In a ceremony marking its 50th anniversary, the College of Fellows elevated 6 honorary fellows and 68 fellows into its elite ranks on May 10 during the AIA national convention.

Filing into historic Charlotte's First United Methodist Church to the sounds of trumpet flourishes, each member of the College's newest class was escorted up the aisle by a former president of the Institute to receive a medal and commemorative journal. Each new fellow was then accompanied to the rear of the church by a former chancellor of the College.

Current Chancellor of the College of Fellows C. James Lawler, FAIA, welcomed the new fellows and their families and friends to the investiture. "Today's ceremony confirms 50 years of service to the profession and celebrates your receiving The American Institute of Architects' highest membership honor from the Institute's president and being received into the College of Fellows."

AIA President Gordon H. Chong, FAIA, added his hearty welcome and congratulations. "In this regard, we recognize today the achievement of our distinguished colleagues-the integrators, the facilitators, and the visionaries who are the trusted counselors and guides who demonstrate the potential of our profession and point the way to a world healed and made whole by design."

Carole J. Olshavsky, FAIA, chair of the 2002 Jury of Fellows, read citations for each of the new fellows and for the honorary fellows, distinguished architects from foreign countries.

The ceremony took place at First United, a church with an architectural lineage of its own. Designed by Memphis architect Edwin Brewer Phillips, AIA, in 1926, the church was built in 1927 from Indiana limestone in Neo-Gothic design. Subsequent renovations have been completed by fellow tarheels Yelverton Architects and Charette Architects Engineers and Planners PLLC.

Copyright 2002 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.