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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.

This year, the 2023 Scholarship Reception and Awards Ceremony was 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. 

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 here

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 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.

2023 AFSB Scholarship Recipients

Alejandro Zepeda

Junior, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Studying Architecture

Alexis Flores

Cal Poly Pomona Studying Architecture

Isis King

Freshman, Allan Hancock College Studying Architecture

Jennifer Quinto Alvarez

Senior, University of Southern California Studying Architecture

Jillian Lin

Sophmore, School of Architecture, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Joseph Solorio

Junior, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Studying Architecture and Landscaping

Juan Hernandez

Freshman, Allan Hancock College Studying Architecture

Mila Speer

Sophmore, UC Santa Barbara Studying Architecture

Also Recipient of the Ensberg Jacobs Design Art & Architecture Scholarship

Nathaniel Ellickson

Sophmore, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Majoring in Architecture

Also Recipient of the Sustainability Project Scholarship

Nina Huffman

Sophmore, Cal Poly Pomona Studying Architecture

Also Recipient of the Lutah Maria Riggs Scholarship

William Tang

UC Berkeley Studying Architecture

Sara Engmyr

Senior, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Majoring in Architectural Engineering

Also Recipient of the Santa Barbara Beautiful Scholarship

Yadira Tello Bautista

Freshman, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Studying Architecture

We thank our generous 2023 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.

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