Students AJ Taaca and Mary Fialko recognized for outstanding achievement

AIA Seattle is pleased to announce the 2010 winners of scholarships aimed at promoting diversity in the field of architecture: AJ Taaca and Mary Fialko. Awarded to a graduate architecture student in the University of Washington’s College of Built Environments, the scholarships support academically meritorious and financially needy students, with a preference for underrepresented minorities.

Winner of the Marga Rose Hancock Endowed Scholarship for Diversity is AJ Taaca, who is working toward his Master of Architecture degree at the University of Washington. AJ, who grew up in Hawaii, is the first person in his family to go to graduate school. His key interest is exploring design beyond Northwest Modernism into what he calls “Vivid Seattle architecture”, which is characterized by its expressive exuberance. He looks forward to helping shape the future of Seattle architecture and is proud to be seen as a mentor and role model to other underrepresented minorities in the architectural profession.

Mary Fialko is the winner of the Denice Johnson Hunt Internship. She is especially excited to combine her love of great design with her values of promoting strong youth and strong community. Mary is “a believer in the power of the built environment to change communities for the better, reducing crime, furthering education, and creating stronger individuals.” Mary’s community involvement includes Habitat for Humanity in Miami and New Orleans and President of the AIAS at the University of Cincinnati, as as well as a participant in the Solar Decathlon, a government sponsored solar powered housing competition. She plans to use her scholarship funds to support a two-month interactive art project with the students of Bailey Gatzert Elementary School in Seattle.

ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIPS

Marga Rose Endowed Scholarship for Diversity

Since 1990, the AIA Seattle Diversity Roundtable funded the annual giving of scholarship support to a student at the UW Department of Architecture. Named after AIA Seattle's former longtime Executive Director, the AIA Seattle Marga Rose Hancock Endowed Scholarship is awarded to a graduate architecture student in the University of Washington’s College of Built Environments and supports academically meritorious and financially needy students, with a preference for underrepresented minorities.

In 2004, the AIA Seattle Diversity Roundtable completed a campaign to endow the fund, administered by the UW Foundation. Annually, a UW faculty committee reviews applications and selects a qualifying student to receive scholarship support, with the final decision resting with the faculty chair. The Diversity Roundtable congratulates and welcomes the scholarship recipient at the UW College of Architecture and Urban Planning's annual Recognition Day, and at the annual Summer Solstice event.

Denice Johnson Hunt Internship

The AIA Seattle Denice Johnson Hunt Internship provides support to students to carry out independent learning plans that increase awareness of architecture and urban design among children attending public schools. The University of Washington College of Built Environments (CBE) and Center For Environment, Education, and Design Studies (CEEDS) administer the program by soliciting proposals from eligible students and offer a recommendation to CEEDS regarding the selection of the student. The scholarship is named for former AIA Seattle Board President Denice Johnson Hunt AIA (1948 -1997), a former Seattle Deputy Mayor whose notable architectural career carried a focus on mentorship of emerging professionals.