MSU School of Architecture students receive honors

Contact: Leah Barbour

STARKVILLE, Miss.--Representing Mississippi, Alabama, New York, Tennessee and Texas, nearly 50 majors in Mississippi State's School of Architecture are selections for awards and scholarships during the 2012-13 school year.

The land-grant university offers the state's only curriculum leading to a professional degree in architecture. In addition to structured courses designed to provide a solid foundation for professional practice, the five-year academic program emphasizes independent thinking within an ethical framework to inform and challenge the contemporary practice through teaching, research and service.

The new honorees include (by hometown):

ARAB, Ala.--Samantha A. King, third-year student and daughter of William Patrick King III and Yvonne Rockweiler, receiving the $1,000 Brick Industry Association Traveling Fellowship Award for her semester-long studio project in the Brick Industry Association Design Competition.

BILOXI--Haley N. Whiteman, third-year student and daughter of Glen and Diana Whiteman, receiving the $1,000 Brick Industry Association Traveling Fellowship Award for her semester-long studio project in the Brick Industry Association Design Competition.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--Michael T. "Mack" Braden, a fourth-year architecture student and son of Bruce and Carol Braden, receiving the $4,600 Paul Grootkerk Travel Award provided by MSU alumnus Ted T. Porter.

BRANDON--Rachel R. Griffin, a first-year student and daughter of Kevin and Cindy Griffin, receiving a $200 Angelo "Pops" Primos Computer Scholarship; Justin A. Mayfield, an incoming freshman and son of Bryant and Ronjanett Taylor and Sedric Mayfield, receiving the $1,000 Creig B. Hoskins Architects Scholarship; and senior John M. Thomas, son of Mark and Ann Thomas, receiving the Tau Sigma Delta Charles Calvo Digital Media Book Award, a memorial to a former faculty member known for his contributions to the field of digital media in architecture.

BROOKHAVEN--Robert J. Ledet, a third-year student and son of Henry and Diane Ledet, receiving an honorable mention in the Brick Industry Association Design Competition sponsored by the Brick Industry Association, Southeast Region.

CANTONMENT, Fla.--Michael J. Varhalla, the son of Michael and Elizabeth Varhalla, receiving a Faculty Book Award as the fourth-year student who exhibits design excellence.

CARTHAGE--Joel B. Wasser, a May graduate and son of William Wasser and Jane Woods, receiving the Fifth-Year Jurists Award in recognition of his personal growth as a designer and contributions to the fifth-year design studio.

CLAYTON, N.C.--Danielle C. Griffin, daughter of Eric and Amy Griffin, receiving a $1,000 Erin Remerow Parsons Loyalty Scholarship as an entering freshman with a minimum 3.0 high school grade-point average.

CLINTON--Kapish K. Cheema, a first-year student and daughter of Jagraj and Raninder Cheema, receiving the National Society of Minority Architecture Students Diversity Award for outstanding initiative and leadership in promoting diversity within the school and the larger community; and Landon G. Kennedy, son of Kevin and Melinda Kennedy, receiving a Faculty Book Award presented by the faculty to a third-year student exhibiting design excellence.

COLLIERVILLE, Tenn.--Carolyn A. Brewer, an entering freshman and daughter of Kirby and Jane Brewer, receiving a $1,000 Boral Bricks Inc. Loyalty Scholarship awarded to an entering freshman in architecture or building construction science with a minimum 3.0 high school grade-point average.

CORDOVA, Tenn.--Quintarius D. Brown, son of Efrem and Melandy Simmons, receiving a $1,000 Erin Remerow Parsons Loyalty Scholarship awarded to an entering freshman with a minimum 3.0 high school grade-point average.

DECATUR--Edward Holmes V, a first-year architecture student and son of Edward Holmes IV and Jami Herrington, receiving a $200 Angelo "Pops" Primos Computer Scholarship.

FAIRHOPE, Ala.--Casey L. Tomecek, daughter of Jayme and Penny Tomecek, receiving the Tau Sigma Delta Society Bronze Medal from third- and fourth-year society members to a graduating fifth-year student who has expanded their insight and awareness of architecture through a senior thesis project.

FOREST--Kevin Flores, son of Jose A. and Teresa Flores, receiving a Faculty Book Award in recognition of a second-year student exhibiting design excellence.

GULFPORT--Chandler D. Malley, son of David and Lisa Malley, receiving a $1,000 Erin Remerow Parsons Loyalty Scholarship awarded to an entering freshman with a minimum 3.0 high school grade-point average; Matthew K. "Matt" Robinson, a May cum laude graduate and son of Johnny and Cheryl Robinson, receiving the American Institute of Architects' Henry Adams Medal, the top award presented to a graduating student in recognition of general excellence in architecture throughout the course of study; and Nenyatta K. Smith, a second-year architecture student and daughter of John and Dorothy Smith, receiving the $500 Pryor & Morrow Annual Scholarship sponsored by Pryor & Morrow Architects of Columbus and Tupelo.

HOOVER, Ala.--A. Ria Bennett, daughter of Don and Maria Bennett, receiving a $200 Angelo "Pops" Primos Computer Scholarship and the First-Year Faculty Book Award presented by the faculty to a first-year student exhibiting design excellence.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala.--Celia M. Garcia, a first-year architecture student and daughter of Robert and Denise Garcia [35893], receiving a $200 Angelo "Pops" Primos Computer Scholarship.

