The University of Michigan's Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning announced the 2013 AIA National/AIA Huron Valley Graduate Scholarships. Awards were presented to students whose projects "embody the exciting promise of realization while addressing real world challenges." A jury of architects representing the AIA Huron Valley Chapter selected this year's recipients and chose from student work showcased in the College's 2011 Architecture Student Show titled, "Spree."

A total of $2,500 was awarded to undergraduate student, Carlos Pompeo and graduate students, Lyla Feinsod, Lijing Qian, and Annie-Locke Scherer.

Carlos Pompeo was born and raised in Valencia, Venezuela and now lives in Orlando, FL with his family. After obtaining his Associates in Architecture from Valencia College, with honors, he moved to Michigan to study at Taubman College. Since arriving, he has competed and won at both yearly student shows. He hopes to earn his M. Arch within the next 4 years and begin to teach and engage in the field of architecture as a fabricator and academic.

Lyla Feinsod grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She followed her passion for design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sustainable Interior Design which introduced her to her true passion: architecture. She is currently pursuing her Master of Architecture degree.

Lijing Qian is from Anhui, China. She received her Bachelor of Architecture at Hefei University of Technology and is now a graduate student in the architecture program at Taubman College.

Annie-Locke Scherer, originally from Pasadena, CA, will be receiving a Master of Architecture degree next April. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Virginia, receiving a B.A. in Architecture with honors in 2012. She has a background in digital fabrication and hopes to pursue a Master of Science in Digital Technologies at Taubman College in the fall of 2014.

AIA Huron Valley is comprised of registered architects from Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, and Washtenaw counties. The chapter engages in initiatives to increase the public's knowledge and appreciation of architecture and the built environment, as well as promote advocacy for the profession. Through scholarships, mentorships, and collaborative programs with architecture students, Taubman College and AIA Huron Valley hope to enhance connections between architecture programs and professional practice.