By Melody Harclerode
Many architects enjoy the profession for the opportunity to make a difference for people through design excellence. They take pride as a designer or design team member for residential and commercial projects that elevate the quality of life in society.
Led by Dan Cash, a group of architects and professionals in allied fields seeks to make another kind of difference for people as board members of the Architecture Foundation of Georgia (AFGA). Inspired by the call for social activism from the late Whitney Young, Jr., architects John Cherry and Stanley Daniels spearheaded the formation of this non-profit organization in 1971.
This year, AFGA will continue its mission of awarding educational scholarships to college students along with community grants for organizations that reinforce the value of architecture in neighborhoods. The Dorothy P. Spence Memorial Scholarship honors the beloved, late executive director of the Georgia chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Georgia). This scholarship assists students during one of their final two years of professional architecture studies at Georgia Tech, Southern Polytechnic State University, or the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Keeping alive the memory of a late AIA member, the John D. Mulford III Memorial Scholarship helps one student annually during one of their final three years of professional architecture studies at his alma mater, Southern Polytechnic State University. The application deadline for both educational scholarships is Feb. 3.
As David Green attests, the financial assistance can encourage architectural students to complete their education and make a transition into the workforce. His mother, who worked as a school teacher, would have had difficulty putting herself through graduate school at the same time as David and another son without the financial aid of AFGA. A recipient of the scholarship in 1990, the architect describes it as “a huge help for me in the furtherance of my career.” David has maintained a long term association with Georgia Tech as a professor for its College of Architecture since his graduation, and now serves as a Principal at the architectural firm Perkins+Will.
Through tax-exempt donations and volunteer support, AFGA will continue to make a difference in the lives of college students and with communities. See aiaga.org/afga for more information and to make a donation.
Melody L. Harclerode, AIA, a local architect, promotes the power of architecture and design as the President-Elect of the Atlanta chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Principal of Harclerode Architects (harc-arch.com). For more information, check out aiaatl.org.
