Congratulations to our EQxD Hackathon Scholarship Winners! It was a very difficult time deciding who would be the lucky winners, so we include 2 more for a total of 10 scholarships. Thank you to everyone that applied. Even if you didn't get selected this year, please try again next time.

Thank you to Erin Emery, of Autodesk, Lilian Asperin-Clyman of WRNS Studio and Frances Choun of McCarthy Building Companies for being our scholarship jury. In the following weeks, we will be featuring their bios, photos and stories with more about the Hackathon experience.

EQxD Hackathon Scholarship 10 Winners:

Ricardo J. Maga-Rojas, Associate AIA, NOMA
Braham J. B. Berg
Ryan Orr
Obi Okolo
Daniel Teed
Shawna Hammon
A.L. Hu
Hilary Barlow
Jonathan Meadows
Kelly Duignan

And... some of the answers to the scholarship application questions:

Why do you want to attend WE315 EQxD Hackathon?

"As the past Volunteer Coordinator at NOMA National (in New Orleans), a Project Pipeline Louisiana, and active AIAS member (national-- through AIAS Freedom by Design Advisory Group and local--representative on AIA New Orleans Executive Board), I care strongly about the future of our profession and believe that our profession will not move forward if we continue to lack representation and opportunity for agency from a plethora of / including all genders, race, perspectives, and backgrounds. From attending two of Rosa Sheng's Keynote address this past year (NOLA/SF), I am a motivated believer in the mission of EQxD and I want to attend this Hackathon to learn more about EQxD; meet other like-minded individuals; hear their stories and what they are doing to advocate/encourage for equity in the field, and also learn about how I can act as a champion. I'm aware I'm only a student but I believe through my current involvement and future associations, I can make a difference to the ExD that results in progress and (hopefully soon) equity."

"First, as a Master of Architecture student at Columbia University, I am acutely aware of how new technology impacts the architectural profession. I am interested in exploring and implementing tech in the context of architecture as a new method of communication and understanding, both for the client and for the designer. Second, as an openly transgender/genderqueer person of color (I am Asian-American) aspiring to become an architect, I bring a unique perspective to the conversation on diversity, inclusion, and equity in architecture. I possess an entrepreneurial spirit because the architectural field lacks precedents for my identities and modes of practice, and I believe that I would benefit greatly from the topic of discussion and networking at the Hackathon."

What does "Architecture and the Era of Connections" mean to you?

"Among other things living in an era of connections makes it nearly impossible for me, in my mind, to justify the many reasons you often hear for why architects/designers/the profession is the way that it is. In an age where an average patient can, at least, broadly understand an impending operation or crippling diagnoses through innovations in technology and story-telling, there is no reason we should still be asking the question "Why doesn't the public understand what we do?" ... Simply put, it's because we don't really want them to yet."

"Architecture and the Era of Connections means 1.) showing how architecture is inherent in the daily lives of everyone on this planet no matter gender, race, place, ideology, or background; 2.) arch spanning beyond the traditional realms of forms into all interdisciplinary realms (arts+sciences+business+law) where design and architecture can impact and address social issues as a problem; 3.) using/ adapting technology (wisely!!) as a way that enhances everyone's experience of space or place (online or physical); 4.) inspiring others--of all a GWS and from all around the world-- of the potential that they too can create their visions and improve the existing. It's not so much social media, technology, and the Internet inherently in all things; it's about using these platforms as tools to our advantage to bring people (through physical interactions--everything should be brought back to physical space) in ways that haven't been done and which broadcast to others what impact architecture and design can have."