Recipient: Christine F. Zipperer
Nominated Awards & Competitions
The following awards are based on nominations provided by the faculty or competitions and therefore, do not require the submission of a scholarship application.
Stephen O. Anderson Memorial Scholarship (Not Offered in 2009)
This award was established in memory of Stephen Otto Anderson, a 1969 architecture graduate, and is presented to a third-year architecture student for excellence in design. Selection is based on a specific competition each year.
Henri de Hahn 2nd Year Award ($400)
This award is given to the student in second year whose project exhibits the most comprehensive and imaginative integration of design, architectural practice and environmental controls.
2009 Award Recipient: Huangyuan Chen
Henri de Hahn 3rd Year Award ($400)
This award is given to the student in third year whose project exhibits the most comprehensive and imaginative integration of design, architectural practice and environmental controls.
2009 Award Recipient: Pete Austin
Larry H. Loh, Architect, Architecture Design Excellence ($500)
Emeritus Professor Larry H. Loh taught in the Architecture Department and in the City and Regional Planning Department at Cal Poly, SLO and Pomona for 25 years prior to retirement in 2001. He offers this scholarship to encourage and motivate students to excel in integration of architecture and site design.
2009 Award Recipient: Janelle N. Weins
Arcosanti Workshop Scholarship ($2700)
Alumni Douglas Lee and Ron Sakahara of Lee & Sakahara Architects established two scholarships each in the amount of $1,350 for two students to attend one of the summer workshops offered by the Cosanti Foundation at Arcosanti, AZ. These scholarships are intended to support and encourage students who are interested in learning more about issues of urban sustainability.
2009 Award Recipient: TBA
Robert Hifumi Odo Scholarship ($2800)
This award was established in memory of architecture alumnus Bob Odo by the architecture and planning firm of McLarand, Vasquez, and Partners. This award is available to a third- or fourth-year architecture student who shows outstanding ability in architecture design and overall academic performance.
2009 Award Recipient: Edward Becker
MBH Architects Scholarship Endowment (Not Offered in 2009)
This scholarship will support a well-rounded student enrolled in any class level within the Architecture program at Cal Poly. The ideal candidate will exhibit exceptional design sense and the leadership and critical thinking skills required for a distinguished future in architecture.
Oltmans Construction Company Scholarship for Design Excellence ($1000)
This award is offered to an architecture student who has completed or is in the process of completing fourth-year design and practice. Students are selected based on their distinction in architectural design, general scholastic excellence, professional promise, and portfolio review.
2009 Award Recipient: Tracey C. Coffin
Special Scholarships
George Agron Memorial Scholarship (Not Offered in 2009)
The George Agron Scholarship is open to graduate students pursuing the master of Science in Architecture degree. Candidates are selected based on their special interests in architectural research related to their advanced professional studies in architecture. The selection criteria include academic excellence, commitment to architectural applied research and professional promise.
Note: Available to graduate students only and the application process and selection is coordinated by Jens Pohl.
Architecture Department Recognition Awards
Architecture Department Academic Excellence
2008 Award Recipients: Erik C. Dawley, Stephanie N. Green and Margaret J. Guy
Architecture Department Service Award
2009 Award Recipients: Paul Cattaneo, Clayton Taylor, and Vanessa Amerson
CAED Scholarships
Architecture Students may also apply for scholarships/awards administered by the CAED. Application and criteria are on the CAED Scholarship web page.