Winners of the IA Fifth Annual Diversity in Design Scholarship Announced

Open to minority students enrolled in design or architecture programs, this year’s scholarship asked applicants to explore the connection between sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how both can help shape a stronger future for the profession.

Essays were reviewed anonymously by leadership from IA and the IIDA Foundation. Bella Oliver, who studies Environmental Design at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, received the $5,000 first-place scholarship for “Equity Is Sustainability.”

Sidnia Garcia, who is pursuing a Master of Science in Sustainable Design at Thomas Jefferson University, received the $3,000 second-place award for “The Best Thing the World Has Are the Many Worlds the World Has.”

Four additional $500 honorable mention scholarships were awarded to Aliyah Murph of the University of Cincinnati for “Diverse Perspectives and Sustainability in Design”; Shurouq Aljammal of the New York School of Interior Design for “Equity Increases Perspective Through Lived Experience”; Calvin Ma of Cal Poly Pomona/UCLA Extension for “Setting the Stage”; and Susan Hsin of Colorado State University for “The Importance of Place-Based Sustainability and Community Building.”