Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA

The AIA Fellows of Virginia have honored the service and accomplishments of Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA by initiating an endowed Fellowship to both commemorate and continue her efforts in providing young architects with opportunities to learn and grow professionally. Throughout her career, Helene has championed the unique needs of emerging professionals, and advocated on their behalf as President of AIA Blue Ridge, President of AIA Virginia, Regional Director for the Virginias, as a staff Vice President at the American Institute of Architects, as Secretary of the Institute and finally as National President of the American Institute of Architects.

Sourced through the Virginia Foundation for Architecture, this Fellowship fund is intended to give emerging professionals access to opportunities they might not otherwise have due to cost limitations, knowledge of the profession, or access to a network of peers to help them along their path. With the specific goal of increasing their exposure to and participation in the American Institute of Architects, this scholarship will acquaint emerging professionals with architectural practice in all its forms to assist them in making career choices, understanding the benefits of, and giving them a voice in the evolution of their professional society.

Eligibility
Emerging professionals (fewer than 10 years from graduation) are eligible for this Fellowship and individuals who are currently architecture undergraduate students or graduate students are eligible.

Terms
The Fellowship is awarded to one individual or team every other year. The award is for a maximum of $1,000 and is meant to cover basic expenses to allow the recipient time for focused inquiry and exploration in the field of architecture or design. Collaborators may submit joint applications, but each individual must meet eligibility requirements. Joint applications must be submitted as one package.

Decision
The jury will announce the award in April of each year during Virginia Architecture Week.

For complete Fellowship information, description of deliverables and sample ideas, download the 2019 Fellowship information>>

To Apply
The application will consist of the candidate’s curriculum vitae/resume, a proposal describing their planned activities, a timeframe, and the expected deliverable.

Complete the online application – applications for 2019 are now closed.

Past Awards

2019 Hampton Roads YAF – Jeffrey Butts, Jr., Assoc. AIA and Chris Warren, Assoc. AIA
Jeff and Chris are leaders in the Hampton Roads YAF and their idea is to use a design competition as a platform for collaboration among the interns from the architecture, engineering and construction professions. Planning a project for themselves as the client will challenge each participant’s knowledge and creativity and include reflective time to expand one’s thinking about what a summer internship should be.

2017   Shelia Christian, Assoc. AIA
Shelia’s research explored heightened environmental sensitivity among combat veterans with the goal of developing design guidance for facilities housing veterans and others.