The Chris White/AIA Oregon Scholarship for Emerging Professionals is an annual award for selected architecture license candidates in Oregon through application and committee review.
The 2022 Chris White Scholarship recipients are Melissa Martinyak (left) and Francisco Toledo (right) - bios below.
Congratulations, Melissa and Francisco!
The 2023 application period will open immediately before Chris White/AIA Oregon Scholarship Golf Tournament currently scheduled for late September. Recipients of the 2023 CW Scholarship will be announced at the Oregon Architecture Awards Celebration.
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Melissa Martinyak
Melissa returned to Oregon after graduating Magna cum laude from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with her Master of Architecture to join Robertson/Sherwood/Architects in March 2021. It has been exciting working on a wide variety of project types, including libraries, performing centers, museums, schools, offices, banking, and recreational facilities. While she once traveled and worked in many different places, she focuses more on building community, exploring Oregon, and volunteering with the Eugene Active 20-30 Club. As an avid bike commuter, costume creator, gardener, and yogurt-maker she enjoys everything beautiful Eugene has to offer. Her passion for environmentalism informs her work as she spearheads the development of the firm’s Sustainability Action Plan, including organizing monthly sustainability presentations and expanding implementation of sustainable design. She thanks her dedicated supervisor Randy Nishimura, the Chris White Scholarship committee, those who participated in the golf tournament, and the larger architecture community. She hopes to attend the AIA Conference near her hometown and obtain licensure this year thanks to the funds from this scholarship.
Francisco Toledo
Francisco graduated from the University of Oregon in 2017 and has been working at PIVOT Architecture since. It’s been an exciting 6 years working on a variety of projects from Transit, Education, Office remodels, and libraries. His roadmap into architecture started because he developed an interest in how space impacts human psychology and behavior. As Francisco gets more involved in the profession, hi interest continues to expand, especially in community building through design. Outside of architecture, his other hobbies consist of gardening, traveling, and home projects. Francisco and his wife have recently purchased a home and it has been a journey taking on small projects to make the space work for them. The scholarship is a great resource by providing extra income that will help him pay for my exams and pay for resources for licensure.