Contact: Sammy McDavid
Nearly 30 current and recently graduated students hold honors for outstanding achievements during their study in Mississippi State University's College of Architecture.
Established in 1973, the college is the only one of its kind in the state. Some 250 majors usually are enrolled in the five-year undergraduate curriculum; four in Starkville and a final year in Jackson to transition from an academic foundation to the profession's daily realities. A two-year master's degree program in architecture/computer visualization also is offered.
Since its beginning, the school has emphasized small towns and continually uses local and state locations as teaching tools--an emphasis that sets it apart from traditional urban-based programs. This regional focus has received praise on the local, state and national levels.
Graduates have distinguished themselves in advanced study at schools such as Harvard, Yale and Columbia, as well as in professional careers throughout the United States.
In addition to the students, two faculty members and an alumnus of the college also were honored at the conclusion of the 2003 spring semester. They included:
--Associate professor Michael A. Berk, chosen by the fourth-year design studio class to receive the Allen and Hoshall Faculty Award for "demonstrated excellence in the use of digital media" for teaching and research. The honor was established in 1996 by the Jackson architectural firm for which it is named.
--Visiting associate professor Paul W. Clarke, selected by junior and senior majors to receive the Tau Sigma Delta Faculty Book Award for "inspiring them to excellence." [Tau Sigma Delta is the national honor society for architecture and applied arts.]; and
--1980 MSU architecture graduate T. Steven Davis of Jackson [ZIP code: 39211], who received the college's Tau Sigma Delta Silver Medal for "efforts over an extended period of time that have elevated the quality of architecture and architectural discourse in the State of Mississippi." He is vice president of the Jackson architectural firm of Canizaro Cawthon Davis.
--1980 MSU architecture graduate T. Steven Davis of Jackson [ZIP code: 39211], who received the college's Tau Sigma Delta Silver Medal for "efforts over an extended period of time that have elevated the quality of architecture and architectural discourse in the State of Mississippi." He is vice president of the Jackson architectural firm of Canizaro Cawthon Davis.
Presented their honors by college Dean James West, the outstanding 2002-03 architecture majors include (by hometown) [with additional information in brackets]:
AMORY--Graduating senior Paul W. Kirkpatrick, who received the American Institute of Architects Henry Adams Certificate. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Kirkpatrick and a 1997 Amory High School graduate. [The second-highest award given to a graduating senior, the AIA Adams Certificate recognizes "general excellence" throughout the five years of required study in architecture.]
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--David C. Donovan, who received the Tau Sigma Delta Freshman Design Excellence Award. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Donovan [ZIP code: 35233] and a 2002 Mountain Brook High School graduate. [Tau Sigma Delta is the national honor society of architecture and allied arts.]
BRANDON--Graduating senior Jason Pressgrove, who received a Jurists Award in Design Excellence. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. G.A. Pressgrove and a 1992 Northwest Rankin High School graduate. [The award recognizes "students achieving the greatest personal growth as designers and whose work has contributed to the overall success of the fifth-year design studio."]
BROOKHAVEN--Senior Robin A. Redd, who received the $250 Sarah Parsons Memorial Scholastic Award. The daughter of Mary Lu Redd and Gordon Redd, she is a 1993 Brookhaven High School graduate who also holds a psychology degree from Mississippi College. [The honor is presented annually to the most outstanding architecture major from Lincoln County by the Brookhaven Trust for the Preservation of History, Culture and the Arts.]
BUCCATUNNA--Entering freshman Candis D. Carroll, who is receiving the $3,000 Fred Carl Scholarship. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Carroll and a 2002 Wayne County High School graduate. [Fred Carl is president of Greenwood-based Viking Range Corp. and a major architecture college benefactor.]
CANTONMENT, Fla.--Senior Andrew Webre, who received the Diversity Achievement Award from the MSU chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Harlen Webre, he previously attended Pensacola Community College. [The award is presented to an architecture major from any cultural background "who does insightful work in a manner that provides support and inspiration to other students and encourages the development of community" among both peers and society at large.]
