Robert P. Madison Scholarship in Architecture
Purpose: To provide scholarship support for African-American high school students and undergraduates enrolled in coursework at an accredited school of architecture, with a declared major in architecture.
About the program: The Robert P. Madison Scholarship Fund was established in 2004, seeded by generous contributions from Robert and Leatrice Madison, their children, other family members, and friends. In order to mark the occasion of the founding of Robert P. Madison International at the time of the architectural firm's 50th anniversary, business partners in Greater Cleveland and beyond joined their efforts to provide the Robert P. Madison Scholarship in Architecture – an annual scholarship that would encourage African-American youth to aspire to a career in architecture.
As the first African-American registered to practice architecture in Ohio, Robert P. Madison made history. His firm, Robert P. Madison International, achieved a remarkable series of breakthroughs (first black firm in Ohio to design a branch office for a major corporation, first to win a commission to design a major building for the State of Ohio, first to win a competition to design a U.S. Embassy office building). Along with these business successes and barrier-breaking achievements, Mr. Madison and his firm demonstrated a strong history of commitment to the community. His firm alone is responsible for training nearly 200 African-American architects. In establishing this fund to provide scholarship assistance to worthy African-American students desiring to pursue a career in architecture, the legacy is expected to build.
Applicants may attend any accredited college or university in the United States with a degree-granting program in architecture.
Eligibility: To be eligible, you must:
- Be African-American with parents born in the United States
- Have a minimum cumulative 3.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 grade scale
- Be a high school graduate accepted or enrolled as an undergraduate, degree-seeking candidate in an accredited, Pell-eligible post-secondary educational institution that is an accredited school of architecture, or enrolled in course work leading to a professonal degree in architecture, with a declared major in architecture
- Demonstrate financial need
- Submit acceptance letter from the accredited professional degree program
- Submit institutional award letter
Selection process: The selection committee will base its scholarship decisions on the completed application, evidence of commitment to a career as an architect, academic performance, and special skills or talent related to excelling in architectural coursework.
Award process: The annual award amount will be based on the performance of the fund and number of applicants selected. The general award amount is $1,000. Awards must be applied to tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment required for courses. Additional support may be available to recipients in subsequent years, based on financial need, academic performance, and available resources, but is not assured. Recipients must reapply to be considered for additional support. Grants are paid to the school for the benefit of the selected student(s).
To apply: Download the Cleveland Foundation scholarship application (New deadline: April 30, 2012)