May 27, 2026: CHICAGO: The Board of Trustees of the AIA Chicago Foundation, the charitable, independent not-for-profit organization which supports scholarships, grants, awards, and initiatives to strengthen Chicago’s architectural community, are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Diversity Scholarship.
Established in 2020 to attract and retain diverse, talented young professionals in Chicago, the AIA Chicago Foundation Diversity Scholarship recognizes the value of new and unique voices in the profession. The foundation awards up to two $10,000 scholarships annually, with each recipient receiving $5,000 per year over a two-year period. Furthermore, each awardee is paired with an AIA Chicago mentor to receive ongoing guidance throughout their educational tenure.
2026 Recipients:
Keeana DeShay
Graduate Student
University of Illinois Chicago
“I am grateful to be among the recipients of the 2026 AIA Chicago Foundation Diversity Scholarship. The sustained support and mentorship from the AIA Chicago Foundation will be integral for me as a graduate student. With this scholarship, I hope to go on to inspire and uplift future generations of diverse designers.”
Cody Lopez
Undergraduate Student
Illinois Institute of Technology
“I want to express my gratitude and enthusiasm for this amazing opportunity. As a future architect, I will strive to create spaces that celebrate the culture and fabric of Chicago’s communities, connecting them through spaces that feel like their own. I want to work with the communities who will use these spaces year after year, working in a capacity that focuses on the neighborhoods and street level interactions that have shaped me growing up.”
The AIA Chicago Foundation is a partner organization of AIA Chicago. With a membership exceeding 3,500 individuals, including licensed architects, architectural designers, and a broad network of industry partners and students, AIA Chicago is one of the largest and most influential local chapters of The American Institute of Architects in the country.
For media inquiries, contact David Chase at communications@aiachicago.org or call (312) 376-2745.
