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The American Institute of Architecture, Pasadena-Foothill Chapter awarded $5,000 scholarships to two local architecture students during a virtual gala on Thursday evening, the organization said.
Pasadena City College student Taron Sargsyan and Khan Muhammad of Woodbury University in Burbank were names as recipients of the Jean Roth Driskel Scholarship, the AIA said in a written statement.
Sargsyan was recently admitted to SCI-Arc to continue his studies, according to the organization. Muhammad’s scholarship was also supplemented with a $1,000 grant from AIA National.
“Established in 1971, the program celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2021,” the statement said. “The scholarship fund has quadrupled in just 18 months, testimony that in our time of COVID, our community of architects, engineers, contractors, clients, and friends are remarkably generous.”
The candidates are nominated from three area community colleges and five universities, the AIA statement added. “The result is selection of the best of the best – future leaders in architecture.”
Sargsyan thanked the AIA for the scholarship.
“Hard work, dedication and the support of those around me have brought me to where I am today,” he said. “The scholarship not only gave me financial support but also made me feel that others believe in me. It made me stronger and more motivated in my design arguments and decisions.”
“My dream is to pursue graduate work at Harvard University. Eventually dreams can come true,” Sargsyan added.
He said he enjoyed combining art and science in his architectural work to create “a sculpture that can be occupied.”
Muhammad also said the scholarship represented “more than just the money.”
“It gives me a sense of strength and empowerment. The community that supports me is much larger than I realized,” he said.
Muhammed was elected as the student board member of the SoCal National Organization of Minority Architects in 2018, according to the AIA.
The scholarship is given in honor of pioneering architect and first female president of the AIA, Pasadena-Foothill Chapter.
“Many women students receiving this award state that Driskel’s story has been an inspiration to them,” the AIA statement said. “Consider, just twenty-three years ago, 30% of US architectural students were women. Today they are approaching 50%.”
More information on the AIA, Pasadena Foothill Chapter is available on the organization’s website at aiapf.org.
Related:
Pasadena Architecture Scholarship Nearly Triples in Size Thanks to Retired Architect, Donors
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