Valeria Lemus Samour Awarded First Robert and Joanna Koch Scholarship for Architecture
FK Architecture is Proud and Honored to Support Future Architects
The Robert and Joanne Koch Scholarship for Architecture Committee selected its first scholarship winner this summer—Valeria Lemus Samour. Valeria is a native of El Salvador and moved to the United States in 2019 to pursue her dream of becoming an architect and the first member of her family to graduate from college. She is an undergraduate student studying Architectural Design at the University of Central Florida.
Valeria met a list of requirements to secure the scholarship: an unweighted GPA of 3.5 or higher, two letters of recommendation, and a 1,000-word essay detailing how she will make a difference in the world with an architecture degree, to name a few. Valeria will receive a one-time installment of $1,500 paid to her university, which will be used for tuition, housing, or other associated fees.
“At FK, we understand the importance of supporting future generations of architects,” said Ken Linehan, Managing Partner at FK Architecture. “More importantly, we understand the value of helping remarkable individuals achieve their dreams. Valeria’s indelible work ethic, stalwart community service, and exceptional academic achievements made her a fantastic recipient of our scholarship, and we are honored to reward her excellence.”
In Valeria, the selection committee recognized her extensive community service work in the United States and El Salvador, stellar academic record, insatiable desire to learn and improve, and endearing personal story as fundamental aspects they want this scholarship to reflect. She was handpicked from a bevy of worthy candidates and aspires to build sustainable communities in her native country to foster a better future.
“It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to pursue a career in architecture and solve problems within my community to build a better future,” said Valeria. “My family’s sacrifices have been instrumental in getting me to this point, and I can’t thank them enough. I’m grateful to the selection committee for choosing me for this scholarship. I am determined to use my leadership mindset, talents, and knowledge to construct a better future for communities in need.”
The Robert & Joanne Koch Scholarship for Architecture overview and application form for 2023 will be available in November 2022.