Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara

Scholarships

Through our partnership with the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, AFSB is fortunate and pleased to support exceptional students pursuing careers in architecture.

Students interested in applying for a scholarship should visit the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara for applications and additional information.

Their Future is in Your Hands

An annual Scholarship Reception and Awards Ceremony is held each year in June at an architecturally inspired location to celebrate and honor the students who have received scholarship awards that year.

This year, the 2025 Scholarship Reception and Awards Ceremony was held on June 17th at the Presidio Orchard at the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation. Twelve Scholarship Recipients received AFSB and partner scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic school year., and were honored by supporters, sponsors and members of the architectural, art and design community.

Where it all began…

In 1983, the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara (AFSB) established a Scholarship Grants program to focus on the profession of architecture with a generous donation from major founder and Santa Barbara Architect, Pierre Claeyssens. Since that time new funders have joined to increase the funding and yearly grants. To date, over $1,800,000 has been given to graduates of Santa Barbara County high schools studying in the field of Architecture.

Contributions to our Scholarship Grants can be made online here, or by contacting Lydia Rao at info@nullafsb.org or by phone at 805-965-6307.

Past Scholarship Recipients can be found here.

More Information About Our Scholarship Grants

The annual awards generally exceed $50,000 and distributed to 15-20 students. AFSB partners with the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara. Along with maintaining our scholarship funds, the Scholarship Foundation takes charge of the application, notification, and awarding process based on AFSB’s directive criteria for each scholarship category.

AFSB encourages and embraces the scholarship recipients to be involved and serve their communities as they pursue their careers and has been delighted when some return to Santa Barbara and join the AFSB team as program volunteers and Directors on our Board.

Anyone interested in creating a new Scholarship should contact us for more information.

AFSB Scholarship Grants

AFSB Scholarship Fund

This general fund is for exceptional students studying Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Architectural History, Architectural Preservation, or Urban Planning.

Ensberg Jacobs Design Art & Architecture Scholarship Fund

Cassandra Ensberg is the second woman architect to become a fellow of the American Institute of Architects from the AIA Santa Barbara Chapter. She and her architect partner and husband Tom Jacobs have created this art in architecture fund to recognize a student who shows ability and understanding of the importance and essential connection between art and architecture.

Kari Architects Scholarship Fund

Lori Kari, a long-time AFSB Board Member and Scholarship Committee Chair had a passion for architectural education. Her dedication was truly evident in all her volunteer work with AFSB and particularly with her involvement with the Scholarship Program. This newly created fund, bequeathed by Lori, goes to a student to be used exclusively for the study of architecture.

Lutah Maria Riggs Fund

This fund honors Santa Barbara’s own pioneer Architect who was the first woman to be named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects – the highest honor bestowed upon AIA members and who designed some of Santa Barbara’s most beloved and prominent structures. This fund goes to a student showing exceptional scholastic in their field of study.

2025 AFSB Scholarship Reception

2025 AFSB Scholarship Recipients

Omar Cortes, Allan Hancock College

Nathaniel Ellickson, CPSU San Luis Obispo

Gael Guerrero, CPSU Pomona

Juan Pablo Guerrero-Ramirez, CPSU San Luis Obispo

Awan Haj, University of California Berkeley

Lesley Leon-Ramirez, CPSU San Luis Obispo

Jillian Lin, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Additional Scholarship Award: The Lutah Maria Riggs Award

Ava Maldonado, CPSU San Luis Obispo, Additional Scholarship Award: The Sustainability Project

Cinthia Rosales–Solano, CPSU Pomona

Hailey Salas, CPSU San Luis Obispo, Additional Scholarship Award: Ensberg Jacobs Design Art & Architecture

William Tang, University of California Berkeley

Andrea Vazquez-Figueroa, CPSU San Luis Obispo

Diego Velasquez, Arizona State University, Additional Scholarship Award: Kari Architects Award

“With the help of the Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation I was able to put all of my focus on school and not worry about finding ways to stay in school or hunting for jobs. Without having to worry about coming up with money for school I was able to excel in my architecture classes.”

Brianna Wiley

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo