SARUP Scholarships

You must be admitted to or enrolled in a UWM School of Architecture and Urban Planning undergraduate or graduate program in order to be eligible for scholarships.

When to Apply

New Freshmen or Transfer Students
Incoming admitted undergraduate students may be eligible for scholarships based on review of the admission application, including personal statement and any submitted letters of recommendation. Completed admissions application must be on file by January 1 (New Freshmen) and January 15 (New Transfer).

New Graduate
Incoming admitted graduate students may be eligible for awards based on review of the academic record, letters of recommendation, reasons statement, and test scores. Selected students will be contacted by email prior to their first semester.

Continuing Students
Continuing students will receive an email to their UWM email account in the spring semester that includes the scholarship application.

UWM Scholarships
UWM maintains an extensive list of scholarships. In addition, the website offers helpful tips for applying for scholarships.
AIA and WAF Scholarships
[3] $2,500 awards

These tuition scholarships are made possible by contributions from the American Institute of Architects [AIA], AIA Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Architects Foundation [WAF]. The AIA and WAF Scholarship Program combines national and state resources to increase the dollar amount of scholarship awards for professional degree candidates to help cover the rising costs of professional education.

Beth A. Partleton ’79 Architecture Scholarship
Awarded to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the School of Architecture and Urban Planning (SARUP) who are enrolled in a program leading to a degree in Architecture.
Bob Greenstreet Honorary Scholarship
[1-2] $2,500-$5,000

Established in 2011 by alumni and friends, this scholarship recognizes the services of Bob Greenstreet as dean. The award supports student study abroad opportunities.

Bray Architects Scholarship Fund
This scholarship is for students in the graduate program leading to a master’s degree in architecture. Acceptance of this award may lead to an internship at the office. Finalists may be interviewed by the firm.
Charles Causier Memorial Scholarship
[2] $4,500

This memorial scholarship is awarded in honor of a dedicated alumnus and talented planning professional, Charles Causier. The recipient must be enrolled in the Urban Planning program, have an excellent academic and community involvement record, and demonstrate financial need. The award is funded through a bequest of the Causier estate and donations of others in his memory.

Cherie Claussen Scholarship
[2] $2,000

This scholarship is presented to a graduate-level student or upper-level undergraduate who shows evidence of a commitment to design and who exhibits the spirit of professionalism as demonstrated by Cherie Claussen throughout her career. The award was established by a generous endowment established by the late SARUP alumna, Cherie Claussen.

Christopher Kidd & Associates Scholarship
[2] $5,000

The Christopher Kidd & Associates Scholarship recognizes the commitment of UWM SARUP alumnus, Christopher Kidd, and his staff, to the development and support of UWM architecture program and young architects. Christopher Kidd & Associates is a Wisconsin-based firm providing full-service design, architectural, engineering and construction services throughout the U.S. for a wide range of clients.

Construction Specification Institute (CSI) Scholarship
$1,000

The Milwaukee Chapter of CSI presents a scholarship to
a freshman, sophomore or junior architecture student
demonstrating academic merit. Candidates are identified
and selected each year by the BSAS Committee.

Design Council Scholarship
$2,000 award

Sponsored by the Design Council, which includes leading architects, contractors, developers, manufacturers, attorneys, public officials and community citizens who financially and professionally support the goals of the School of Architecture & Urban Planning. Awarded to an M.Arch or MUP student who demonstrates academic merit.

Dream Spaces: Diversity + Architecture Scholarship
Architecture is at its best when it enhances human experience by creating buildings and environments that serve and strengthen communities. Introduced in 2022 by the Wisconsin Architects Foundation (WAF), the Dream Spaces Diversity + Architecture Scholarship (DSS) program seeks to build a growing cadre of diverse architects so that the profession better reflects the communities it serves.

The WAF seeks to attract, inspire and invest in the next generation of the profession, and we can help fund your college education with a scholarship that covers in-state tuition for a Wisconsin resident. Click here for more details.

Eckstein Scholarship
$3,000 award

This scholarship can be awarded to PhD, MS Arch, M.Arch or BSAS student
with academic merit, and preference for student studying healthcare design.

Engberg Anderson Architects Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship
$6,200 award

The Engberg Anderson Architects Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Fund are in support of student scholarships at SARUP with the goal of increasing diversity from under-represented population groups in the architect profession in southeastern Wisconsin. This scholarship is open to both undergraduate and graduate students in SARUP.

EUA Diversity Scholarship
$5,000

The purpose of this gift is to provide scholarship support to promote student diversity at the UWM School of Architecture and Urban Planning within the undergraduate degree program in
Architecture.

Faculty Memorial Scholarship
[1] $2,500 – $5000

This scholarship is awarded to a BSAS student in recognition of academic merit and is funded by the generous contributions of faculty, staff and supporters of the UWM School of Architecture & Urban Planning.

Findorff Construction Company Minority Scholarship
[1] $4,000

This major Wisconsin construction firm, founded in 1890, established this annual scholarship in 1994. This is awarded to SARUP undergraduate students who are under-represented in the Architecture program or profession. Those selected must reside in the City of Milwaukee, demonstrate financial need, and have interest in construction and the practical applications of architecture.

George L.N.Meyer, JR. Memorial Scholarship
$9500

Sponsored by the Wisconsin Preservation Fund and awarded in honor of George Meyer’s interest in and study of historic preservation.
It is awarded to graduates of Milwaukee Public Schools who have demonstrated academic achievement.

James Mellowes Architecture Undergraduate Scholarship
[1-2] $5,000-$10,000

This scholarship is awarded to highly qualified students in the undergraduate architecture program with a preference to students who reside outside the state of Wisconsin. The award is presented through a generous gift from SARUP alumnus and Boston architect, James Mellowes.

Jeff & Diane Oertel Scholarship
[1] $2,500

This award is a scholarship for first-year an undergraduate or transfer student with primary consideration given to motivation and desire to excel.

John and Carolyn Peterson Scholarship
[1-2] $3,000 – $6,000

The John and Carolyn Peterson Scholarship is provided to a student who has demonstrated academic merit while enrolled in the Master of Urban Planning professional degree program. This scholarship is provided by the John and Carolyn Peterson Charitable Trust through an endowment fund established at the UWM Foundation.

The Kubala Washatko Architects Scholarship
[1] $3,000

This scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students in the School of Architecture and Urban Planning who are from an underrepresented racial or ethnic minority group. Qualified candidates will demonstrate financial need, outstanding design potential, and an interest in architecture of wholeness and community building. TKWA is committed to mentoring and empowering the next generation of architects; throughout the scholarship year, multiple mentoring meetings and job shadowing opportunities will be made available. Candidates will also be separately considered for TKWA’s paid internship program and potential student research stipend.

Lillian and Willis Leenhouts Memorial Scholarship
$10,000

This scholarship has been in existence since 1990 and is named for Lillian and Willis Leenhouts, Milwaukee architects instrumental in the establishment of the School. In 1999, a circle of SARUP women alumni increased the award amount and pledged to become mentors to award-winners. The purpose of this award is to integrate culture, gender, and community into professional practice.

Moebius Award
[1] $3,000

This scholarship can be awarded to SARUP graduate or undergraduate student with academic merit.

MSI General Scholarship
$2,000

This scholarship is funded by generous contributions to the School from MSI General Corporation. This scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates academic, design, technical merit, and an interest in the design-build process.

Philip Rubenstein Scholarship
$1,000

This scholarship is awarded to a new or currently enrolled M.Arch student in recognition of academic merit.

Pella Windows and Doors of Wisconsin
[1] $3,000

The Pella W&D of WI Scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate student studying architecture. Pella will host the recipient at professional events and job sites and offer mentoring and networking opportunities.

Plunkett Raysich Architects Scholarship/Internship
$3,000 + internship

Awarded to a graduate architecture student who demonstrates academic, technical, and design merit. PRA is one of the largest architectural firms in Milwaukee with expertise in medical, educational facility and corporate design. Finalists chosen may be interviewed directly with PRA who intend to provide an internship opportunity over the summer and throughout the year. The firm has a long-standing record of the internship leading to full-time employment with the firm.

Richard Hunzinger Memorial Scholarship
[1] $2,500

This scholarship is awarded to an M.Arch student who displays exemplary design and academic merit with an emphasis on building technology and construction. This award is funded by the Hunzinger Construction Company, a well-known, full-service general contractor in the Milwaukee area. The award is also partially funded by the Wisconsin Architects Foundation in honor of the company’s founder, Richard Hunzinger.

RINKA Van Buren Scholarship
[2] $5,000

Awarded to a BSAS or M.Arch student with high academic achievement, to recognize design excellence. Rinka Architecture was established in 2006 by alumnus Matt Rinka and is currently one of the key change agents in Milwaukee. Van Buren Management owns and manages one of the largest corporate portfolios in the Milwaukee marketplace. The two firms understand the importance of nurturing creative minds to help solve tomorrow’s problems to ensure the future health, vitatlity and progress of our communities.

Somerville Inc. Architecture Scholarship
$3,000

The Somerville Inc. Architecture Scholarship is presented to a graduate student demonstrating design excellence with strong graphic presentation skills. Somerville Inc., founded in 1946, is one of Wisconsin’s largest employee-owned architecture and engineering firms, with particular expertise in the design of educational and healthcare facilities.

T.M. Slater Scholarship
$7,500

This recognizes the legacy of Milwaukee’s renowned architect, Thomas “Mac” Slater, and is awarded to a student who demonstrates academic merit and evidence of commitment to design excellence. Acceptance of this award may lead to an internship at the office. Finalists may be interviewed by the firm.

Urban Planning Alumni Scholarship
[1-2] $2,000

This is an annual scholarship funded by several Urban Planning alumni to honor a new or continuing student with demonstrated academic merit.

UWM Chancellor's Graduate Student Awards
Amount Varies

These awards are intended to attract and retain graduate students with exceptional academic records and high promise of future success.

VerHalen, Inc./Pella Windows & Doors Award for Excellence in Design
$5,000

This award is for excellence in design demonstrated by a student who is currently enrolled in the M.Arch program. VerHalen, Inc. consists of two distinct divisions: The Pella Window Store, a descendant of Pella Corporation, which was founded in 1925 and noted as an industry innovator, and Ver Halen Commercial Interiors, descended from Ver Halen, Inc., which has provided building materials to Wisconsin contractors since 1911.

Weas Development Scholarship
$4,000

This scholarship can be awarded to M.Arch or MUP student
with academic achievement, and preference for students enrolled in the Real Estate Development Concentration

Welford Sanders Memorial Scholarship
Amount varies, renewable for second year of study.

This scholarship aims to promote diversity in the MUP program.

Click here for more details.

Wisconsin Architects Foundation Scholarships
Multiple awards, amount varies typically $1,000 to $2,000

Established by AIA-Wisconsin, the Foundation’s main purpose is to advance the standards of architectural training and practice in Wisconsin. One way it achieves this goal is to provide scholarships to students pursuing degrees in architecture, who demonstrate academic merit and financial need.

WI Chapter, APA Endowment Scholarship
$900/Semester for 2 years

Awarded to a Master of Urban Planning student demonstrating financial need, academic merit, leadership, community service, and interest in planning for sustainable and just cities and regions.

Must be a Wisconsin public high school graduate

Recommended scholarships outside of SARUP