CLINTON--Entering freshman Kiran R. Patel, who is receiving the $1,000 Fulcher-Bailey Memorial Scholarship. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ramesh Patel and a 2003 Clinton High School graduate. [The award is named for the late MSU alumnus Luther H. "Harry" Fulcher and Samuel M. Bailey (and their wives), founders of the Jackson Stone Co.].
COLUMBUS--Sophomore Henrik Carlsson, who received a Second-Year Faculty Book Award in Design Excellence. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arne Carlsson and a 2001 Columbus High School graduate. [The award recognizes one or more students "who have had the most influence on second-year design classes."]
DUNCANVILLE, Ala.--Junior James S. "Stan" Gray II, who received the $2,000 Pella Windows/J.F. Day Co. Traveling Fellowship and the Tau Sigma Delta/Charles Calvo Memorial Digital Media Award. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James S. Gray Sr. and a 1996 graduate of Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa. [Made possible by the Day Co. of Birmingham, the Pella fellowship honors the winner of a semester-long design competition among fourth-year majors. Tau Sigma Delta is the national honor society of architecture and applied arts; Calvo directed the college's Digital Research and Imaging Laboratory until his untimely death in 2000 at age 42.]
GAUTIER--Graduating senior Jerry L. Friley III, who received the 2003 Alpha Rho Chi Medal. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Friley Sr. and a former student at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College-Jackson County. [Alpha Rho Chi is the professional, coeducational fraternity for architecture majors; awarded by the architecture faculty, the medal recognizes "leadership, willing service to the college and the promise of future professional merit through attitude and personality."]
GREENVILLE--Senior Jane Reed Sanders, who received the $750 Mississippi Concrete Industries Association Design Excellence Award. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wynn Sanders and a 1999 Washington School graduate. [The award honors the student whose designs show "a particular sensitivity to materials."]
HAZLEWOOD, Mo.--Sophomore Daniel J. Perschbacher, who received the $2,000 Farretti/Karnstedt Scholarship. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Perschbacher and a 2001 New Madrid Central High School graduate. [Made possible by longtime MSU benefactors John and Jutta Farretti of Shelby, the scholarship was established last year to recognize and encourage academic achievement and leadership among rising architecture majors.]
HORN LAKE--Sophomore Justin P. Zahner, who received the $1,000 Matt L. Virden III Memorial Scholarship in Design Excellence. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Meziere and a 2001 Horn Lake High School graduate. [Established in 1994 by the M.L. Virden family to honor their late architect son, the annual scholarship is designated for a rising junior from any one of 18 Mississippi Delta counties.]
JACKSON (total of two)--Graduating senior Anderson Ervin III, who received a Jurists Award in Design Excellence. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Ervin [ZIP code: 39209] and a 1997 Provine High School graduate. [The award recognizes "students achieving the greatest personal growth as designers and whose work has contributed to the overall success of the fifth-year design studio."]
--Graduating senior James R. "Jamie" Wier Jr., who received the Tau Sigma Delta Bronze Medal and a Jurists Award in Design Excellence. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James R. Wier Sr. [ZIP: 39208] and a 1994 Pearl High School graduate. [Tau Sigma Delta is the national honor society of architecture and allied arts; the Bronze Medal recognizes the student whose final year of design work "most contributed to the expansion of architectural insight and awareness" among classmates. The Jurists Award honors "students achieving the greatest personal growth as designers and whose work has contributed to the overall success of the fifth-year design studio."]
KOSCIUSKO--Senior Karen A. Cauthen, who received the $1,000 Charles H. Dean Jr. Memorial Scholarship in Design Excellence. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Cauthen and a 1999 Kosciusko High School graduate. [The scholarship was established by Jackson architect Richard Dean to honor his late father.]
