Drafting Dreams Scholarship Funds
Educating K-12 scholars on principles of architecture is only part of the work necessary to increase women and minority interest and participation in the profession of architecture. Education is the truest investment in the lives of our youth, however, financial investment in our youth is just as important. It is both educational and financial investment that allow for the closing of the opportunity gap for our students.
The Drafting Dreams Scholarship Funds seek to alleviate the financial barriers the impede: students attending college to study architecture; students remaining in college to study architecture; students having access to industry professionals as mentors; and the success of students who attend Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) that are traditionally under-funded.
The application process for each scholarship fund will launch in 2018.
The Ina Ingram Merit Scholarship
The Ina Ingram Merit Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for high school students aspiring to study architecture at a post-secondary institution, inclusive of community colleges. This award is reserved for students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and above.
In order to receive this award, students must submit an acceptance letter to their prospective post-secondary institution as well as proof of enrollment, which declares "Architecture" as their major.
This scholarship is named after the late Ina Louise Campbell Ingram, affectionately known as "Madame," who served the Detroit Public Schools System as an educator, administrator, and math teacher for over 40 years prior to her retirement. Madame was passionate about mathematics and was instrumental in planting the seed that led many of her students to pursue a career related to mathematics. Madame Ingram served as the third grade math teacher for Drafting Dreams Founder, Christian J. Hughes, inspiring him to pursue a career related to mathematics - architecture. This scholarship is dedicated to her memory.
The Ishman B. Davis Pathways Scholarship
The Ishman B. Davis Pathways Scholarship is a financial need-based scholarship for both high school students aspiring to study architecture at a post-secondary institution and college students currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution to study architecture.
Eligibility for this scholarship is based upon financial need, demonstrated by submission of household income for high school students and submission of the FAFSA for college students. High school students must be accepted into a post-secondary institution to study architecture and will have to provide proof of enrollment to receive the award. College students must be current students at a post-secondary institution and must also provide proof of enrollment to receive the award.
College students that are not currently enrolled due to financial reasons are encouraged to apply. In this case, the award will be paid directly to the respective institution towards the students' pre-existing balance.
The late Ishman B. Davis was the uncle of Drafting Dreams Founder, Christian J. Hughes. "Uncle Ish" invested heavily in the pursuits of his nieces and nephews. Uncle Ish never failed to contribute financially to the educational endeavors of his nieces and nephews. This scholarship fund is dedicated to his memory, in the spirit of paying it forward.
The Beverly Lynn Hughes Experience Award
The Beverly Lynn Hughes Experience Award is a travel stipend awarded to college students currently enrolled in post-secondary institutions to study architecture. This travel award is reserved for student travel to the National Organization of Minority Architects Conference and the American Institute of Architects Conference. Student attendance at both conferences is crucial for post-graduate success in the profession of architecture, as students will be able to network and build relationships with industry professionals that can serve as mentors and potential employers.
Applicants must be current students at a post-secondary institution and will need to submit proof of enrollment to receive the travel stipend. Award selection is based on academic performance and successful completion of application materials, which includes: resume, work sample, and an accompanying essay.
Beverly Lynn Hughes, M.Ed, is an Assistant Principal with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She is the aunt of Drafting Dreams Founder, Christian J. Hughes. Known as "Auntie Beverly," she always promised her nieces and nephews that she would not always be able to give them money, but would always give them experiences. It is these experiences that shape student and child development. This award is named in honor as its purpose is to provide students with meaningful experiences in the profession of architecture.
The HBCU ArcEd Award
The HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) ArcEd (Architectural Education) Award is a grant for HBCUs that offer accredited professional degrees in architecture. The grant is to be used for classroom and studio support, which includes furniture, plotting and printing supplies, software, and model making materials.
There are seven HBCUs that offer accredited professional degrees in architecture, which are: Hampton University (Hampton, VA), Howard University (Washington, DC), Morgan State University (Baltimore, MD), The University of DC (Washington, DC), Tuskegee Univeristy (Tuskegee, AL), Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (Tallahassee, FL), and Prarie View Agricultural and Mechanical University (Prarie View, TX).
Drafting Dreams Founder, Christian J. Hughes, is an alum of Hampton University, an HBCU that offers a Five-Year, Master of Architecture program. In his undergraduate and graduate studies, he would come to learn just how under-funded HBCUs were in comparison to their non-HBCU counterparts. Furthermore, the costs of equipping a world-class department of architecture are expensive, as they include costs for architectural software, plotter and printer ink, printing materials, plotter and printer paper, quality resource materials, and more. This award seeks to alleviate those costs for such under-funded institutions.
The Antwon Jamar Johnson Fund
The Antwon Jamar Johnson Fund provides financial assistance to graduating high school students and persons in need of GED/Credit Recovery Services who have lost their parent(s) to gun violence. This fund also provides financial assistance to the families that are supporting the children of parents who lost their lives to gun violence. This fund is divided into two awards:
The ”Hard Work” Scholarship
Self-branded as “Hard Work Johnson,” Antwon was a hard worker and an advocate of the importance of hard work. The “Hard Work” Scholarship is for young adults taking their next steps in life. Funds may be used for: college matriculation; trade school enrollment; fees associated with credit recovery and GED programs; and or new career assistance in the way of uniforms, training fees, and or transportation assistance until receiving one’s first paycheck.
The Family Support Fund
On March 23, 2019, Antwon Jamar “Hard Work” Johnson lost his life to gun violence at the age of 28. He was the childhood friend and elementary and middle school classmate of Drafting Dreams Founder, Christian J. Hughes. Affectionately known as “Twon,” he left to cherish his memory two beautiful children, both under the age of six. This fund is in honor of the legacy Twon has left behind, to guarantee support for his children, family and other families experiencing similar circumstances. Families who are supporting children who lost their parents to gun violence may apply to this fund for unrestricted financial support. Funds may be used to pay bills, childcare costs, food, clothing and or general cash assistance.