By Nate Hudson, AIA – Western Mountain Region Senior Director and 2020 AIANN President
On June 10th, the AIANN scholarship committee reviewed and discussed the 2020 Raymond Hellmann and Graham Erskine Scholarships’ submittals. The committee members present were Max Hershenow, Greg Erny, Mark Johnson and Nate Hudson. We received a total of six applications this year [five Erskine and one Hellmann], up from what we received last year. While most of the applicants were for the Erskine Scholarship, we will need to better market to the region’s high schools next year to find more interest in the Hellmann Scholarship, our typical gateway.
Overall, the committee astounded by the quality of this year’s applicants — one of the most provocative groups we’ve seen since our program’s founding. This year, we felt that these application qualities were fitting of vastly more financial support than we have to offer. We struggled in our discussions and ultimately arrived at a thought that we will need Board approval to accomplish.
Our 2019 Hellmann recipient, James Severt, who was awarded $1,000, was unable to attend the school that our funds were issued to and, as such, has forfeited this award.
2020 total scholarship budget:
Erskine — $5,000 [$4,000 AIANN + $1,000 AIA National Match]
Hellmann — $1000 [$1000 AIANN]
Total 2020 Scholarship Funds = $6,000
2020 total scholarship actual:
Erskine — $5,000 [$4,000 AIANN General Account + $1,000
AIA National Match]
Hellmann — $1000 [$1000 AIANN General Account]
Unused 2019 Hellmann — $1000 [$1000 AIANN General Account]
Funds Directly from Education Account — $1500 [$1500 AIANN Scholarship Account]
Total 2020 Scholarship Funds = $8,500
If this is approved, we have agreed to award the allocated funds as follows:
Graham Erskine Scholarship:
Grace Brooks
$2,000 — Montana State University, MT [from Gardnerville, NV]
Jordyn Voss
$2,000 — Cal-Poly, San Luis Obispo [from Reno, NV]
Eric Kuhn
$1,500 — University of Colorado, Denver [from Reno, NV]
Ryan Lew
$1,500 — Cal-Poly, San Luis Obispo [from Sparks, NV]
Tomera LaRae
$1,000 — University of Idaho, ID [from Battle Mountain, NV]
2019 total scholarship actual:
Erskine — $3,500 [$2,500 AIANN + $1,000 AIA National Match]
Hellmann — $1000 [$1000 AIANN]
Total 2019 Scholarship Funds = $4,500
Excerpt from 2019 AIANN Scholarship Report
After much deliberation between the committee members regarding the quality of the applicants for this year, we would like to request that the Board grant the unused $1,000 from 2019 to the 2020 budget. We would also like to add an additional $1,500 directly from the scholarship account.
Raymond Hellmann Scholarship:
Mary Kasteko
$500 — McQueen High School Reno, NV
To attend Montana State University, MT
Historical AIANN scholarship funds allocated by year:
In an additional conversation had by the AIA Northern Nevada Scholarship Committee, the AIA Northern Nevada Golf Committee, and a potential partnership with AIA Las Vegas via our State Component, I also have some new business for discussion.
- For the 2020 year, the AIA Matching Component Grant Program has altered their schedule and will not be awarding funds in the spring for use the following fall term but instead awarding funds in the fall for use that very same fall term. For AIA Northern Nevada, this impacts our financial liability to our scholarships since, in previous years, our success in receiving this grant was known before selecting our recipients. For future years, including this one, we will not know if we will receive a grant until after choosing our recipients and determining the award amounts.
- For the 2020 year, the AIA Matching Component Grant Program has added $500.00 on top of the original $1,000.00 available as long as the recipient of this new $500.00 award is a Community College student. I have applied for these funds in 2020 but having no applicants from TMCC this year. Should AIA Northern Nevada receive this, the Scholarship Committee will need to work with Kreg Mebust at TMCC to conduct a special review and selection for this inaugural year.
- Beginning with our Golf Committee and our Scholarship Committee, conversations have been coalescing around the future prospects of creating a scholarship for underprivileged youth, helping provide access to collegiate pathways in architectural study. This program would complement our current Erskine and Hellmann Scholarships who’s selection is made almost exclusively with respect to merit. It would be targeted to underprivileged high school seniors wishing to pursue the TMCC Architectural Design Program or another architectural study program.
In addition to these local conversations, on 7/9/2020, the AIA Nevada Board met to discuss a potential partnership between AIANN and AIALV to build similar scholarship programs on each side of our state focused on under-represented groups of youth. A motion was made as follows:
“AIA Nevada will establish an annual Scholarship for high school seniors, with the primary purpose being to provide greater opportunities to those who are members of underrepresented groups in the State of Nevada and assist them in furthering their education in the field of architecture and design. Initial funding for this scholarship will be provided by AIA Nevada in the amount of $5,000.”
This was seconded by Nate Hudson, AIA, and approved by the Ex Com members’ unanimous vote. While details are still being worked out, I will report to our local Board as more information is generated.
Thank you again for supporting the scholarship program. Please let me know if you have any questions. b
Sincerely,
Nate Hudson, AIA
2020 President, Scholarship Committee Chair, AIANN
