Designing the Future: MAF Awards $59,500 in Scholarships for 2026

MAF’s 2026 Scholarship Winners demonstrated a passion for the profession, as well as a commitment to design, leadership, and community involvement.

MAF awarded scholarships totaling $59,500 to 16 Michigan college and university architecture students. A total of 58 scholarship applications were received this year.

2026 marks the 35^th year of MAF awarding scholarships, where the first $1,000 scholarship was awarded in 1992 to Leonard Eng. Since then, MAF has awarded 178 scholarships to 170 individuals for a total of $451,200.

2026 introduced four new scholarships: the AIA Detroit Graduate/Undergraduate scholarships, the Rossetti Legacy Scholarship, and The Hausman Family scholarship. Read more about the new scholarships here.

MAF awards scholarships annually to architecture students completing a Bachelor’s Degree program and who have been accepted or are currently enrolled in an academic program leading to a Master of Architecture degree. AIA Grand Rapids provides scholarships for both graduate and undergraduate architecture students.

MAF’s 2026 scholarship recipients are:

Jumana Abdullah, University of Michigan, AIA Detroit Graduate Scholarship
Britt Bardman, Kendall College of Art and Design, AIA Grand Rapids Graduate Scholarship
Deja Carter, Kendall College of Art and Design, AIA Grand Rapids Graduate Scholarship
Jillian Ciszewski, University of Detroit Mercy, Paul Stachowiak & Integrated Design Solutions Scholarship
Sumayah El-Ganainy, University of Michigan, Richard M. & Sidney K. Robinson Scholarship
Madison Fischer, University of Detroit Mercy, Professional Concepts Insurance Agency Scholarship
Andrew Johnson, University of Detroit Mercy, AIA Detroit Undergraduate Scholarship
Krzysztof Lower, University of Michigan, Katherine & John Banicki Scholarship
Monserrat Molina, University of Michigan, Hausman Family Scholarship
Amber Mortzfield, University of Michigan, Daniel W. Toshach & AIA Saginaw Valley Chapter Scholarship
Ann Nguyen, University of Michigan, Leslie Tincknell Scholarship
Natalie Silos, Lawrence Technological University, Hamann² Fund Scholarship
Sofia Soliayk, University of Detroit Mercy, HED Alvin Ernest Harley Scholarship
Katherine White, University of Michigan, Kenneth Neumann Design Scholarship
Cylee Weining, Lawrence Technological University, AIA Michigan President’s Scholarship (Honoring AIA Michigan Past President Michael A. Marshburn)
Joyce Zheng, University of Michigan, Rossetti Legacy Scholarship

The 2026 scholarship recipients were recognized at a ceremony held at the offices of SmithGroup located in Detroit’s Guardian Building. The reception included recipients from over the 35 years of MAF awarding scholarships.

As in past years, each student applicant is required to submit a completed application form, a full college transcript, a personal statement describing leadership, design, and community accomplishments and activities, a copy of the student’s design portfolio submitted to their graduate admissions program, two letters of reference, and a school cost and personal financial budget. The jury must take all information into consideration but has discretion as to the weight of the categories of information for each award.

The criteria for the Robinson Scholarship include a completed application, a college transcript, an essay of 750 words on the topic of the “Architect as a Citizen/Artist”, as well as a 5-page portfolio of undergraduate design studio work.

This year, there were three different juries for the undergraduate scholarships, the graduate scholarships, and the Robinson scholarship.

MAF’s scholarship program has supported hundreds of blossoming architecture students. These awards recognize students for their hard work and also provide support for the escalating cost of architectural education.

MAF scholarship awards continue to evolve due to the generosity of MAF donors, and through the considerable time and efforts MAF board members dedicate to numerous fundraising activities to support the program, including MAF’s annual ‘Fore a Great Cause’ Golf Outing.

For more information on MAF’s Scholarship program, click here. Want to help support the academic goals of Michigan’s architecture students? Click here to donate to MAF’s scholarship program.

05/01/2026