by Morgan Watson
The Center for Architecture is pleased to announce the winner of the Walter A. Hunt, Jr. Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to a high school senior attending a New York City public or charter school who plans to pursue an undergraduate degree in architecture at an NAAB-accredited school within the U.S. The award amount of $10,000 per year for the first two years of study subsidizes the recipient’s college tuition and related costs.
After careful consideration, Victoria Clarke, a 2016 graduate of LaGuardia High School, was selected to receive the scholarship – her thoughtful submission stood out from the others. During the interview, the jury was impressed with the breadth of her interests in architecture and art, and they look forward to following where her education takes her. Before pursuing her passion for architecture, Clarke was also an accomplished figure skater, and traveled the world at a young age representing the U.S.
When asked to name her favorite building in New York, Clarke described being inspired by emotion and physical interaction between the viewer and the structure of VIA 57 West, BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group’s hyperbolic paraboloid on West 57th Street. She mentioned that she is particularly excited to get into the studios and learn to “create designs that serve a functional purpose, but also aim to aesthetically please.” In the fall, Clarke will begin the five-year B. Arch program at Cornell University.
The rigorous application process included essays, letters of recommendation, and a portfolio submission. Three finalists were then interviewed by the scholarship jury comprised of Stanley Stark, FAIA, Co-chair of the Scholarship Committee; Madeline Burke-Vigeland, AIA, of Gensler; and Susan Appel, former Center for Architecture board member.
The next submission deadline for the annual Walter A. Hunt, Jr. scholarship is 05.15.17.