WAF Out-of-State Study Scholarship

Wisconsin Architects Foundation supports students pursuing architectural studies

WAF Out-of-State Study Scholarship

The Wisconsin Architects Foundation is pleased to offer a limited number of scholarships to outstanding Wisconsin students who are pursuing architectural studies out-of-state at a NAAB or CACB-accredited School of Architecture within a First Professional Degree or Post-graduate Degree Program.  The number of scholarships and amounts will be based on the availability of current funding.  Historically, awarded scholarships have been in the range of $1,000 to $1,500 each.

The selection committee will consider the student's GPA, financial need, likelihood of graduating, leadership abilities, and community involvement.  Preference will be given to students who demonstrate a commitment to the discipline of architecture and are completing the terminal years of their education (i.e. upperclassmen).  The committee encourages, minority, female, and disabled students to apply.

The Wisconsin Architects Foundation confers these grants with an understanding that the recipients will support the WAF when he/she is financially able to do so.  The criteria for eligibility are defined below:

  • The student must have received his/her high school diploma from a Wisconsin high school.
  • The student must be currently attending or planning to attend a NAAB-accredited school of architecture within a First Professional Degree or Post-graduate degree program.
  • As scholarship funds are limited, preference will be given to those candidates who have not previously been awarded a Wisconsin Architects Foundation scholarship.

Required Documents

Please provide the following documents for consideration:

  • Completed application form. Download Form [PDF]
  • Demonstration of graduation from a Wisconsin high school (copy of diploma or equivalent).
  • Copy of most current transcript (GPA) and board scores (SAT, GRE or similar).
  • One Letter of Recommendation from a teacher or other who can speak about your potential.
  • Brief essay, no more than 500 words, describing your interests in the scholarship. The essay is an opportunity for you to describe yourself, your leadership potential, financial need, community involvement, use of the scholarship funds and any other information that will enable the committee to learn more about you.
  • Copy of acceptance letter to the NAAB-accredited program.
  • Portfolio representing exemplary work, including internship work that you have undertaken within a professional practice clearly identified, in format and following specifications outlined below:              

Portfolio Format    

Portfolios should be submitted in an electronic format (on a flash drive, DVD or sent through Hightail.com).  There is no minimum or maximum number of pages. A table of contents should be included.  It is suggested that portfolio contain 5-8 projects of your strongest work. These projects can comprise sketches, fine art drawings or photography as well as architectural design, renderings and photographs of models.  Provide descriptions for each assignment/project. All projects should also include a title, the date that the work was completed, the course title and whether the work was done for academic, professional or personal purposes. The student’s individual contribution to any group design project should be clearly defined.

Portfolio Specifications

Design your portfolio for digital review.  For successful submission, the portfolio:

  • Must be no more than 10 MB.
  • Must be a pdf file.
  • The portfolio will be reviewed digitally (it will not be printed); format your portfolio for view on a computer screen and use horizontal format in your design.
  • Include a cover page with your first and last name.

Submission of Materials

Deadline for receipt of materials is May 15. The Scholarship Committee of the Wisconsin Architects Foundation will notify students by June 30.

Download the Poster

Image credits

WAF Out-of-State Study Scholarship