Enter by March 20th! Apply today

Scholarship Overview

The DLA Architects, Ltd. THINK [about architecture] SCHOLARSHIP is an opportunity for talented graduating students to demonstrate the role that architecture plays in their lives. The specific purpose of the scholarship is:

  1. to promote an understanding of the built environment and how people interact with it, especially schools;
  2. to foster a genuine interest in the societal value of architecture as an art form and an enhancement to the general quality of life; and
  3. to encourage high school students to pursue higher education, especially in architecture.

Candidates are asked to submit creative video responses to show us how they interact with our design and demonstrate what the space makes possible.

AWARD

The selection process for the DLA Architects, Ltd. THINK [about architecture] SCHOLARSHIP is multi-tiered.

Students compete first at the school level. One student from each school listed will receive a one-time cash award of $500 to be applied to tuition and/or books and materials at a college or university.

Students are also competing at a state level. All $500 recipients will be qualified to compete for this award. One student will be selected as state runner-up, receiving an additional cash award of $500. One student will receive a first place award of an additional $1,000.

The award of the DLA Architects, Ltd. THINK [about architecture] SCHOLARSHIP will be presented by a representative of DLA Architects, Ltd. at an appropriate award ceremony, as designated by the high school personnel.

WHO CAN ENTER?

  • Argo Community High School (School District 217)
  • Barrington High School (School District 220)
  • Bartlett High School (School District U-46)
  • Bolingbrook High School (School District 365U)
  • East Aurora High School (School District 131)
  • Elgin High School (School District U-46)
  • Elmwood Park High School (School District 401)
  • Farmington Central High School (School District 265)
  • Harlem High School (School District 122)
  • Harvard High School (School District 50)
  • Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School (School District 233)
  • Hononegah Community High School (School District 207)
  • Kankakee High School (School District 111)
  • Lake Zurich High School (School District 95)
  • Larkin High School (School District U-46)
  • Lemont High School (School District 210)
  • Lincoln-Way Central High School (School District 210)
  • Lincoln-Way East High School (School District 210)
  • Lincoln-Way West High School (School District 210)
  • Lockport Twp. High School (School District 205)
  • Lyons Twp. High School (School District 204)
  • Mendota High School (School District 280)
  • Minooka Community High School (School District 111)
  • Munster High School (School Town of Munster)
  • Oak Lawn Community High School (School District 229)
  • Ridgewood High School (School District 234)
  • Riverside Brookfield High School (School District 208)
  • Romeoville High School (School District 365U)
  • South Elgin High School (School District U-46)
  • Streamwood High School (School District U-46)
  • Warren Township High School (School District 121)
  • West Chicago Community High School (School District 94)

SUBMISSION TIMELINE

DEADLINE

1. Students must submit Entry Form with required head shot and video link via the Think (about architecture) Scholarship website.

By March 20, 2025

2. YouTube views/likes tallied for School Level Competition.

April 13, 2025

3. YouTube views/likes tallied for State Level Competition.

April 13, 2025

JUDGING CRITERIA

Recipients of the DLA Architects, Ltd. THINK [about architecture] SCHOLARSHIP will be selected by the Scholarship Committee at DLA Architects. The Scholarship Committee will take the following factors into consideration when evaluating student video submissions.

Relevance to DLA: How well the video tells the story of how the space is received by students and how the architecture affects learning

Creativity: Originality, uniqueness, and ingenuity demonstrated in the video

View Count: Number of views the video receives as determined by the YouTube media player

Ratings: Overall rating the video receives by other YouTube users

LIMITATIONS/ELIGIBILITY

This scholarship is limited to high schools served by DLA Architects, Ltd. and is extended, on an annual basis, to schools designated by the principals of the firm.

The 2026 Deadline is March 20th