Resources

Honors and Awards

BAC Honors and Awards
Many scholarships, honors, and awards are available to students at the BAC. For information regarding current scholarship opportunities, please contact Sarah Coombs at (617) 585-0167.

Portfolio Review Awards 
The BAC offers support and encouragement to students submitting portfolios for the segmental reviews. These awards are timed to coincide with the student submissions for the Segment I and Segment II Portfolio Reviews. The Honors and Awards (H&A) Committee selects the winners in September and January.

The BAC Segment I Portfolio Award: fall & spring 
This prize is awarded twice a year to assist an outstanding student with the most impressive portfolio from the Segment I Portfolio Review. Students are nominated during Portfolio Review then chosen by the H&A Committee.

The William E. Nast Scholarship: fall & spring
Established in 1987, through the generosity of William E. Nast, this scholarship is awarded twice a year to assist two outstanding students with the most impressive portfolios from the Segment II Portfolio Review. Students are nominated during Portfolio Review then chosen by the H&A Committee.  

The William and Bertha Nast Scholarship: fall & spring 
Established in 1987, through the generosity of William E. and Bertha Nast, this scholarship is awarded twice a year to assist two students with the most outstanding portfolios in graphics from the Segment II Portfolio Review. Students are nominated during Portfolio Review then chosen by the H&A Committee.

The Gale Associates AOP Portfolio Award: spring
This prize will be awarded to the student enrolled in the Academic Only Program who presents the strongest portfolio at the end of the 2-semester program. Students will be assessed for strength of academic projects; range and strength of skills relevant to obtaining a position in practice; presentation of work both graphically and verbally; clarity of resume content and presentation.

Educational Merit Awards
The BAC has several awards based on academic performance and portfolio submissions.

The Alumni/ae Association Scholarship: fall & spring
Established in 1972 by the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association, this scholarship is awarded twice a year to assist an outstanding student enrolled in B-2 studio. Students are nominated based on GPA and then chosen by the H&A Committee.

The Dean Arcangelo Cascieri Scholarship: fall & spring 
Established in 1969, this scholarship is awarded twice a year to assist an outstanding full-time student who has passed Practice Progress Review and completed two Segment II studios. Students are nominated based on GPA and then chosen by the H&A Committee.

The Steffian Bradley Architects Scholarship: fall & spring 
Established in 1980 in memory of Joseph M. Bradley through the generosity of Steffian Bradley Architects, this scholarship is awarded twice a year to assist an outstanding student enrolled in their first C-level studio. Students are nominated based on GPA and then chosen by the H&A Committee.

The Adeline Graves Fournier Prize: spring 
Established in 1997 in honor of Adeline Graves, a graduate and long-standing supporter of the BAC, by her husband, Joseph Fournier, and her family, this prize rewards a student who demonstrates creativity, quality of work, and enthusiasm for sketching as a means of communication. The prize is awarded annually through a sketchbook competition open to all students.

The Boston Society of Architects/ BAC Design Competition: spring 
The Boston Society of Architects/ Boston Architectural College Scholarship Competition was established in 1949 through the generosity of the BSA. The scholarship, based on academic achievement and a weekend design competition, is awarded to a student who has passed the Practice Component Progress Review and has entered Segment III. The Award is funded through the continued generosity of The Boston Society of Architects and administered by the BAC Honors and Awards Committee. The original purpose of the award was for travel. Alternative uses of the prize have been allowed since 1970. Eligible students are notified but must then officially apply in order to be considered.

The NKBA Annual Prize: fall 
Established in 2006 through the generosity of the National Kitchen and Bath Association, the NKBA Annual Prize will be used to provide financial assistance to a qualified and deserving student officially enrolled in the Kitchen and Bath Certificate program at the BAC.

Retention/Need Based Awards
These awards are typically based upon financial need or as an incentive to encourage students to continue in the program.

The Richard Painter Scholarship: fall 
Established in July of 2001 with a gift from the Beacon Architectural Associates in honor of Richard Painter, who was a principal at the Beacon Architectural Associates, to inspire a BArch or BID student on financial aid to continue progression towards the completion of their program of study.

