The AIA National Associates Committee (NAC) and Young Architects Forum (YAF) announce the recipients of the 2004 AIA Emerging Professionals Awards. This year the NAC and the YAF combined their separate awards programs to recognize jointly outstanding achievements by AIA members and affiliates who have exhibited an exemplary commitment to the professional development of all emerging professionals. Recipients were honored June 10 at the AIA National Convention in Chicago.

Emerging Professionals Component of the Year—AIA Pennsylvania
Emerging Professionals Component of the Year is the highest award given by the NAC and YAF to an AIA chapter for its commitment to its associate and young architect members, as well as development of specialized emerging professional programs. AIA Pennsylvania was recognized for improving communications and benefits for its associate and young architect members. This includes the development of the Pennsylvania Associates Committee and the inclusion of an “Associates Corner” section of its newsletter, as well as increased activity by emerging professionals in government affairs and lobbying at the state and local level. The jury says that many of AIA Pennsylvania’s programs should serve as national models, particularly its leadership in offering a year’s free associate membership to architecture students who enroll within the first six months of graduation. The component’s integration of associate and licensed young architect programs was also impressive.

Emerging Professionals Program of the Year—Young Designers Professional Development Institute, Boston Society of Architects (BSA)
This award recognizes an outstanding program sponsored by an AIA component or affiliated group that has most advanced the missions of the NAC and YAF. The BSA developed the Young Designers Professional Development Institute in 1999 to address the Boyer Report’s commentary on the inadequacy of training and professional development available to recent architecture graduates, interns, and other young design professionals. Now in its sixth year, the program continues to provide a forum for senior designers to interact with emerging professionals and has encouraged the development of a parallel program for young contractors. The jury says that a program such as this should be offered at all AIA chapters to develop professional skills at all levels. Jurors also believe that the interface with the young contractors in this program is “a stroke of genius and will pay dividends for years to come,” says jury co-chair Tracey Dukarich, Assoc. AIA. Finally, the jury notes that it was refreshing to see BSA’s comprehensive approach to developing well-rounded, independent-thinking leaders of tomorrow.

Emerging Professionals Program of the Year Honorable Mention—Groen Hoek: East River Community Boathouse Competition, AIA New York Chapter
This program, an international open-ideas competition specifically for students and emerging professionals, calls for design of a boathouse for Brooklyn’s Greenpoint community. The jury acknowledged that this program was comprehensive and involved associates at many levels of the profession.

Emerging Professionals Mentorship Award—Grace Kim, AIA, AIA Seattle
The Emerging Professionals Mentorship Award is given by the NAC and YAF to an AIA member who has made an extraordinary effort to promote the advancement of associate and young architect members in their component and region. Kim’s work on the AIA national Mentoring Task Group has produced “Mentorship, a Journey in Collaborative Learning,” now on the AIA Web site. Her outstanding efforts at the local, state, national, and community levels in promoting a culture of mentoring and life-long learning show her dedication to the advancement of the profession. Jury members agree that her accomplishments are many, and her forthcoming book, Survival Guide to Architectural Internship, will prove invaluable for helping developing professionals navigate the formative years of their architectural careers.

Associate AIA Member of the Year Award—Matt Ostanik, Assoc. AIA, AIA Iowa
The Associate Member of the Year Award is the highest honor given by the NAC and YAF to an individual Associate AIA member who is an exemplary leader and has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to his or her component. The jury believes that Ostanik’s talent, passion, and ambition, combined with his strong leadership, will influence critical thinking in the profession for years to come. His work with the ArchVoices Essay Competition has reached out to young architecture professionals. The jury agreed that his vision and outstanding diverse professional development programs should be a model for aspiring architects across the country. “He seems to have boundless energy that is contagious and has empowered the associates of an entire region to develop programs that involve the entire AIA membership,” says jury co-chair Chad Polk, AIA.

Associate AIA Member of the Year Honorable Mention—Emily Eastman, Assoc. AIA, AIA New York
The jury says that Eastman’s contributions to AIA New York have been extraordinary. They agreed that her motivation, energy, and passion for bettering the profession should be a model for aspiring architects across the country.

Associate AIA Member of the Year Honorable Mention—Jason Dale Pierce, Assoc. AIA, AIA St. Louis
The jury honored Pierce as an exceptional leader in the profession and in his community. His programs are always of the highest quality with incredible variety. According to his nomination letters, “His energy is endless.”

A jury of AIA members representing various stages of professional development selected the honored recipients.

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