Giewel David, an undergraduate architecture student at the Academy of Art University, and Yasmine Shilleh, a candidate for a Master’s in Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, each received a 2025 SCB Foundation Scholarship Award. Established in 2024 to encourage students to pursue careers in architecture, interior design, and urban planning, the scholarship supports rising students with their education and is accompanied by a paid summer internship at an SCB office.

“The next generation of designers, architects, and planners are advancing the profession with fresh perspectives, creativity, and vision,” says Ben Harrison, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, SCB Foundation Board Member. “Through this scholarship, we are committed to nurturing emerging talent and celebrating voices like Giewel and Yasmine’s, empowering them to shape the built environment with innovation and purpose.”

More about the 2025 SCB Foundation Awardees

Giewel David’s journey into architecture began with a love for drawing and storytelling. As a child, she was captivated by sketching anime characters and creating imagined worlds. When her family moved to the United States from the Philippines, she gained a deeper appreciation for how environments affect people’s sense of belonging during times of transition and rebuilding. Seeing how architecture could shape community connections and offer comfort during change sparked her desire to design spaces that make people feel at home. During her internship with SCB, David gained experience being part of real project teams and seeing how design ideas move from sketches to reality.  “Receiving the SCB Foundation Scholarship and internship reminded me that my story, my background, and my potential are not only recognized, but celebrated,” she says. “It gave me the confidence to keep pushing forward.”

Growing up in the Middle East, Yasmine Shilleh watched the urban landscape change rapidly as new buildings, public spaces, and infrastructure projects were being developed. Witnessing how that change impacted people’s daily lives left a deep impression. “I realized that architecture is more than just construction; it’s a reflection of culture, progress, and emotion,” she says. “That’s what drew me to the field and continues to inspire my passion for thoughtful design.” While working as an intern at SCB, Shilleh had the opportunity to contribute to projects and gained a deeper understanding of how architecture can respond to physical and social needs. Her advice to other design students is to “use your background as a strength – it gives you a different way to see and think about the world.”

Applications for next year’s scholarship awards will be made available towards the end of 2025. Candidates are evaluated by the SCB Foundation Board of Directors, and decisions are based on the strength of design portfolios, resumes, letters of recommendation, and individual narratives.