Minority Architects of Pittsburgh Scholarship

08/30/2023

MAPS IS BACK! We are excited to announce our new fiscal sponsorship through Side Project Inc. For awareness, the Minority Architects of Pittsburgh Scholarship is a volunteer-run project that utilizes a fiscal sponsorship so that we have the benefits of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation, regulation, and support which enables us - the volunteer MAPS Team - to remain focused on the mission, the scholarship, the awardees, and of course, the fundraising. At the beginning of the year, we parted ways with our incubator and fiscal sponsor, Turning Point CDC, who provided wonderful training and mentorship as we launched the scholarship. We're very pleased to now be fiscally sponsored through Side Project, Inc. and be in a position to continue our work.

More about Side Project: Side Project Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote social justice and social change by incubating and developing grassroots projects. Since 2012, they have helped hundreds of grassroots nonprofit organizations (like MAPS) establish a strong foundation by helping them with legal and operational challenges. Side Project Inc. is currently working with organizations in Pittsburgh, Erie, and Palm Beach County in Florida. If you have an idea or organization that needs additional support, Side Project Inc. offers a free consultation so consider reaching out. For more information, visit their website: dosomeorganizing.org

11/01/2022

IT’S BACK! The Fall 2022 MAPS Scholarship application has opened with a submission deadline of December 5, 2022. MAPS is available to minority architects, architecture students, and high school students interested in pursuing a career in Architecture. It provides people of color with financial support for education, professional development, and other growth opportunities. Scholarships of $200-$2,000 will be awarded to successful applicants. Please share with any individual that you believe could benefit from the MAPS Scholarship. The application link is on our website (see bio) as is a link to donate to the MAPS Scholarship. Stay tuned for more exciting developments from our inaugural year and we are so excited to kick off our fall scholarship!

04/08/2022

Congratulations, MAPS Awardee Javier Garcia! Javier is a Project Manager / BIM Manager at Graves Design Group and is using the scholarship award to pay for Architectural Registration Examination fees - the tests required to become a licensed architect. After receiving the award, Javier responded that "this support represents a vote of confidence in me, and in the immense contribution that I will offer as a professional to the society of this beautiful nation in the very near future." We are so honored to be able to support you on your journey to become an architect - a sentiment shared by our partners: , , PGH Architecture Foundation, and MAPS donors.

The Spring 2022 MAPS Scholarship is now open for a new round of applications so be sure to share with those that could benefit from MAPS. The application link is on our website (see bio) as is a link to donate to the MAPS Scholarship.

04/07/2022

Congratulations, MAPS Awardee Do Mihn Khoi! Khoi Do is a first-year B. Arch. student at Carnegie Mellon School of Architecture and is using the scholarship award to support his education. After receiving the award, Khoi Do shared this reflection: “Being an international student at CMU, we are not granted any financial aid or scholarships. Therefore, it can put a large strain on our family finances. Being a recipient means that I am able to help my parents, though just a small amount, with this expenditure and to prove to them and to myself that I am making their investment worth it.” We are so honored to be able to support you on your journey to become an architect - a sentiment shared by our partners: NOMAPgh, AIA Pittsburgh, PGH Architecture Foundation, and MAPS donors.

The Spring 2022 MAPS Scholarship is now open for a new round of applications so be sure to share with those that could benefit from MAPS. The application link is on our website (see info) as is a link to donate to the MAPS Scholarship.

04/05/2022

Congratulations, MAPS Awardee Monico Williams! Monico is a second-year BS. Arch. student at the University of Pittsburgh and is using the scholarship award to support her education. After receiving the award, Monico voiced that "being a MAPS Scholarship recipient means that there are people that are helping empower my academic goals and investing in my future. Because of this, I will continue to strive to achieve my goals and obtain accomplishments that the MAPS team can take pride in.” We are so honored to be able to support you on your journey to become an architect - a sentiment shared by our partners: , , PGH Architecture Foundation, and MAPS donors.

The Spring 2022 MAPS Scholarship is now open for a new round of applications so be sure to share with those that could benefit from MAPS. The application link is on our website (see bio) as is a link to donate to the MAPS Scholarship.

04/01/2022

OPEN TODAY! The Spring 2022 MAPS Scholarship application has opened with a submission deadline of May 3, 2022. MAPS is available to minority architects, architecture students, and high school students interested in pursuing a career in Architecture. It provides people of color with financial support for education, professional development, and other growth opportunities. Scholarships of $200-$2,000 will be awarded to successful applicants. Please share with any individual that you believe could benefit from the MAPS Scholarship. The application link is on our website (see info) as is a link to donate to the MAPS Scholarship.

