John A. Notaro Memorial Scholarship

Name: John A. Notaro Memorial Scholarship

Award Amount: Up to $2,000

Information and Eligibility:
The AIA New York State (AIANYS) John A. Notaro Memorial Scholarship was established to honor the late architect John A. Notaro, FAIA, whose passion for architectural education and mentorship inspired countless students and professionals. Founded in 2007, this annual scholarship program celebrates design excellence among architecture students and aims to foster the next generation of creative, socially responsible design leaders. Administered by AIA New York State in partnership with the AIA Component Matching Scholarship Grant Program, the award recognizes students whose academic work and design innovation reflect the future of the architecture profession.

The scholarship provides an opportunity for emerging architects to connect with practicing professionals, showcase their academic design projects, and engage in dialogue about advancing architectural practice. Each year, students enrolled in NAAB-accredited programs are invited to submit their semester projects for consideration. Entries are evaluated by a jury of architects on creativity, conceptual strength, execution, and the project’s ability to address social, environmental, and aesthetic concerns through design.

Eligibility criteria include:

• Academic Status: Applicants must be incoming second-, third-, fourth-, or fifth-year students enrolled in a NAAB-accredited architecture program and returning for the following fall semester.
• Project Type: Submissions should be academic design projects completed as part of a studio or coursework assignment.
• Collaboration: Collaborative entries are permitted; however, the award will be divided evenly among team members. Each team submission must include the names of all students and specify individual roles.
• Faculty Involvement: Each application must include an administrator or faculty sponsor who will serve as the faculty contact and sign the submission cover sheet.

Application Requirements:

• A completed Application Cover Sheet signed by a faculty contact or professor.
• A project description between 500–1,000 words explaining the design’s concept, objectives, and significance. The essay should clearly articulate the project’s architectural vision, context, and the problem-solving strategies employed.
• Graphic materials that visually represent the design’s intent—limited to three 8.5” x 11” pages compiled into a single PDF. These materials may include renderings, plans, sections, elevations, and conceptual diagrams.
• All materials must be submitted electronically via email to clongobardi@aianys.org.

Selection Criteria:

• Design originality, clarity of concept, and quality of visual presentation.
• Ability to communicate architectural intent through writing and graphics.
• Demonstrated understanding of architecture’s role in improving the built environment and addressing community or environmental issues.
• Consistency with the scholarship’s purpose to recognize the academic and creative excellence of future professionals in architecture.

Additional Details:

• Multiple submissions may be made per school, and there is no limit to the number of entries an institution can submit.
• The scholarship jury reviews all submissions and selects recipients based on merit and design quality.
• Winners are notified in early December and recognized during AIANYS’s annual Virtual Honor Awards Celebration.
• The scholarship funds are paid directly to recipients to support tuition and educational expenses.

Deadline:

• Application Due: May 12
• Award Announcement: Recipients announced in December during the AIANYS Virtual Honor Awards Celebration.

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