Association for Women in Architecture Foundation Scholarship Application 2026

NOTE:

The deadline has been formally extended to Saturday April 11, 2026 at 11:59 PM (PST).

If your recommender has not received the Recommendation form email from Kaleidoscope, please contact Kaleidoscope's support team by contacting [email protected]

The form does not come from AWAF's email account.

The Association for Women in Architecture Foundation, Inc. (AWAF) is a tax-exempt charitable 501(c)(3) organization based in Los Angeles, California, dedicated to fostering educational and professional leadership opportunities for women in architecture and related fields. Each year the AWAF celebrates some of the brightest emerging design talents by awarding scholarships to support these exceptional women in their continuing education. As AWAF begins our 29th year and AWA, our mother organization celebrates its Centennial, we are pleased to announce that with increased giving from our donors we have additional scholarship awards opportunities for 2026.

There will be up to eight (8) awards in the varying amounts ranging from $3,000 to $10,000. Winners also receive a one-year membership with our sister organization, AWA+D.

These cash awards are awarded to women students who are California residents and/or attending school in California, and who have completed at least 18 units in their major, by April of 2026, in a qualifying program granting a degree or certificate in a qualifying design major. Of special note is the Sarah Hays Social Impact Award, named in honor of late L.A. architect, designer, and community advocate Sarah Hays (1954-2020). Sarah was a Los Angeles architect and a powerful yet humble advocate for design, social justice, and the empowerment of young female designers. After earning a B.A. in history from Stanford and pursuing a degree in interiors at the Instituto Europeo di Design, she returned to Los Angeles where she received her architectural license. As her professional career in small architecture firms across Los Angeles progressed, she became increasingly involved as a volunteer with professional, environmental, and political organizations. Sarah was instrumental in the creation of the Expo Line's Westwood Greenway and was recognized by the LA City Council for her leadership and dedication in the creation of the linear parkway.

Scholarship Award Winners will be recognized at a planned event in June of 2026.

Winners grant AWAF permission to use their project materials and headshots for promotional purposes, including on our website and at events.

To apply, please see below for eligibility and submittal requirements.

Please contact us with any questions or comments. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Diana Perez, Awards Committee Co-chair

Email: [email protected]

SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY

• The AWAF offers cash awards to women students who have completed the required number of units in their major, in a program granting a degree or certificate in one of the following majors:

  • Architecture

  • Landscape Architecture

  • Urban and Land Planning

  • Interior Design

  • Environmental Design

  • Urban Design

  • Historic Preservation

• Applicants MUST BE CURRENTLY ENROLLED in one of the majors listed above for the 2025-2026 academic year, and completed at least 18 units in their major by April 2026.

• EXCEPTION: Current community college students with a minimum number of 10 units in their major are also eligible to apply

• Applicants may include units earned at a previous school or applied to a previous degree, provided the units were completed as part of a qualifying major. Applicants in their final year of study are eligible, and prize money may be used for special projects or travel, or to offset expenses already incurred for study. 

• Applicants must be California residents OR attending a qualifying school in California.

PRESENTATION OF AWARD:

Winners will be required to share their project and likeness on the AWAF website and invited to exhibit their work at the 2026 AWA+D Symposium and AWAF Awards event, typically held in late spring within the greater Los Angeles area. Award checks will be delivered through USPS mail.

Selection will be based on merit as evidenced by:

• Personal Statement - 35%

  • 1-2 pages, giving your reasons for studying your chosen field, your career objectives, and what you imagine yourself to be doing in ten years.

• Quality of Student Work - 35%

  • Portfolio of 3-4 projects, 30 pages max, 15 MB max

• Teacher Recommendation - 20%

  • Recommendation consists of a survey with question prompts for the teacher to respond to, in lieu of a traditional recommendation letter

• Transcript - 10%

Following the selection committee’s review of submitted application materials, a shortlist of candidates will be invited to participate in an interview as part of the final selection process. Interviews will be held via web conference in early to mid-May. The Awards Committee will review all applications for completeness first and then for quality of work. Incomplete applications cannot be considered and will not be evaluated.