Alwin Cassens Jr. Memorial Fund in Architecture

Carnegie Mellon Architecture is currently accepting applications for the fall 2026 award. Applications are due on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 11:59pm ET.

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The Alwin Cassens Jr. Memorial Fund in Architecture was established in 2015 by Diane Cassens Cummins and Richard Cummins, and Joan Cassens Zinner (MM '66), in memory of Diane and Joan's father Alwin Cassens Jr. (A '34). The purpose of the award is to provide financial support for Carnegie Mellon Architecture students to attend conferences or other events in support of their academic pursuits in the area of public interest design.

Applicants must submit a proposal which clearly explains the purpose and objectives for attending the conference or event. This award can support a collective proposal by multiple students. Selection is based on the impact of the proposal in relation to the applicant's future work.

To be considered for the Alwin Cassens Jr. Memorial Fund in Architecture, applicants must submit a complete application that includes the following information:

• A one-page proposal explaining the purpose and objectives for attending the conference or event
• A one-page budget and schedule plan

Fall 2026 Jury: Gerard Damiani (Chair), Lori Claus, Hal Hayes, Christine Mondor

Fall 2026 Award Amount: $3,000 each (up to two (2) available at the jury's discretion)

The Alwin Cassens Jr. Memorial Fund in Architecture is open to all Carnegie Mellon Architecture students (undergraduate, master's and Ph.D.) involved in academic pursuits related to public interest design.

Carnegie Mellon Architecture is currently accepting applications for the fall 2026 award. Applications are due on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 11:59pm ET.

• 2025: Christian Duckworth (B.Arch '27), Proposal: "Performative-Based Implications Between Homelessness and Design in Pittsburgh"
  Morgan Newman (PhD-Arch), Proposal: Presenting the paper "Repairing In The Wake: A Case Study of Black Life in Alabama's Black Belt" at the 2026 American Association of Geographers (AAG) Conference in San Francisco in March 2026
• 2024: Vanshika Bhaiya (B.Arch '25), Proposal: "Urban Intelligence at the Biennale Architettura, Venice, 2025"
  Sohyun Jin (MSCD '25), Proposal: Presenting co-authored paper "A Minimal Fabrication Grammar for Friction-Based 3D Lattice Structures" at CAADRIA Conference, Tokyo, 2025
  Ronishka Sabu Nalpathil (PhD-Arch), Proposal: Attending 113th Annual ACSA Meeting "REPAIR," New Orleans, 2025
• 2023: Valeria Duque Villegas (MUD '25), Proposal: "Model. Barcelona Architectures Festival"
  Priyanka Thakur (M.Arch '24), Proposal: "Bouw met Bamboa! Rotterdam"
• 2022: Susie Kim (B.Arch '23), Proposal: Attending 2022 Biennale of FRAC, "Infinite Freedom, A World for a Feminist Democracy"
  Morgan Newman (PhD-Arch), Proposal: Presenting paper "Shaded Sites of Conflict: Wooded Areas as sites of both freedom and violence for African-Americans" at the "CROSSROADS" Conference Feb. 17-18, 2023, at the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture
• 2021: Suzy Li (PhD-BPD), Proposal: "Rapidly Improving Urban Surfaces for a Carbon Neutral and Climate Resilient Future"
• 2020: Alison Katz (B.Arch '20) & Alex Lin (B.Arch '20), Proposal: "Attending Structures For Inclusion (SFI) 2020 Conference"
• 2019: Alyssa Mayorga (B.Arch '20) on behalf of NOMAS CMU Chapter, Proposal: "Travel to NOMA National Conference to Study Mixed-Use Design"
• 2018: Alison Katz (B.Arch '20) on behalf of Freedom By Design CMU Chapter, Proposal: "Travel to Attend AIAS Grassroots 2018"
• 2017: Yoon Oh (B.Arch '18), Sophie Nahrmann (B.Arch '18), Garrett Rauck (B.Arch '17) & Candace Ju (B.Arch '17); Proposal: "Support for Internship With Project RE_"
  Sinan Goral (B.Arch '18), Proposal: "Travel to Arizona and California to Study American Mid-20th Century Architecture"
• 2016: Carter Nelson (B.Arch '17), Proposal: "Study of Case Study Houses"