Summary: Future architects are receiving some financial help from today’s professionals, thanks to AIA Northeast Illinois. In conjunction with the national AIA component, the chapter has awarded three scholarships to students now studying architecture in college. These awards are just some of the funds the Institute distributes through the AIA Component Matching Grant Program, which leverages the scholarship resources of local and state components or their affiliated foundations. The program—significantly updated for 2007—is part of the AIA’s commitment to the preparation of graduates who will meet the current and future challenges in a swiftly evolving profession.

The matching grants are intended to augment existing component programs and reinforce the significance of the AIA in the lives of architects, aspiring students, and their communities, and to stimulate interest in the formation of new scholarship programs. “The AIA believes that the investment to support the education of future professionals is a crucial part of its mission,” says Mary Felber, director, AIA/AAF Scholarship Programs.

“As a chapter, awarding these annual scholarships is one of the most important things we do,” says Chuck Ditchman, AIA, AIA Northeast Illinois Scholarship Committee chair. “It’s important to the future of our profession to nurture student architects and help them achieve excellence. These students are talented and committed, and we’re pleased to be able to help them become the architects of tomorrow.”

2007 AIA Component Matching Grant Program
To leverage the scholarship resources of local and state AIA components or their affiliated foundations, the AIA national component is again offering matching grants of up to $4,000 in 2007. The postmark deadline for proposal submissions is February 15, 2007.

To ensure components retain the ability to direct their scholarship programs to aid and award the candidates and communities they choose, the application for matching funds is simple and flexible. All component scholarship programs that fall within the broadly defined goals of the program and have a recent history of fund dissemination are eligible.

The program has been updated significantly for 2007. For a limited time, components awarding scholarships less than the previously required $1,000 minimum award can now request matching grants. The guidelines and application form can be downloaded from the AIA.org Web site.

Examples of scholarship
The three recipients of the AIA Northeast Illinois Scholarships represent a bright future for the profession, indeed.

• Christina Brunka is a May 2006 graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As an undergraduate, Brunka represented the School of Architecture at a leadership conference and as a "Senior 100" honoree. Brunka’s activities include the Gargoyle Honor Society (vice president), Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, and chairing the School of Architecture Convocation Program. Brunka entered the MArch program (structures option) at the University of Illinois and plans to be a recreational facilities designer.
• John Paul Rysavy is pursuing a degree in architectural studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Rysavy has held the highest GPA in his architecture class for two years and was recently initiated into the Gargoyle Honor Society, an honor bestowed on only one sophomore each year. He interned at Cuningham Group Architecture PA, Minneapolis, and is spending the 2006-2007 academic year in France studying at l’ecole d’architecture de Versailles.
• Rosemarie Venen is fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming an architect as she majors in architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign this fall. Venen has interned for Williams Architects. She completed her first year as a James Scholar, as well as entering into the Alpha Lambda Delta, and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies. As a sophomore, she will be president of the Illinois Chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students. She plans on one day opening her own firm specializing in residential design.

—Tracy Ostroff