Perkins and Will Innovation Scholarship

Name: Perkins&Will Robin Guenther Memorial Scholarship

Award Amount: Multi-year need-based financial support (varies by recipient)

Information And Eligibility:
The Perkins&Will Robin Guenther Memorial Scholarship is a diversity-focused academic award established through a collaboration between Perkins&Will and the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. Designed to honor the legacy of Robin Guenther — a globally influential healthcare architect known for her commitment to people-centered design and social equity — the scholarship provides sustained, need-based support to graduate students pursuing a Master of Architecture degree at Taubman College. The award reflects Perkins&Will’s ongoing commitment to expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion within the architectural profession by enabling talented students from historically underrepresented backgrounds to advance their studies and careers without the burden of excessive financial barriers.

Perkins&Will is a global design firm that publicly prioritizes diversity, inclusion, and social justice as central to creative excellence. The firm’s Diversity & Inclusion statement emphasizes that bringing together people from many different backgrounds — and ensuring every voice is genuinely valued — strengthens design outcomes and professional innovation. Their stated mission is to diversify the design profession and create a more just, equitable, and inclusive world by embedding equity into practice and championing opportunities that uplift historically marginalized designers.

The Robin Guenther Memorial Scholarship serves as both a financial resource and a symbol of Perkins&Will’s broader efforts to support equity in architecture education. By partnering with Taubman College, the scholarship positions emerging designers to contribute meaningfully to the built environment while advancing professional excellence and representative participation across the discipline.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be enrolled in or accepted to the Master of Architecture program at the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning.
• Applicants should demonstrate financial need as part of the scholarship consideration.
• Students are expected to show commitment to advancing inclusive design practices and contributing to a diverse architectural community.
• Eligibility may extend to international students and U.S. citizens; specific criteria are confirmed through the Taubman College Scholarship Office.
• Applicants are typically evaluated on academic promise, design potential, and alignment with the values exemplified by Robin Guenther’s professional legacy.

Application Requirements:

• Completed scholarship application form through Taubman College’s financial aid or awards portal.
• Documentation demonstrating financial need (e.g., FAFSA, CSS Profile, or institutional need verification).
• Academic transcripts and GPA details verifying current standing in the architecture program.
• Personal statement or essay outlining design goals, values related to diversity and inclusion, and professional aspirations.
• Letters of recommendation from faculty or design professionals familiar with the applicant’s work and academic commitment.

Deadline: Varies by academic year (check the Taubman College awards calendar)

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