03/31/2022

Congratulations, MAPS Awardee Oyuki Sulu! Oyuki is a Project Designer at Shelton Design//Build and is an integral member of AIA Pittsburgh Young Architects Forum (YAF) as the Communications Chair. She is using the scholarship award to pay for Architectural Registration Examination fees - the tests required to become a licensed architect. After receiving the award, Oyuki reflected that the scholarship means that she is "a step closer. A step closer to becoming an architect, a step closer to becoming registered in two countries, a step closer to increasing the number of minority architects, a step closer to reaching a goal I have always dreamed about.” We are so honored to be able to support you on your journey to become an architect - a sentiment shared by our partners: NOMAPgh, AIA Pittsburgh, PGH Architecture Foundation, and MAPS donors.

On Friday, April 1, 2022, the Spring 2022 MAPS Scholarship will open up a new round of applications so be sure to share with those that could benefit from MAPS. If you are willing and able to contribute to the scholarship fund, please see website link to donate.

03/30/2022

Congratulations, MAPS Awardee Lydia Randall! Lydia is a fourth-year B. Arch. student at Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture and is using the scholarship award to support her education. Lydia currently serves as the President of NOMAS Carnegie Mellon University - an organization dedicated to supporting minority architecture students at CMU. After receiving the award, Lydia voiced that “being a minority in architecture school can often feel lonely. This award affirms that there is a community in Pittsburgh’s architecture profession that wants to support me and other students as we make our way through school and beyond.” We are so honored to be able to support you on your journey to become an architect - a sentiment shared by our partners: NOMAPgh, AIA Pittsburgh, PGH Architecture Foundation, and MAPS donors.

On Friday, April 1, 2022, the Spring 2022 MAPS Scholarship will open up a new round of applications so be sure to share with those that could benefit from MAPS. If you are willing and able to contribute to the scholarship fund, please see our website link to donate.

03/29/2022

Announcing the MAPS Scholarship Awardees from Fall 2021! Congratulations to the scholarship recipients, each working to advance their career in architecture. Throughout the next two weeks, we’ll introduce you to the awardees. If you know them already, be sure to reach out, congratulate them, and support them on their journey.

On Friday, April 1, 2022, the Spring 2022 MAPS Scholarship will open up a new round of applications so be sure to share with those that could benefit from MAPS. If you are willing and able to contribute to the scholarship fund, please see our link in bio to donate.

Thank you and congratulations to MAPS partners:
NOMAPgh
AIA Pittsburgh
PGH Architecture Foundation

03/28/2022

This week, we will be celebrating the five recipients of the Fall 2021 MAPS Scholarship and launching the Spring 2022 MAPS Scholarship application. Tomorrow starts our next campaign to support minority architects in Pittsburgh.

11/18/2021

Thank you, thank you, thank you to our applicants for taking the brave leap of faith to apply during MAPS inaugural year. The Fall 2021 application period has now concluded. We received eight applications from minority architects and students pursuing a career in Architecture - all saying that financial support is critical to their career path. All applicants will be notified on Wednesday, 11/24/2021, and successful applicants will be publicly announced in December. Good luck to each of you!

To our partners NOMAPgh, AIA Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh Architecture Foundation, thank you for your support in launching the scholarship and in spreading the word. To our friends at AIA Pittsburgh Young Architects Forum (YAF), Women+ in Design Pittsburgh, NOMAS Carnegie Mellon University and Pitt Experiencing Architecture, thank you for promoting the scholarship to your networks. To the scholarship donors and volunteers - made up of local architects who believe in the mission of expanding access to the Architecture profession for people of color through financial means, we couldn't do this without you!

10/25/2021

Please see our article in AIA Pittsburgh's COLUMNS.

“MAPS creates a way for our profession to confront our legacy of exclusivity by increasing access through financial support to individuals in need,” - Nickie Cheung

“Diversity of voices and perspectives included in the design process leads to solutions that work for all of us." - Prerana Paliwal

Prospective minority architects are disproportionately deterred from starting or completing the path to becoming an architect, in large part due to how financially prohibitive it can be to pursue a career in Architecture. In 2020, we held a series of conversations with members and leaders from NOMA