HOK has awarded a total of $90,000 in scholarships to nine talented students from HBCUs and institutions with a history of educating BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) and minority design students.
HOK has announced the second-annual recipients of the firm’s Diversity x Design scholarships. Each valued at $10,000, the scholarships reflect the need to promote more diverse voices within the architectural profession and communities across the U.S.
HOK launched the Diversity x Design Scholarship program in 2021 with eight student scholarships.
“We’re excited to add Kennesaw State University to our scholarship program in 2022,” said Katherine Antarikso, an architect in HOK’s Philadelphia studio and member of the Diversity Advisory Council that led the scholarship program. “Nine colleges and universities are now part of our ongoing effort to foster diversity, equity and inclusion in the design profession. While scholarships are just one facet of this effort, our investment in education is essential in shaping the work of designers as they responsibly influence the trajectory and evolution of our society and the communities where we live and work.”
Underwritten by nine HOK U.S. regional practices and selected through a competitive process, these scholarships are awarded to upper-level and graduate students enrolled in NAAB-accredited design programs. The nine schools participating in the program include historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and institutions with a history of educating BIPOC and minority design students. Ninety-three students from across the nine schools submitted applications.
“People’s personal experiences have a huge impact on the creativity and impact of design solutions,” added Antarikso. “Our design profession must reflect the unique viewpoints and interests of everyone who experiences the places and spaces we design. We’re thrilled to invest in the future of these students—and our communities.”
Congratulations to HOK’s 2022 Diversity x Design scholarship recipients:
- Madeline Bradley, a graduate student at the University of Kansas, sponsored by HOK’s Kansas City studio.
- Armand Gamboa, a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Chicago, sponsored by HOK’s Chicago and Columbus, Ohio, studios.
- Kolbi Holston, an undergraduate student at Howard University, sponsored by HOK’s Washington, D.C., and Tampa studios.
- Jaylin Lee, a graduate student at Prairie View A&M University, sponsored by HOK’s Houston and Dallas studios.
- Kelly Majam, an undergraduate student at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, sponsored by HOK’s San Francisco and Seattle studios.
- Trenton Scott, an undergraduate student at Tuskegee University, sponsored by HOK’s St. Louis studio.
- Leonardo Taouk, a graduate student at California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, sponsored by HOK’s Los Angeles studio.
- Ana Valdez-Tello, an undergraduate student at Kennesaw State University, sponsored by HOK’s Atlanta studio.
- Xiao Lin Wang, an undergraduate student at City College of New York, sponsored by HOK’s New York and Philadelphia studios.
What do these scholarships mean to students? Watch interviews with five of the 2021 HOK Diversity x Design scholarship recipients on YouTube.
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com via Unsplash.