The California Architecture Foundation (CAF) is dedicated to empowering exceptional students in California who require financial aid to pursue their architectural education. Through our scholarship programs, we strive to make a meaningful impact to deserving students on their academic journey.
With heartfelt gratitude, CAF acknowledges the generous support and dedication of our scholarship benefactors. Please join them in supporting aspiring architects by making a donation to CAF. Your support is instrumental in sustaining CAF’s existing scholarships and expanding our impact on the next generation.
Chester and Diana Widom Architectural Education Scholarship
The Widom Architectural Education Scholarship provides opportunities to community college students from California who are transferring from Community Colleges to accredited architectural schools.
Adam Whitman // 2025
Los Angeles Valley College, Santa Monica College | Woodbury University
Skilled at explaining the basis of his design thinking. With more than a year of internship experience at a firm and his role as a leading member of the team that received an award in a national NOMA competition—an extremely competitive competition—he is on a path for success.
Andrea Factor // 2025
El Camino College | Cal Poly Pomona
She demonstrates sustained achievements in creative endeavors, and a submission that has sophistication. She has a promising future as an architecture student and architect. It was really powerful to see a student with such a great level of detail.
Arlan Elijah Tiglao // 2025
Cosumnes River College | Cal Poly SLO
He combines a strong portoflio of work with internship experience—he worked at an architecture firm while at school, kudos! His college contributions as an instructional assistant and transfer advisor, and his volunteer mentoring with CREATE are notable.
Jorge L. Reyes // 2025
East Los Angeles College | Woodbury University
A non-traditional student, his maturity is incredible, and his sacrifice to make such a huge career change is commendable. He transcends the design side into the technology side; He will understand all parts of architecture.
Jose Ubaldo // 2025
Glendale Community College | Woodbury University
With a submission that reveals his interest in exploring expressive dimensions of architecture, his story is one of persistence and overcoming challenges to a clear a path to becoming an architect.
Michael Brentlinger // 2025
El Camino College |
Michael is an especially strong in his academic preparation, which includes student design awards, and in professional experience through internships and freelance work.
Nicola Ogdoc // 2025
College of the Canyons | Woodbury University
Her record of achievements is impressive with volunteer leadership in AIAS, NOMAS and other organizations, and a portfolio that conveys her conceptual understanding of design, the purpose of her academic assignments and versatility in the use of various media. Her interest in focusing her career on the creation of accessible urban places is notable.
Robert Avanesyan // 2025
Glendale Community College | Woodbury University
Robert is a successful student with an architecture excellence award from his high school and a portfolio showing development of design thinking. He has professional experience drafting, works as a student instructor in the architecture program at GCC, and is engaged in co-curricular activities, including school events and student competitions.
Ryan Hoo // 2025
Pasadena City College |
Ryan’s record of achievement, including receipt of a 2 x 8 ACLA award shows that he is a strong student. His design approach is very creative and he exhibits characteristics we look for in the profession.
Juan Garcia // 2024
East Los Angeles College | USC
“The Jury is in awe—appreciative of Garcia’s talent” as well as his “excellent hand-drawing skills.”
Michelle Perez // 2024
Glendale Community College | Woodbury University
The Jury described her current portfolio as “fanciful with work of very high quality. Perez has an aesthetic agenda which shows sophistication.”
Nicholas Huynh // 2024
City College of San Francisco | UC Berkeley
Jury noted about Huynh’s work: “It is incredibly creative and out of the box. There is great deal of promise in it.”
Omorilewa Tayo Ajegbile // 2024
Bakersfield College | UC Berkeley
The jury notes Ajegbile’s “high-quality design work, his motivation and his experience.”
Rachel Zuniga // 2024
Bakersfield College | Woodbury University
The Jury recognized her commitment to Empathetic Architecture in providing the scholarship and also the “high quality” of her work.
Arthur Chaldrayan // 2023
Glendale Community College | Woodbury University
Arthur already has a strong sense of design. By working on small private projects, he is probably more ready than most to head to the next level. At an accredited program, the jury believes he can blossom.
Maya Flores-Villagran // 2023
East Los Angeles College | Accepted to: USC, Cal Poly Pomona, Woodbury, Syracuse
Maya is truly amazing, not only in her volunteerism, but her design ideas are unique and innovative. Quality community outreach; Strong commitment to skill development.
Onna Keller // 2023
West Valley College | Boston Architectural College
The jury appreciates her curiosity for architecture and landscape architecture. Her diverse education is impressive. She discovered her love of architecture in 2020 during COVID-19 and has already accomplished much.
Grace Martinez // 2023
College of the Canyons | Woodbury University
She is talented and articulate. Her commitment to obtaining an architectural education as well as working in the field, demonstrates she deserves recognition.
Mania Minasvand // 2023
Glendale Community College | Woodbury University
Mania has all the credentials needed to move to her next phase of obtaining an accredited degree in architecture. She is a strong communicator with a demonstrated love for the profession
Joseph Ortiz // 2023
East Los Angeles College | Woodbury University
He has demonstrated that he has the initiative and ability to pursue the discipline in a rigorous, thoughtful manner. He is determined to become an architect.
Agustin Pelayo // 2023
College of the Canyons | Woodbury University
In the very early stage of his path to architecture, Agustin seems determined to succeed. He began with a stint in the Navy, then continued to get his education, he is already showing proficiency in his thinking and drawing. His submittal commentary addressing the natural environment is very good.
Kelsey Vilchis // 2023
College of the Canyons | Cal Poly Pomona
Kelsey has a real understanding of the built environment and reasons for cultivating good design, as well as a commitment to academia and pursuing licensure. Her early job, history, not within the architectural profession, but very service-oriented, is a strength: it’s a foundation for listening to and managing client expectations.
