HOK announces second annual Diversity x Design Scholarship winners

HOK has announced its second class of Diversity x Design Scholarships recognizing emerging student work taken primarily from the ranks of America’s talent-rich HBCU campuses.

Nine overall recipients were each given scholarships in the amount of $10,000 following a competition that yielded 93 total applications from a list of schools which this year includes the addition of Kennesaw State University in Marietta, Georgia.

HOK is considered a driving force in the industry-wide effort to increase BIPOC representation in the larger design field and initiated the annual scholarship program last year to “promote more diverse voices within the architectural profession and communities across the U.S.”

“People’s personal experiences have a huge impact on the creativity and impact of design solutions,” Katherine Antarikso, an architect in HOK’s Philadelphia studio and member of the Diversity Advisory Council that oversees the program, said in a statement. “Our design profession must reflect the unique viewpoints and interests of everyone who experiences the places and spaces we design. We’re thrilled to invest in the future of these students — and our communities.”

“While scholarships are just one facet of this effort, our investment in education is essential in shaping the work of designers as they responsibly influence the trajectory and evolution of our society and the communities where we live and work,” HOK’s human resources director Sandra Whipp added.

Testimonials from last year's recipients can be found here. Scroll down to see the full list of 2022 winners.

• Madeline Bradley, a graduate student at the University of Kansas, sponsored by HOK’s Kansas City studio.
• Armand Gamboa, a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Chicago, sponsored by HOK’s Chicago and Columbus, Ohio, studios.
• Kolbi Holston, an undergraduate at Howard University, sponsored by HOK’s Washington, D.C., and Tampa studios.
• Jaylin Lee, a graduate student at Prairie View A&M University, sponsored by HOK’s Houston and Dallas studios.
• Kelly Majam, an undergraduate at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, sponsored by HOK’s San Francisco and Seattle studios.
• Trenton Scott, an undergraduate at Tuskegee University, sponsored by HOK’s St. Louis studio.
• Leonardo Taouk, a graduate student at California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, sponsored by HOK’s Los Angeles studio.
• Ana Valdez-Tello, an undergraduate at Kennesaw State University, sponsored by HOK’s Atlanta studio.
• Xiao Lin Wang, an undergraduate at City College of New York, sponsored by HOK’s New York and Philadelphia studios.