We’re pleased to announce that the judging is complete and we’ve awarded the final THINK [about architecture] scholarships. This year we offered the scholarship at 35 schools. Students were asked to explain how(where) they learned this year and how the architecture of their environment affected learning.
The 1st place State Level Scholarship ($1,000) was awarded to Mokena resident Jesus Ferran-Heredia. His video discussed the importance of learning environments outside of the typical classroom he is used to at Lincoln-Way Central High School. He explained the need for classrooms to have windows and color to inspire learners, and the importance for students to have outside spaces to learn in like those outdoor areas he experienced at the University of Chicago and even Spain.
The State Level Runner-up Scholarship ($500) was awarded to Rayan Lahlou-Nabil of Elmwood Park. His entry focused on the Media Center at Elmwood Park High School. As a student and VP of Member Development at the High School, he emphasized how the media center has become a meeting place for him and his peers. The media center is not just for studying but for preparing for competitions and charity events.
Recipients of the $500 School Level Scholarship include:
- Arriyah Smith (Justice), graduate of Argo Community High School (District 217)
- Maram Omran (Bridgeview), graduate of Argo Community High School (District 217)
- Charlee Crone (Bartlett), graduate of Bartlett High School (School District U-46)
- Rayan Lahlou-Nabil (Elmwood Park), graduate of Elmwood Park High School (District 401)
- Zion Dawkins (Hazel Crest), graduate of Homewood Flossmoor (School District 233)
- Natalia Zagata (Lemont), graduate of Lemont High School (School District 210)
- Jesus Ferran-Heredia (Mokena), graduate of Lincoln-Way Central High School (School District 210)
- Ellen Nunkovich (New Lenox), graduate of Lincoln-Way West High School (School District 210)
- Guoda Norkunaite (Homer Glen), graduate of Lockport Township. High School (School District 205)
- Madelyn Becker (Mendota), graduate of Mendota High School (School District 280)
- Natalie Goc (Romeoville), graduate of Romeoville High School (School District 365U)
- Lauren Hair (Round Lake), graduate of Round Lake High School (School District 116)
- Alexis Avila Hernandez (West Chicago), graduate of West Chicago Community High School (School District 94)
The criteria used by the judges to score the videos:
- Does the student express how they interact with the space(s)?
- Does the student express how that interaction affected their education/ability to learn?
- Does the student express how the space makes it possible to make connections to their teachers or classmates for things such as group or teamwork?
- Does the student discuss their personal experience with the space(s) or demonstrate the role that the architecture plays in their lives?
- Does the student point out any particular architectural or sustainable design aspects that show they thought about the architecture of the space?
- Does the student do a good job of focusing their discussion and adequately discussing the space(s)?
- Does the submission demonstrate creativity and/or ingenuity?
- Does the submission demonstrate originality and/or uniqueness?
- Does the student demonstrate an understanding of the built environment and how people interact with it?
- Based on the view count/ratings, did the student promote their submission well?
Take a look at this year’s top entries:
Jesus Ferran-Heredia
Rayan Lahlou-Nabil
