AIA Rochester Announces 2026 Architecture Scholarship Recipients

$25,000 awarded to six architecture students

by Jack Christie, AIA

The Rochester Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Rochester) and the Rochester Architecture Foundation (RAF) have continued their partnership to help the next generation of architects pursue their paths to becoming practicing professionals.

Each year, AIA Rochester awards merit-based scholarships to high school and college students from the Greater Rochester community who are pursuing careers in architecture. These scholarships are given in conjunction with AIA National and the RAF, which administers two scholarships: one from the Family of Myron Starks and one from Women in Architecture. Six students were awarded scholarships totaling $25,000 this year.

Danielle Strauf was awarded a $3,000 AIA Rochester Architecture Scholarship and the $2,000 Myron E. Starks Scholarship. As she enters her final year of undergrad at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Strauf stated, “Receiving the Myron E. Starks Scholarship is incredibly meaningful to me, as it represents both recognition of my hard work and an investment in my future as an architect.” Professors in Strauf’s architecture studio describe her as a team leader with a knack for balancing challenging designs with technical execution. Balancing varsity athletics with one of the most demanding academic programs in the country, Strauf exemplifies the discipline and team-first mentality that define her approach to both sport and studio. Her work ethic is already being applied to the profession through internships at LaBella, where she is entrusted with client-facing tasks and the mentorship of younger interns. Strauf is a 2022 graduate of Pittsford Mendon High School.

Hannah Owens earned a $2,000 AIA Rochester Architecture Scholarship and the $2,000 Women in Architecture Scholarship. Owens is a Pre-M.Arch student in the School of Individualized Study at Rochester Institute of Technology who maintains a 3.94 GPA. Charting the course for the next generation of architects is the mission of her capstone project, which will serve as a resource for students navigating their path to the profession. Owens is already gaining a professional footing in the industry through her internship at Passero Associates. Upon receiving the honor, Owens noted, “I am grateful for the support this scholarship provides toward my education and professional development. I hope to use this opportunity to inspire young women and girls by showing them that they, too, belong in this field.”

Brooklyn Jameson received a $4,000 AIA Rochester Architecture Scholarship. A senior at The Harley School, Jameson is headed to Syracuse University, where she will pursue her longtime passion for architecture. In addition to maintaining an architecture blog and logging over 100 hours of community service each academic year, she serves as President of Key Club and is a graduate of the ACE Mentor Program — commitments that reflect both her drive and her deep investment in the Rochester community. Jameson stated, "This scholarship is both recognition and opportunity for me. As someone committed to architecture, creativity, and community impact, it supports the work I've already been building while helping me take the next step." Looking ahead, she added that she hopes to give back to Rochester "through my work and future mentorship", which is a fitting ambition for a student who has already given so much to those around her.

Marshall Yannello received a $4,000 AIA Rochester Architecture Scholarship. Only a sophomore at the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning, Yannello has already distinguished himself as one of the program's most engaged and promising students. His studio project this year earned the highest grade in the course and was selected for exhibition in the program's showcase of exemplary student work — a rare achievement for a second-year student. Elected Vice President of UB's American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) chapter, he has been active in AIAS since his first semester on campus. Through his involvement in the ACE Mentor Program, Yannello secured a position at Sekula's Precision Painting, where his mastery of takeoff software has made him a valued contributor to real commercial projects. Yannello stated, "This support allows me to continue pursuing opportunities that strengthen my design abilities, expand my leadership within AIAS, and advance my long-term goal of becoming a licensed architect."  Yannello is a 2024 graduate of Eastridge High School. 

Lillian Saulpaugh was awarded a $4,000 AIA Rochester Architecture Scholarship. A junior in the Bachelor of Science in Architecture program at the University at Buffalo, Saulpaugh has distinguished herself through an exceptional ability to bridge conceptual design with technical execution. Her entry "Between Breezes" was recognized with an Honorable Mention — one of only five awards given across more than 90 entries — in UB's junior-year Temporary Cinema design competition. The scholarship committee noted Saulpaugh's fearlessness in learning new techniques and her commitment to elevating those around her, serving as a Peer Mentor for incoming architecture students. Saulpaugh stated, "This scholarship is a meaningful support to my development as an architecture student. It helps relieve financial pressure and allows me to focus on strengthening my skills and knowledge." Saulpaugh is a 2023 graduate of Penfield High School.

Lauren Porter received a $4,000 AIA Rochester Architecture Scholarship. A senior at Pittsford Mendon High School, Porter is headed to Syracuse University's Bachelor of Architecture program in the fall. Her interest in the field was sparked by a visit to the Corning Museum of Glass, where she found herself captivated not by the sculptures, but by the ceiling — and began asking how architecture shapes the way we experience space. She has since shadowed at Rochester architecture firm SWBR and brings a creative sensibility honed through years of performance, design, and community involvement. Porter stated, "Architecture is a beautiful medium, specifically because it fulfills both an aesthetic and a practical purpose. It is a field where I can generate something tangible that has a use outside of my personal agenda."

The scholarship winners will be recognized in person during AIA Rochester's annual Design Awards Celebration at the Historic German House on June 18.

Nearly $300,000 has been awarded in the form of over 100 merit-based architecture scholarships since 2000. AIA Rochester Scholarship funds are dependent on AIA Rochester’s annual Golf Tournament and contributions from the RAF’s “Visionary Architects of the 20th Century Fund”, which was established to support AIA Rochester Scholarships. This fund was populated by revenue from the RAF, AIA Rochester, local firms, and generous individual donors.