Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara

Scholarships

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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.

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 $1,300,000 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. ​

Ken Kruger Fund

  • Ken Kruger was a beloved Santa Barbara Architect and fellow of the American Institute of Architects. This memorial fund is offered to a student showing understanding of the importance of giving back to the community​.

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 In Architecture Grant

  • 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.​
Back to Education

2021 AFSB Scholarship Recipients

Avalon Gagnon

Junior, UC Berkeley Architecture

Additional Scholarship Award:
Ensberg Jacobs Design Art & Architecture

Anahy Navarro

Freshman, Cal State University Long Beach Architecture

Additional Scholarship Awarded:
Ensberg Jacobs Design Art & Architecture

Megan Hahs

Junior, Cal State University Northridge Architecture

Additional Scholarship Award:
The Sustainability Project

Sophie Clementi

Year Five, CPSU San Luis Obispo Architecture

Additional Scholarship Awarded:
Santa Barbara Beautiful

Nathaniel Ellickson

Freshman, CPSU San Luis Obispo Architecture

Gabriel Zepeda

Year Five, CPSU San Luis Obispo Landscape Architecture

Daniela Gelles

Freshman, Amherst College Architecture

Jennifer Quinto Alvarez

Junior, University of Southern California Architecture

Michael Soto

Senior, University of Oregon, Landscape Architecture

Manuel Bermudez Hernandez

Year Five, CPSU San Luis Obispo Architecture

Zoe Perez

Freshman, Northeastern University Architecture

Lesley Vazquez

Freshman, Allan Hancock College Architecture

Joseph Solorio

Sophmore, CPSU San Luis Obispo Architecture

Odalys Martinez

Freshman, CPSU San Luis Obispo Architecture

Jillian Lin

Freshman, School of Architecture, Rensselaer Polytechnic Instute

Sara Engmyr

Junior, CPSU San Luis Obispo Architecture

Josephine Briones

Final Year, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Doctorate of Architecture

Nina Huffman

CPSU San Luis Obispo Architecture

We thank our generous 2021 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. While we would normally host a special occasion to celebrate their achievements and future goals, this year, like last year, we were unable to gather together.

In preparation for our 2021 Scholarship Reception celebration, we asked leaders in the community to sponsor this year’s event. Several of them answered this call. These funds will now be directed to next year’s event.

To our scholarship recipients (above), we are sorry not to be able to congratulate you in person. We hope your studies are going well, and that we might see you at next year’s event!

We want to thank all of our 2021 Scholarship Reception sponsors for your support, and we look forward to gathering with you at the 2022 Reception next spring!

Scholarship Reception Sponsors

Thank You Videos From 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