JACKSON--Joshua M. Johnson, a first-year architecture student and son of Sherman and Nelva Johnson [39209], receiving a $200 Angelo "Pops" Primos Computer Scholarship; Scott D. Penman, a May summa cum laude graduate and son of Alan and Anne Penman [39211], receiving the Academic Achievement Award for completing his architecture studies with the highest cumulative grade-point average in his class and the American Institute of Architects' Henry Adams Certificate as general excellence runner-up throughout the course of study; William H. "Will" Randolph, a May cum laude graduate and son of Howard and Evelyn Randolph [39216], receiving the $4,000 Creative Windows & Doors/Marvin Window Traveling Fellowship; and Andrew G. Robertson, a May graduate and son of David and Faustina Robertson [39211], receiving the Fifth-Year Jurists Award in recognition of his personal growth as a designer and contributions to the fifth-year design studio.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--Zachary R. Henry, son of Paul and Elizabeth Henry [37938], receiving a $1,000 Boral Bricks Inc. Loyalty Scholarship as an entering freshman in architecture or building construction science with a minimum 3.0 high school grade-point average.

LAUREL--Chance A. Stokes, son of Hubert and Gwen Stokes, receiving a Faculty Book Award presented by the faculty to a fourth-year student exhibiting design excellence.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--Bradford W. Trevino, a first-year architecture student and son of Fernando and Rebecca Trevino [40243], receiving a $200 Angelo "Pops" Primos Computer Scholarship.

MADISON, Ala.--Ryan M. Fierro, son of Mario and Sheila Fierro, receiving the $5,000 Nathan and Anna Boggan Loyalty Scholarship as a high-achieving student with demonstrated academic success and leadership experience, the Tau Sigma Delta First-Year Design Award for a first-year student exhibiting excellence in design and a First-Year Faculty Book Award presented by the faculty in recognition of design excellence.

MADISON--Dennis Daniels, a May cum laude graduate and the son of the Rev. John Daniels and Virginia Roby, receiving the Fifth-Year Jurists Award in recognition of his personal growth as a designer and contributions to the fifth-year design studio; Brennan B. Plunkett, daughter of Mickey and Cathey Plunkett, receiving the $2,000 Mockbee Hall & Drake Scholarship awarded to a rising fifth-year student with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average and demonstrated leadership abilities, among other criteria; and John Taylor Schaffhauser, a third-year student and son of John and Jennifer Schaffhauser, receiving an honorable mention in the Brick Industry Association Design Competition sponsored by the Brick Industry Association, Southeast Region, and a $2,000 Beard-Riser Traveling Fellowship sponsored by Beard Riser Architects of Greenwood.

MAITLAND, Fla.--John M. Miles, son of Mark and Kimberly Miles, receiving the $1,000 McCarty Company Loyalty Scholarship awarded to an entering freshman with a minimum 3.0 high school grade-point average.

MARYVILLE, Tenn.--Elizabeth M. Bueche, an entering freshman and daughter of Brent and Mimi Bueche, receiving a $1,500 Boral Bricks Inc. Annual Scholarship.

OLIVE BRANCH--Aryn S. Phillips, a second-year student and daughter of William and Luretha Phillips, receiving the $1,000 Matt L. Virden III Memorial Scholarship in recognition of demonstrated leadership, among other criteria.

OXFORD--Jacqueline B. Dorman, daughter of Machelle Dorman and Gary Listug, receiving a Faculty Book Award in recognition of design excellence; and Caleb E. Fearing, a first-year student and son of Erik and Kim Fearing, receiving the $3,000 Fred Carl Sr. Memorial Scholarship recognizing a full-time major in the first-year design studio with a minimum 28 ACT composite score and a $200 Angelo "Pops" Primos Computer Scholarship.

PASS CHRISTIAN--Corey L. May, son of David and Donna May, receiving a Faculty Book Award as a third-year student exhibiting design excellence.

PEARL RIVER, N.Y.--Carolyn Lundemo, a May graduate and daughter of Dwain and Ellen Arterburn and John Lundemo, receiving Alpha Ro Chi Medal in recognition of her leadership, service and professional merit to the School of Architecture.

PETAL--Chelsea M. Pierce, a fourth-year student and daughter of Ronnie and Angela Pierce, receiving Architectural Research Centers Consortium King Award in recognition of innovation, integrity and scholarship in architectural and/or environmental design research, the $1,000 Stephanie Mihojevich Pizzetta Annual Scholarship and the $2,500 Burris Wagnon Architects Scholarship in recognition of academic achievement, a minimum 3.0 grade-point average and demonstrated exceptional design work or the ability to achieve exceptional design work.

RIDGELAND--Salena K. Tew, a fourth-year student and daughter of Bill and Mindy Tew, receiving the American Institute of Architecture Students Award from the school's AIAS members in recognition of demonstrated initiative and leadership qualities and excellent academic performance, among other criteria.

ROSWELL, Ga.--Jacob L. "Jake" Johnson, a third-year student and son of Michael and Emily Johnson, receiving the National Society of Minority Architecture Students Diversity Award from the NOMAS membership in recognition of outstanding initiative and leadership in promoting diversity within both the school and larger community.

SPRING, Texas--Danielle A. Glass, daughter of Kevin and Deborah Glass, receiving the $2,000 Mockbee Hall & Drake Scholarship in recognition of a rising fifth-year student with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average and demonstrated leadership abilities, among other criteria.

TOUGALOO--Larry R. Travis, a third-year student and son of Larry and Edna Travis, receiving the $2,000 Interior Elements Annual Scholarship awarded by Interior Elements of Ridgeland in recognition of demonstrated academic excellence and exceptional design ability.

TUPELO--Savannah B. Ingram, an entering freshman and daughter of Thomas and Kimberly Ingram, receiving a $1,500 Boral Bricks Inc. Annual Scholarship.