LPA Diversity in Design Scholarship

The LPA Diversity in Design Scholarship provides support to students from underrecognized communities pursuing degrees in architecture, engineering, interior design, or related fields. This program is open to high school seniors, graduates and current college undergraduates living in California or Texas. The scholarship was established in 2020 by LPA for Change, a social impact initiative, to address the persistent lack of diversity in the design professions. To date, the program has distributed $220,000 to support 18 students. Each student receives a $5,000 renewable scholarship annually, mentorship from an LPA design professional in their area of study, and priority consideration for paid internships in an LPA studio. Mentorship is critical to the program's goal of creating a more equitable career pipeline, with each student paired with a professional mentor. Internships provide signature hands-on experience as part of integrated design teams, with education in sustainable design that extends beyond university coursework. The program is independently administered by Scholarship America to ensure fairness in the selection process.