Skip to content

Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara

Scholarships

scholarship-event-IMG_5785

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.

The 2023 Scholarship Reception and Awards Ceremony will be held on June 21st at the Hawkes Building. The Hawkes Building, designed by Architect Tom Ochsner, houses his studio offices on the first floor and includes the family property management company on the second floor. The balance of the buildings include six one and two bedroom residential units. 

Tickets for the 2023 Scholarship Reception and Awards Ceremony can be purchased here.

Contributions to the Scholarship Funds can be made here

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.

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 contributing to the Scholarships or creating a new Scholarship should contact us for more information.

AFSB Scholarship Fund

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

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.

Santa Barbara Beautiful Fund

  • Santa Barbara Beautiful is a non- profit and longtime partner of the Architectural Foundation involved with the promotion and appreciation of the importance of beauty in architecture and landscape architecture. This fund focuses on a student showing commitment in their field of study and excellence in their internship or work experience.

The Sustainability Project Fun

  • The Sustainability Project of Santa Barbara for years highlighted, educated, and promoted the importance of Sustainability in our world and especially in the built environment. This fund is designated for the student who demonstrates interest and understanding of the importance of design that addresses sustainability for a healthy environment.

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.

2022 AFSB Scholarship Recipients

Alejandro Zepeda

Sophomore, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Studying Architecture

Alina Terrones

Senior, Cabrillo High School Attending Arizona State University Studying Architecture

Avalon Gagnon

Junior, UC Berkeley Architecture

Additional Scholarship Award:
Ensberg Jacobs Design Art & Architecture

Isis King

Senior, Orcutt Academy Charter Attending Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Studying Architecture

Jennifer Quinto Alvarez

Junior, University of Southern California Architecture

Jillian Lin

Freshman, School of Architecture, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Joseph Solorio

Sophomore, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Studying Architecture and Landscaping

Juan Hernandez

Senior, Santa Maria High School Attending Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Studying Architecture

Mila Speer

Freshman, UC Santa Barbara Studying Architecture

Nathaniel Ellickson

Freshman, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Majoring in Architecture

Nina Huffman

CPSU San Luis Obispo Architecture

Omar Coronel Sanchez

Senior, Santa Maria High School Attending Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Studying Architectural Engineering

Also Recipient of the Santa Barbara Beautiful Scholarship

Paul Velasco

Senior, Pioneer Valley High School Attending Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Studying Architecture

Additional Scholarship Award:
The Sustainability Project

Sara Engmyr

Junior, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Majoring in Architectural Engineering

Zoe Perez

Freshman, Northeastern University Studying Architecture

Also Recipient of The Sustainability Project Scholarship

Yadira Tello Bautista

Graduate, Santa Maria High School Attending Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Studying Architecture

Additional Scholarship Awarded:
Santa Barbara Beautiful

We thank our generous 2022 Scholarship Reception Sponsors

One of the great pleasures of our community is to applaud and reward students who are dedicated to the pursuit of degrees in architecture, design, and planning. 

In preparation for our Scholarship Reception celebration, we asked leaders in the community to sponsor the event. Several of them answered this call. 

We thank all of our 2022 Scholarship Reception sponsors for their support and look forward to gathering with you again at another Sponsorship Reception celebration.

Thank You Videos From Past Scholarship Recipients

“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
AFSB scholarship awardees