The Harold and Elsie M. Hurst A-1 Studio Prize: varies 
The Hurst Scholarship was initially established by Harold and Elsie Hurst in 1983 to assist needy students prepare for portfolio reviews. Current use provides for a prize to the student(s) who work the hardest and demonstrate the most impressive progress in A-1 studio during a given semester. Each A-1 studio teacher will be allowed (but not required) to nominate one student from their studio group who in their estimation best meets the criteria. The student will be invited to submit evidence of their accomplishments from the entire semester of A-1 studio work. The Elsie Hurst A-1 Studio Prize is to the student(s) who work the hardest and demonstrate the most impressive progress in A-1 studio during a given semester.

The Roy Viklund Scholarship: fall 
Established in June of 2005 with a gift from Sasaki Associates to honor the memory of Roy Viklund, a BAC graduate who worked at Sasaki for over thirty years, twenty of those as a principal. It is awarded once a year by the H&A Committee to a student in Segment II or III with unmet financial need, based on essays and interviews.

The Heenan Scholarship: fall 
Established in 2002, this need and merit-based scholarship is awarded each fall to a student selected by the Director of Financial Aid, in acknowledgement of Edward Heenan and his son, Edward Brett Heenan in recognition of their love for the profession of architecture.

The PILOT Scholarship: varies 
The PILOT Scholarship, a full tuition and fees scholarship for the length of the program, is awarded to a graduate of the Boston Public Schools and Boston city resident who has been accepted and will be attending the BArch, BID, BDS, or BLA program.

The Houseman Professional Program Scholarship: fall 
Established in 2006 through The Robert Houseman and Richard Kirkham Fund for Diverse High School Students Entering the Design Professions*, this scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship for the first two years of study and covers a substantial amount for the remaining time of study. The scholarship is awarded to a past Houseman Summer Academy Scholarship recipient and is applied to the Academic Only Program in the professional bachelor’s program of the recipient’s choice.
 
*The Robert Houseman and Richard Kirkham Fund for Diverse High School Students Entering the Design Professions also funds scholarships for high school students (entering grade 10-12) interested in design to. Please visit BAC Summer Academy page to learn more about BAC Summer Academy and the scholarships available for that program.

Travel Awards 
The BAC has several awards intended to offset study related travel expenses. In 2005/06, recipients traveled to Cuba and Mexico. In 2006/2007, scholarships went to students participating in the New Orleans travel program, and the Dresden/Prague Long Studio. Juries for these awards are assembled by the Manager of Honors and Awards in conjunction with appropriate BAC staff and the Honors and Awards Committee.

A. Anthony Tappe Fontainebleau Prize: spring 
Established in 2006 through a generous gift by A. Anthony Tappe, FAIA, of Tappe Associates, this annual prize will be awarded to a student who has been accepted in the School of Music and Fine Art’s Summer Program at Fontainebleau, France.

The John Heman Pilling Architecture Design Scholarship: varies 
Established in 2005 from a gift from Ruth H. Pilling, the Pilling Scholarship is used to assist students with BAC related travel expenses. Ruth Pilling had several passions, including education, excelling in language, and studying through travel. All degree students registered for the chosen travel program will receive an equal distribution of the scholarship.

The Frederick Norris Travel Scholarship: varies 
The Frederick Norris Travel Scholarship was established in 1985 in memory of Frederick A. Norris to enable a BAC student to travel abroad. The recipient is selected through a review of written statements, portfolios, academic records, and interviews by a committee created by the Manager of Honors and Awards.

The Mark Walter Young Traveling Scholarship: varies 
The Mark Walter Young Traveling Scholarship was established in 1996 by Nancy Hunter Young in memory of her husband Mark, a distinguished Boston architect and BAC graduate. The scholarship grants a meritorious student an opportunity to travel and study abroad. A recipient must exemplify the dedication, talent, creativity, and zest for life that Mark Young possessed. Eligible candidates are notified and must submit their portfolios and an essay for review.

The John Worthington Ames Scholarship: spring 
Established in 1955 by Mrs. John Worthington Ames in memory of her husband, this scholarship is awarded each year for outstanding scholastic achievement to a student in Segment III (including January grads) for further personal development through an educational experience related to architecture in accordance with a stated and accepted program. Eligible students are notified to apply and the recipient is selected based on academic records, review of portfolios, and personal interviews with the John Worthington Ames Scholarship Committee. Students are invited to submit twice for this scholarship.

