Scholarships
In partnership with the Architectural Education Foundation, AIA Colorado offers traveling and professional development scholarships to support your educational endeavors and help you hone your craft.
Available Scholarships & Eligibility Information
Arthur A. & Florence G. Fisher Traveling Scholarship: $5,000
This scholarship for travel and study was first presented in 1967 by Arthur and Florence Fisher. Arthur A. Fisher, AIA, the son of an early Colorado Architect, was a talented designer and highly respected architect. He and his wife were ardent travelers and valued the influence that travel had on the education process. He was President of AIA Colorado from 1920 to 1921 and practiced architecture in Denver from 1906 to 1959.
Eligibility
Must be either:
- An architectural intern residing in Colorado
- An architect licensed in and residing in Colorado
- A faculty member at the University of Colorado Denver, College of Architecture & Planning (CAP)
Additional Application Evaluation Criteria:
- New areas of research are preferred over subject matter already researched
- A humanistic or concept-oriented research is preferred over a “hardware” approach
- Possibility of research being carried further if applicant already has established background in proposed area
- Foreign research preferred over USA research which may be more likely funded from other sources
- If awarded to a faculty member, he/she must return to the University of Colorado Denver CAP faculty for one year
- Preference will be given to AIA members, university faculty and students
James M. Hunter, FAIA Scholarship: $2,500
This scholarship for graduate study or travel has been presented since 1985 and is awarded to a qualified member of the design community to study the architecture of the Americas. James M. Hunter, FAIA, was a respected Colorado architect and President of the AIA Colorado from 1952 to 1953 and again in 1970. He practiced Architecture in Boulder from 1940 to 1976.
Eligibility
Must be either:
- A faculty member from the University of Colorado
- An architect licensed in and residing in Colorado
Additional Application Evaluation Criteria:
- The applicant’s potential for contribution through the profession of architecture must be stated
- Financial need shall not be a consideration for this scholarship
- Preference will be given to AIA members, university faculty and students
Hobart D. Wagener, FAIA Traveling Scholarship: $6,000
The Hobart D. Wagener, FAIA Award for travel study will be presented to honor the architectural contributions of “Hoby” Wagener from 1948 to 1985. Hoby had a life-long love of travel for the purpose of studying the art of architecture. He felt all aspects of artistic expression, from the grand cathedrals to archeological sites to the indigenous architecture of the world, influence one’s vision of design.
Eligibility
Must be either:
- A Colorado resident and architecture graduate from any accredited school by September of the year the award is granted
- A graduate from an accredited architecture school that is working as an intern in Colorado
- An architect under the age of 40 practicing architecture in Colorado
Additional Application Evaluation Criteria:
- Demonstration of a passion for learning about architecture in another part of the country/world to broaden and influence applicant’s design skills
- Preference will be given to applicants showing a strong design orientation – Please include samples of design work in application packet and/or web link to portfolio
- Willingness to attend an award dinner with family and friends of Hoby upon receiving the scholarship
- Willingness to share the travel experience at the following year’s Hobart D. Wagener, FAIA Award dinner
- Preference will be given to AIA members, university faculty and students
The Robert & Virginia Fuller Traveling Scholarship: $6,000
This award for travel and study is presented by Robert and Virginia Fuller for the study of Architecture and Urban Design. Of the artifacts that we as architects can affect, few have a greater influence on the human condition than the communities we create. The intent of this award is to provide the recipient the opportunity to study and experience the diversity of man-made spaces and develop the skills to enhance the livability and humanity of our communities through design.
Eligibility
Must be either:
- A Colorado resident who is a graduate in architecture/urban design at any accredited school in year the award is granted
- A graduate from an accredited architecture school that is working as an intern in Colorado
- An architect under the age of 50 licensed and practicing in Colorado
Additional Application Evaluation Criteria:
- Demonstration of a passion for learning about communities in another part of the country or world to broaden and influence applicant’s design skills
- Preference will be given to applicants showing a strong design orientation – Please include samples of design work in application packet and/or web link to portfolio
- Willingness to attend an award dinner/luncheon with the family upon receiving the scholarship
- Preference will be given to AIA Colorado members, university faculty and students
AIA Colorado South Annual Conference Scholarship: $700
This scholarship was endowed by members of AIA Colorado South, prior to the merger to become one statewide organization, to support a local Assoc. AIA member’s participation in AIA Colorado’s annual event, the Practice + Design Conference. Scheduled October 31 through November 2 in Breckenridge, Colorado, this event garners high-quality speakers, educational opportunities, networking and exposure to award-winning architects, individuals in related professions, as well as A/E/C industry product and service providers – all important facets of professional development.
