LPA Diversity in Design Scholarship Program
LPA, Inc. has established a scholarship program to champion the design professions among students from underrepresented demographics.
LPA Diversity in Design Scholarship Program
LPA, Inc. has established a scholarship program to champion the design professions among students from underrepresented demographics. We believe diversity and inclusion are essential to innovation, belonging, and representation. To that end, we aim to foster a culture where students feel that anything is possible regardless of their starting point. We want to grow, support, and mentor the recipients to attain their professional degree and advance the diversity of architecture and engineering disciplines that serve our communities and contribute to the built environment. We are looking for students who have an interest in pursuing careers that shape the built environment where people live, work, learn, and play.
The program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.
Eligibility
Applicants to the LPA Diversity in Design Scholarship Program must:
- Be high school seniors in states California and Texas.
- Have been accepted in a full-time undergraduate study at an accredited NAAB, LAAB, ABET, CIDA, NASAD, four or five-year college or university for the entire upcoming academic year.
- Be pursuing a degree in one of the following majors associated with the building and design industry: Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Architecture/Design, Architectural Engineering, Structural Engineering, Building Science, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related degree
- Be a student who has overcome significant challenges in their academic pursuit and/or belong to a group historically underrecognized or marginalized within the building and design industry.
- Be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Awards
If selected as a recipient, the student will receive a $5,000 award. Up to five (5) awards will be granted. Awards are renewable up to three years or until a bachelor’s degree or for four years or until a Bachelor of Architecture (BARCH) degree* is earned, whichever occurs first, on the basis of satisfactory academic performance maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and continued enrollment at a NAAB, LAAB, ABET, CIDA and NASAD institution and pursing an eligible major.
*Awards may be renewed for the fourth year for bonafide five-year undergraduate program upon sponsor review.
Renewal students are asked to answer one of the following questions (required):
- Why are you interested in addressing climate change through the design of the built environment?
- How might you change lives by design?
Student essay responses will be sent to Sponsor.
Awards are for undergraduate study only.
Recipients may also be offered a mentorship opportunity by Sponsor.
Notification
All applicants will be notified in July.
Notifications are sent via email. When setting up your account, avoid using a school or work email. Instead, use an active, personal email address that you will continue to have access to.
Please make sure to add studentsupport@scholarshipamerica.org as well as the program email address as safe senders in your email contact list.
Payment of Scholarships
Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of LPA, Inc. Payment is made in early August.
Selection of Recipients
Finalists are selected on the basis of:
- Academic performance
- Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
- Work experience
- A statement of educational and career goals and objectives
- Unusual personal or family circumstances
- An online recommendation
Financial need will be considered. Recipients must demonstrate need.
Scholarship America will select finalists and LPA, Inc. will determine the recipients. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.
Requirements
As part of your application, you must upload the following:
- A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display:
- Student name
- School name
- Grades
- Credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.
NOTE: If you are providing SAT or ACT test scores, and those scores are not listed on your high school transcript, you will need to upload a copy of your test score report(s) separately. If you are uploading a college transcript, those scores are not required.
One online recommendation form must be submitted on your behalf no later than May 26, 2026 3:00 PM Central Time.
Your application is not complete unless all required materials are submitted electronically.
