Advancing EQUITY in the profession by sponsoring promising students with focused and sustained financial support
Created in 1992 as the Minority Architectural Scholarship, this fund was renamed the Clarence Wigington Architectural Scholarship to recognize the extraordinary professional and civic accomplishments of the first African American municipal architect in the United States and the first licensed African American architect in Minnesota. The Fund supports underrepresented students who have a specific interest in pursuing a professional architecture degree leading toward becoming an Architect. 
WE DID IT! $50,000 donated and $50,000 match unlocked
In 2024 MAF received an unexpected and deeply generous commitment from an anonymous donor to provide a $50,000 donation to the Wigington Fund, if fundraising of new dollars from others can match this amount. Thanks to all the donor who helped us reach the goal to unlock the matching $50,000.
Current Scholars
Pictured left to right, top to bottom: Mateo Gonzalez, Esther Oluwalowo, Allemu Slattery, Nangnee Xiong, Elan Quezada, and Sunny Simphoukham.
In 2025, the Clarence Wigington Architectural Scholarship committee selected two scholarship recipients who will each receive $3,000 per semester through completion of their Master of Architecture program. These recipients join continuing Wigington scholars Mateo Gonzalez and Allemu Slattery, students at Dunwoody Collage of Technology and University of Minnesota students Esther Oluwalowo and Nangnee Xiong.
- Elan Quezada, a first year Master of Architecture student at the University of Minnesota.
- Sunny Simphoukham, a student at the University of Minnesota in her final year of the Bachelor of Architecture program.
Best of luck to all individuals on their path toward becoming an architect.
Scholarship Application for 2026/2027 Academic Year
The MAF Wigington scholarship offers $6,000/year scholarships to support Black, Indigenous, and people of color in their architectural education. Learn more!
The Wigington Scholarship from Ryan Siemers on Vimeo.
Past Scholarship Recipients
Zavien Neal: BArch degree 2025
Mia-Rose Peters, Assoc. AIA: BArch degree 2025
Ruweyda Mohamed: M. Arch degree 2025
Latoya Dennis, Assoc. AIA: M. Arch degree 2024
Nathan Davies, Assoc. AIA: M. Arch degree 2024
Samuel Fleming: M. Arch degree 2023
Faiza Ahmed Hassan Duale, Assoc. AIA: BArch degree 2023
Laichee Yang, Assoc. AIA: M. Arch degree 2022
Jordan Strickland, Assoc. AIA: M. Arch degree 2021
Jessica Holmes: M. Arch degree 2018
Savannah Steele, Assoc. AIA: M. Arch degree 2018
Josh Ong, AIA: M. Arch. degree 2015
Namdi Alexander: M. Arch degree 2014
Vanessa Abin-Fuentes, Assoc. AIA: M. Arch degree 2014
Jonathon Jacobs, Assoc. AIA: M. Arch degree 2013
Keon Blasingame: M. Arch degree 2005
Pauv Thouk: M. Arch degree 2005