Eligibility:
AIA Colorado Associate member who works and resides in southern Colorado and is in good standing
AIA Denver Leadership Development Scholarship: $1,000
This scholarship was endowed by members of AIA Denver, prior to the merger to become one statewide organization, to support a local member’s participation in a leadership development program. Applicants are requested to describe how the identified program will develop his or her leadership skills.
Eligibility:
AIA Colorado member who works and resides in Denver and is in good standing.
AIA Colorado West Professional Development Scholarship: $1,000
This scholarship was endowed by members of AIA Colorado West, prior to the merger to become one statewide organization, to support a local member’s participation in a program supporting professional development. Applicants are requested to describe how the identified program supports his or her professional development.
Eligibility:
AIA Colorado member who works and resides in western Colorado and is in good standing.
Past Recipients
2018 Scholarship Recipients:
Traveling
- Alicia Davis, AIA was awarded the AIA Colorado West Professional Development Scholarship to attend a CAD-1 Revit Architectural Fundamentals Class
- Ryan Houser, Assoc. AIA was awarded the James M. Hunter, FAIA Scholarship to research Mexico’s healthcare infrastructure and design
- Melissa Ford, AIA was awarded the Arthur A. & Florence G. Fisher Traveling Scholarship to study adaptive reuse concepts in Italy to inform decisions being made in Denver
- Katie Finnegan, AIA was awarded the Robert & Virginia Fuller Traveling Scholarship to explore how Iceland’s architecture is influence by culture, materials and landscape
- Max McCloskey, AIA was awarded the Hobart D. Wagener, FAIA Traveling Scholarship to study innovative learning environments in Scandinavia.
- Diana Esquivel, Assoc. AIA was awarded the AIA Colorado South Annual Conference Scholarship to attend the 2018 AIA Colorado Practive + Design Conference
Academic
- Mike Kephart Scholarship
- Sofia Bruni – CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning
- Temple Hoyne Buell Scholarship
- Rebekka Thy – CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning
- William C. & Priscilla W. Muchow Scholarship
- Grant Johnson – CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning
- Stephen Edwards – CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning
- Kenneth R. Fuller Scholarship
- Genevieve Hampton – CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning
- De Von M. Carlson Scholarship
- Luke Enssle – CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning
- Robert K. Fuller Scholarship for Graduate Study
- Intan Yokelson – CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning
- Oscar Sanchez Scholarship
- Mariah Bowman – CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning
- Gary G. Landin Scholarship
- BillieJo Deininger – CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning
- AIA Colorado North Scholarship
- Madison Castello – CU Boulder Environmental Design Program
- C. Gordon Sweet Scholarship
- Kyle Burds – CU Boulder Environmental Design Program
History of the Architectural Education Foundation
The Architectural Education Foundation, AIA Colorado was created by five devoted AIA Colorado members on 23, 1934 to “advance the interest of the profession of architecture in the State of Colorado.”
This special fund was established by Robert Fuller, FAIA, William E. Fisher, FAIA, George H. Williamson, FAIA, William Bowman, AIA and Fred Montjoy, AIA. Their vision for the Architectural Education Foundation was to create a fun that would award scholarships, grants and prizes to advance the profession.On December 18, 1944, the Trust Fund was transferred to AIA Colorado. Robert K. Fuller was designated its Permanent Trustee. On February 16, 1961, the Fund was incorporated as a separate, tax free, nonprofit corporation.
In 1961 the first scholarship was awarded by the Architectural Education Foundation, 27 years for the five founders’ originally created the fund.
Since the first $600 scholarship was presented in 1961, the Architectural Education Foundation, AIA Colorado has awarded more than $800,000 in scholarships, grants and other awards to more than two hundred-fifty students, architects and teachers.
Over the past forty years, architects, faculty members and students alike, have returned to school for study or have had a research project funded because they received assistance through the Architectural Education Foundation, AIA Colorado.
Donate to the Architectural Education Foundation
For questions about the fund or specific scholarships or grants, please contact Robert K. Fuller II, AIA at 303-333-3320.
If you are sending a donation or correspondence to the Architectural Education Foundation, please address to:
Architectural Education Foundation
c/o Robert Fuller, AIA
3320 E 2nd Ave
Denver CO, 80206
OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS
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). Developed by the AIA National Associates Committee, the scholarship honors the memory of late friend and colleague, Jason Pettigrew. Scholarship recipients receive funds to cover the cost of the ARE and study materials.
Click here for more details.