MERIDIAN--Sophomore Ryan C. Florreich, who received a Second-Year Faculty Book Award for Design Excellence. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Florreich and a 2001 Meridian High School graduate. [The award recognizes one or more students "who have had the most influence on second-year design classes.]
PADUCAH, Ky.--Freshman Carly M. Allen, who received the First-Year Faculty Book Award for Design Excellence. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stan Allen [ZIP: 42002] and a 2002 Tilghman High School graduate.
PHILADELPHIA--Senior Shannon T. Barrier, who received the $1,000 Hollomon Architects Scholarship, which honors a top student entering the college's fifth and final year of study in Jackson. [Information on parents and high school were not available.] [The scholarship is made possible by Farrol D. "Bud: Hollomon Jr., a 1984 MSU architecture graduate and owner of Hollomon Architects in Jackson.]
RIDGELAND (total of 2)--Senior Lena M. Coleman, who received the $500 Pryor and Morrow Scholarship in Design Excellence. She is the daughter of Thelma Coleman and a 1998 Jim Hill High School graduate. [The scholarship is made possible by MSU alumnus Chris Morrow, partner Roger Pryor and other employees of Pryor & Morrow Architects in Jackson.]
--Junior Molly M. Matthews, who received the $1,000 Boral Brick Design Excellence Award. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brett Matthews and a 2000 Jackson Preparatory School graduate. [The award is made possible by Boral Brick Inc., America's largest brick producer with manufacturing facilities located throughout the Southeast and Southwest.]
STARKVILLE (total of two)--Graduating senior Daniel S. Oakley, who received the American Institute of Architects Henry Adams Medal and the Academic Achievement Award. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Oakley and a 1997 Starkville Academy graduate. [The AIA Adams Medal recognizes "general excellence in architecture" and is the highest award presented to a bachelor's degree candidate by the college faculty. The academic award recognizes the graduating major with the highest cumulative university grade-point average.] --Graduating master's degree candidate Meeta Shingne, who received the ARCC/King Award. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sadanand Shingne of Pune, India. [The award, which recognizes "innovation, integrity and scholarship in architectural and/or environmental design research," is named for the late Jonathan King, co-founder and first president of the national Architectural Research Centers Consortium.]
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.--Junior Jennifer R. Hodges, who received the $1,000 Stephanie M. Pizzetta Scholarship. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Gerald Richardson and a 1996 Central High School graduate. [Pizetta, a 1983 MSU architecture graduate now serving as senior associate with the New York firm of Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer, established the scholarship in 2001 to honor a top student completing the college's second year of design studio training.]
VICKSBURG--Senior Gregory L. Durrell, who received the $1,500 Studio South Architects Scholarship. He is the son of Lorraine Durrell and a 1997 Vicksburg High School graduate. [Honoring a top students entering the college's fifth and final year of study in Jackson, the award was established in 2001 by Taylor Guild III and Chet Allred, co-managers of the Mississippi Gulf Coast-based architectural firm.]
WATER VALLEY--Graduating senior Leigh Ann Black, who received a Jurists Award in Design Excellence. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Black and a 1998 graduate of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in Columbus. [The award recognizes "students achieving the greatest personal growth as designers and whose work has contributed to the overall success of the fifth-year design studio."]
WAVELAND--Entering freshman Allyson M. Cleaves, who is receiving the $1,000 T. Steven Davis Scholarship. A 2003 graduate of Bay St. Louis High School, she is the daughter of Susan Cleaves of Waveland and E.L. Cleaves of Covington, Tenn. [Davis, an MSU graduate now vice president of the Canizaro Cawthon Davis architectural firm in Jackson, established the scholarship in 2001 to recognize a top minority student enrolling in the architecture program.]
THE WOODLANDS, Texas--Kayce D. Williford, who received the $1,000 Architectural Foundation of Mississippi Award in Sophomore Design Excellence. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Williford and a 2001 graduate of The Woodlands High School.