Washington, D.C. – July 22, 2014 – The American Institute of Architects (AIA) selected ten recipients to receive the 2014 Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship. The recipients will receive compensation for the entire cost of the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) and a full set of study guides provided by Kaplan Architecture Education.

The recipients were selected on the following criteria:

• Significant contributions at an early stage of their career to the profession and/or community
• Exemplary involvement in community and/or professional organizations
• Outstanding achievement in the creation, development, and delivery of creative programs for interns, associates, and/or young architect members
• Traditional or alternative career path, with demonstrated passion for pursuit of registration
• Strong letters of support detailing personal and professional contributions
• Inspiring statement of contribution
  
  
  

2014 Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship recipients:

Rachel Brand, Assoc. AIA, is an architectural designer at Holst Architecture in Portland, Oregon. Over her ten years of professional experience, Brand has specialized in residential, hospitality and retail projects.  She was previously a project manager and designer at Alvarez|Morris Architectural Studio in Denver, where she worked on projects in the U.S., Mexico, and Spain.  Brand has volunteered as a mentor for Burmese refugees in Denver, was a volunteer lecturer and educator for the Classroom Speakers Project, and served as a mentor at the Denver School of the Arts.  A graduate of the University of Colorado at Denver, Rachel has a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art & Architecture and a Master’s degree in Architecture.

Bruce Burchfield, Assoc. AIA, is a 2005 graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture. He spent a year working with Habitat for Humanity through the AmeriCorps program to build homes for the underprivileged.  Burchfield was then asked to design and oversee the construction of several non-profit projects in the Middle East. While in Iraq, he was impacted by the lack of adequate housing in this region as families attempted to rebuild their lives after war. Burchfield started a non-profit, Extended Family International, to help families obtain adequate shelter by providing them with no-interest loans that are then repaid and given to other families in need.

Danielle Cremer, Assoc. AIA, received her Bachelors of Science in Environmental Design and Masters of Architecture from North Dakota State University.  She is a practicing intern and project manager at Hulsing and Associates Architects, P.C. in Dickinson, North Dakota.  During her time at Hulsing & Associates, Cremer has worked on a variety of education, civic and commercial projects.  She is active in the AIA, attending the State Convention each year and participating in continuing education programs and networking with other professionals in the industry.  Cremer has volunteered the past few years in the community held career fair for high school students, informing them about the field of architecture.

Erin Curley, Assoc. AIA, has demonstrated her commitment to bridging the gap between the architecture profession and the community since her board member position with AIAS (BGSU chapter) in 2001. There she developed a mentorship program, coordinated the annual Lego Charrette, and led a winning team entry for CANstruction Toledo in 2004.  Curley earned her Master of Architecture in 2012 from Lawrence Technological University and her Bachelor of Science in Technology in 2005 from Bowling Green State University.  She is a presidential member of the National Society of Leadership and Success; active with the Green School Committee; and Women in Architecture.

David Flecha, Assoc. AIA, received his Bachelor of Architecture from New York Institute of Technology in 2011 and has been involved in developing his profession since being part of his school's AIAS chapter.  He's currently serving his first year as the founding emerging professional committee chair and Emerging Professional chapter representative for the AIA Brooklyn Chapter.  At AIA Brooklyn, Flecha is trying to push the chapter's growth and pave way for the future generation of architects starting with networking and establishing events that will help associates with their IDP credit.

Daniel Horn, Assoc. AIA, is an intern architect that has a strong interest in resilience post-Sandy, urban design, and community planning.  He is a graduate of New York Institute of Technology and received his Bachelor’s degree in Architecture in 2013.  Horn serves as co-chair of Operation Resilient Long Island (ORLI), a grassroots committee of young architects founded to explore methods to aid coastal communities rebuild for the future.  His personal experiences living through Super-storm Sandy and its aftermath have fostered his interest in helping his community and the entire region rebuild resiliently.  He currently works in New York City for Perez APC, an architecture firm whose primary focus is resilient reconstruction after natural disasters.

Christopher Lujan, Assoc. AIA, currently serves as Nevada’s AIA Emerging Professionals Director and actively works across the State to facilitate programs to support aspiring professionals.  He is a Senior Project Designer and Associate at Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects [TSK] in Reno, NV.  Lujan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of New Mexico and a Master of Architecture from the University of Nevada. He earned the Fielden Medal for Academic Excellence in Architecture, Henry Adams Fund Award of Merit for Excellence in the Study of Architecture, UNLV’s College of Fine Arts Most Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year and was awarded the AIA Nevada Associate Award.

Samantha McCloud, Assoc. AIA, AIA Henry Adams Gold Medal recipient, received her Master of Architecture degree from Kansas State University in 2013. McCloud currently serves on the AIA Kansas City Architectural Foundation Scholarship Committee, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Central Plains Chapter Emerging Professionals Committee, and Women in Design Kansas City Committee Board.  Through USGBC, she is designing and constructing a mobile learning resource trailer for sustainable building methods to use for exhibition around the region entitled T.E.S.S (Trainer of Energy and Sustainable Systems).

Jason Newman, Assoc. AIA, is an Architectural Associate at Dietz & Company Architects in Springfield, Massachusetts.  He has earned a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Technology from Alfred State College as well as a Master of Architecture from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst.  Newman is an active member of the Western Massachusetts AIA chapter, and he has been a leader in the chapter’s Emerging Professionals Group since it was formed in 2012.  His efforts have contributed to a renewed emerging professional’s network in the Western Massachusetts area.  Over the past two years, Newman has been heavily involved in the planning and execution of various AIA events focused on licensure, mentoring, and topics pertinent to the emerging professional.

Allyson E. Pease, Assoc. AIA, is actively involved in San Diego’s AIA Committee on the Environment, and is serving as a curriculum developer for BEEP (Built Environment Education Program), a design and engineering education program serving elementary and middle school students in the area. She is currently working on the IDEA district, a large scale urban revitalization development, while employed at the Miller Hull Partnership, LLC in San Diego. Pease earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oregon in 2010, where she won several design awards and was involved with numerous design and sustainability-related research projects and publications – most notably serving as a researcher for a study promoting the reuse of existing buildings conducted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

You can get images of the recipients here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/nw6cje9lbomsdum/AABQt6OHRiacL6-QvFUVg0Maa

About Jason Pettigrew, Assoc. AIA (1974-2004)
Jason Pettigrew, Assoc. AIA served on the inaugural National Associates Committee. During his two-year term as the Western Mountain Regional Associate Director, Jason also served on the NAC Executive Committee as the Mainstream Director championing issues of internship and licensure. Jason dedicated much of his time with the AIA towards the development and growth of others and was committed to community service. He touched the lives of everyone around him through his selfless service which included not only leadership roles locally, and with AIA Colorado, but through his national service as well. His significant contributions also include serving multiple years as Representative to the IDP Coordinating Committee and involvement in the development of the Emerging Professional’s Companion released in 2004.