LPA Design Studios Announces 2025 Scholarship for Diversity in Design

by sarah_bauder | March 25, 2025 11:26 am

Three people hold a prop cheque worth $5000. — In the center is Elisabeth Gutierrez, a scholar from the first cohort in 2020. Gutierrez worked at LPA as a summer intern in San Antonio. The firm renewed her scholarship each year of her studies at the University of North Texas, and she plans to graduate in May with a BFA in Interior Design. (*Photo courtesy LPA Design Studios*)

LPA Design Studios has started accepting applications for the 2025 LPA Diversity in Design Scholarship, which aims to address systemic inequality in the design professions. Now in its fifth year, the annual program provides financial support, mentorship, and internship opportunities to students from historically marginalized communities.

Through the scholarship, LPA grants up to five graduating high school seniors $5,000 toward their degree in architecture, engineering or a related field. Scholars may renew the gift annually for up to four years, or until a degree is earned. Each is paired with a mentor who is a professional in their field of study, and receives priority when applying for internships in LPA studios.

“LPA is committed to empowering a generation of designers who reflect the rich diversity of our communities,” said Wendy Rogers, CEO of LPA Design Studios. “What makes this program unique is its focus on relationships and hands-on experience, which are critical to helping students succeed in their studies, their careers and their lives.”

The design professions — including architecture, engineering, landscape architecture and interior design — have a long history of underrepresenting women and people of color. Only about 2 percent of licensed architects in the United States are Black — a statistic mirrored across related fields. Programs like the Diversity in Design Scholarship address the causes of this disparity, which include limited exposure to design careers, financial barriers to education, and a lack of mentorship opportunities.

Since its launch in 2020, the Diversity in Design Scholarship has provided $220,000 in ongoing financial support for 18 students, with the first cohort currently in their senior year. Two of those students, Elisabeth Gutierrez and Diego Riverbay, were hired in summer 2024 as interns in the firm’s San Antonio and Irvine studios, respectively.

Applicants must be California or Texas high school seniors accepted into a full-time undergraduate program at an accredited college or university. Preference is given to students who have overcome significant challenges in their academic pursuit and/or belong to a group historically underrecognized or marginalized within the building and design industry. The selection committee will consider financial need and take into consideration whether students are the first generation in their families to attend college.

The application deadline is May 21, 2025.

Endnotes:

[Image]: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Scholarship-Image.jpg

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/news/lpa-design-studios-scholarship/