Candalette Vergara // 2022
Long Beach City College | Cal Poly Pomona
Arielle Mascarinas// 2019
Dawson Cabrera // 2022
East Los Angeles College | Woodbury University
Ludwig Rodriguez // 2022
East Los Angeles College |
Maria Florencia Rodriguez // 2022
Orange Coast College | Cal Poly Pomona
Angel Esparza // 2021
Glendale Community College | Woodbury University
Daniel Silva // 2021
East Los Angeles College | Woodbury University
Jose de Jesus Ortiz Chavez // 2021
Southwestern College | Cal Poly Pomona
Lorein Perez Reyes // 2021
Citrus College | Cal Baptist
Chris Caracena // 2020
East Los Angeles College | Cal Poly Pomona
Jonathan Mora // 2020
Bakersfield College |
Raneem Awad // 2020
Ventura College | Cal Poly Pomona
Paul Welch Jr. ARE Scholarship
Awarded to designers in pursuit of licensure as architects, who have already demonstrated achievement at this early-career stage, the fund reimburses recipients for fees expended for the Architect Registration Examination and related expenses.
Michael Cintron, Assoc. AIA // 2024
The Jury “appreciates someone who, so early in their career, is so dedicated to serving the profession. His portfolio includes excellent built and unbuilt projects, and a significant record of community service. It shows a real passionate commitment. His service to the profession is clear and admirable.”
Yuriy Avramenko, Assoc. AIA // 2024
The jury agreed, “Yuriy Avramenko, Assoc. AIA shows the resolve to be licensed, has a clear dedication to the profession, and a strong work ethic.”
Jamilla Afandi, Assoc. AIA // 2023
Jamilla is exactly the type of involved, committed professional that should be licensed as an architect. Her work, volunteerism, and passion for architecture is what sets her apart from others. Even with all of her extra-curricular activities, her teamwork in community-focused projects at her firm is exemplary.
Burak Celik, Assoc. AIA // 2023
The jury was impressed with Burak’s essay in which he discussed how he applied the principles of sustainability in his work; it wasn’t just theoretical. His work with HDR is impressive, and his design thinking shows through in the competitions and school projects he included in his submittal.
Victoria Dam, Assoc. AIA // 2023
Victoria is clearly a future leader of our field, no question. She exhibits so much commitment to both architecture and building science, which in itself demonstrates an understanding of where our practice needs to go. She seems set on solving our climate change problems, and we need more architects like her. She is involved in Student and Associate activities.
Alyssa Kinney, Assoc. AIA // 2023
She is motivated. Alyssa takes on a leadership role both inside and outside of the work environment. She has a strong portfolio, excellence in communication—both verbally and graphically—and is consistent with her commitment in leadership and continuing education. What sets her portfolio apart from others is the desire to be understood: she knows that ideas need to be explained.
Violet Li, Assoc. AIA // 2023
Violet’s work is beautiful, from her sketches to the professional projects she was involved in. She is one of the rare practitioners who seem to be able to do it all, which is a great talent to have. Her navigating to licensure is focused. Her starting of the ARE process quickly is a very good example.
Mona Nahm, Assoc. AIA // 2023
Her pursuit of difficult tests to obtain her WELL, LEED and Living Future accreditations, demonstrates that she is truly committed to a career that focuses on the health of the planet. Nothing is as important for the next generation of architects. Her work experience is strong, and she is actively engaged in JEDI efforts and collateral organizations. An enthusiastic YES.
Taskin Ege Yener, Assoc. AIA // 2023
The jury appreciates Taskin’s commitment to the field and to his company, which demonstrates that he has a future architect with excellent principles. He’s a workhorse not a show horse: an enthusiastic yes!
Manuel Zermeno, Assoc. AIA // 2023
Manuel is qualified not only to finish his AREs but to get into practice. He demonstrates such an understanding of the architect’s role, so early in his path to licensure, he will be a terrific addition to our profession. He holds a commitment to the value of architects, being the leader of a team, and the design process. Fifty percent of his ARE is already done.
Shahrzad Razi // 2022
Joonhee Lee // 2022
Melanie D’Souza // 2022
Genevieve Enriquez // 2022
Barbara Aguirre // 2022
Madhubala Ayyamperumal, Assoc. AIA // 2020
Heather Midori Santos // 2020
Darnell Parker II // 2020
Dana Lydon // 2020
Alisa Oberjuerge // 2020
Arielle Mascarinas // 2019
Diane Zoura // 2019
Eunice Welliver // 2019
Jennifer Farley // 2019
Robert J. Kain Healthcare Design Education Scholarship
Founded by AIA California’s Healthcare Facilities Forum Committee in memory of their colleague, the Robert J. Kain Healthcare Design Education Scholarship, known as The Kain Scholarship, strives to encourage and support architecture students interested in pursuing a career in the design and delivery of hospitals and healing environments. With forces that continually shift and improve healthcare delivery, this scholarship opportunity supports the importance of developing the next generation of architects to create the innovative design and delivery needs of tomorrow’s healthcare facilities.
Jesús Guillermo Macías Franco //
An immigrant from Mexico who overcame fourteen years of financial hardship to pursue an education in architecture, Jesús wants to “promote equitable access to healthier communities.”
Heather Leighton //
Heather brings keen insights into removing barriers to accessibility and inclusion based on her experience circumventing health facilities after an injury left her body paralyze. She is interested in making “architecture of shared moments.”
Jennifer Muganza //
Jennifer, a young woman from the Democratic Republic of Congo who speaks Swahili, Lingala, French, and English, dreams of providing environments that save lives and hopes to “take part in the progress of African healthcare facilities.”
