Applicants must be a West Virginia resident as established by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission’s Rules and Policies, Series 25: Residency Classification for Admission and Fee Purposes, and have completed six or more semesters in a NAAB accredited undergraduate Bachelor of Architecture program, or are enrolled or have been accepted in a NAAB accredited Master of Architecture program. Students enrolled in pre-professional Bachelor of Arts or Science in Architecture undergraduate programs are eligible only if their academic institution also has a NAAB accredited Master of Architecture Program, and only if they have completed six or more semesters of their undergraduate studies.

All applicants will be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee and semi-finalists selected during the month of November.  Those semi-finalists will be requested to appear before the Committee for an interview and presentation of their portfolio of architectural projects during the December holiday recess at the AIA WV Offices in Charleston.  Notification of scholarship awards will be made during the following week and scholarship checks will then be distributed to the respective bursar’s offices prior to the start of the spring semester.  Scholarship awardees will be invited to attend AIA West Virginia’s Design Awards Gala Dinner in May of 2020.   

A single scholarship or multiple scholarships will be awarded at the discretion of the Committee. The Floyd J. Clingenpeel Scholarship may be awarded each year at the Scholarship Committee’s discretion to the applicant who demonstrates his/her ability to develop project concepts utilizing sustainable principles, alternative energy systems, or new technologies for environmental systems in an integrated manner.  This scholarship is funded annually through a gift from Harper Engineering.

Applicants will be judged on overall architectural ability, desire, and potential for successfully completing their program and entering the architectural profession.  Should you have any questions regarding the process or requirements, please call AIA West Virginia’s Executive Director, Judy Belcher, at (304) 344-9872 or email Judy@aiawv.org.  

AIA West Virginia has awarded over $285,000 to 110 students through our scholarship program since its inception in 1986.  The program is funded through the generous support of our component members and sponsors.  We greatly appreciate an award of $1000 from AIA national to support the program in 2019.