The Payette Scholarship (Ames Alternate): spring 
Established in 1985 by Thomas Payette of the Payette firm in Boston, this scholarship is awarded to the student chosen each year as the John Worthington Ames Alternate.

Thesis/Graduation Awards 
The BAC Thesis Committee meets annually to recognize outstanding thesis work at the May graduation ceremony. In addition, the Peter Woytuk Award is presented each semester to an outstanding student about to enter thesis.

The Edwin T. Steffian Centennial Thesis Award: spring 
This award consists of a monetary stipend and certificate and is awarded to the most successful thesis presentation of the year's graduating class. This award is considered to symbolize "the best of the Architecture Thesis class". All graduating Architectural Thesis students, who received Commend Awards, are eligible.

The President's Commendation for Interior Design Thesis Excellence: spring 
All Interior Design graduating students are eligible to participate. The prize will be awarded to the student who presents the most outstanding Interior Design Project.

Degree Project Studio Commends Award: spring 
The purpose of the award is to honor the graduating Degree Project Studio student with the best end of term studio project. All graduating Degree Project Studio students who have received Commends are eligible to participate. The award will be given to the student who presents the most outstanding end of term studio project.

The Peter Woytuk Scholarship: fall & spring 
Established in 1974 in memory of Peter Woytuk, Chair of the BAC Thesis Committee from 1970 to 1974, this scholarship is awarded twice a year to a student who will be entering Thesis I the following semester and who exemplifies the values and philosophy of Peter Woytuk. Students enrolled in Thesis Seminar are nominated based on GPA and then chosen by the Thesis Committee.

The Kevin O’Marah Award: spring 
This award, endowed by the O'Marah Family, is to honor a member of the graduating class who best embodies excellence in all the areas of a BAC education: the academic experience, the conceptual experience, and the practice experience. A trophy and cash award is to be given annually to that member of the graduating class who best embodies the professional belief that Kevin O'Marah held in the value of practice-based design education as conducted by the BAC through its concurrent mix of lab and lecture-based study. The award is open to all members of the graduating class who meet selection criteria.

The Alpha Rho Chi Medal: spring 
The Alpha Rho Chi Medal is awarded annually by the National Professional Architectural Fraternity to a graduate of each school of architecture in the United States based on leadership and achievement.

The American Institute of Architects/ Henry Adams Medal And Certificate: spring 
Each year the American Institute of Architects (AIA) awards an engraved medal to the top-ranking graduating student in each architecture program accredited by the National Council of Architectural Accrediting Board. A certificate of merit is also awarded to the second-ranking graduating student. These awards are provided as a part of the AIA/AAF Scholarship Program. The award is presented for "general excellence in architecture throughout the four-year course to graduating students of architecture schools recognized by the Institute."

Practice Component Awards 
Practice Awards at the BAC are based upon a student’s successful completion of the Practice Progress Review and/or a well-received Practice Report. The Practice Faculty meets to review submitted reports/progress reviews and selects the recipients.

The Herbert Glassman Practice Award: varies 
This award is given to students for their outstanding participation in Practice Progress Review, the personal interview between students and Practice faculty members about students’ professional progress. Students are nominated and chosen for the award by Practice Faculty following each Practice Progress Review.

The Kronish Practice Award: varies 
Awarded to students with an outstanding score on their Practice Component Report. Practice Component Report Reviewers and Practice Component Credit Certifiers, as well as Practice Component Faculty members nominate students for the Kronish Award during each reporting period.

The Lussier ID Practice Award : varies 
Awarded to ID students with an outstanding score on their Practice Component Report. Practice Component Report Reviewers and Practice Component Credit Certifiers, as well as Practice Component Faculty members nominate students for the Lussier Award during each reporting period.

Alumni Profile
Christian Keith
Christian Keith 1995
Bachelor of Interior Design
After graduating from the BAC, I began my career working for interior designer William Hodgins. In 1997, I started my own Interior Design Business with a friend.