DVC Memorial Scholarship – Black Women in Architecture Network

The Desiree V. Cooper (DVC) Memorial Scholarship Committee seeks to honor the life and legacy of Desiree V. Cooper by championing the things she was passionate about in her professional career and personal endeavors: providing continual service to her communities and encouraging minorities and women in the advancement of their careers in architecture. To that end, the Foundation awards Scholarships for the architectural registration exam in the following categories: The Black Women in Architecture Award, The Harrisburg Memorial Award, The DC Memorial Award, and the NOMA award.

Read more about Desiree in this profile from her high school alumni magazine.
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2023 DVC ARE Scholarships

The committee is pleased to announce its 2023 scholarship winners. [Press Release]

The jury commends all applicants.
Awards will be given as follows:

	The Black Women in Architecture award is given to Nichole Osborne. The jury called Ms Osborne “the embodiment of tenacity and grace in the face of existential obstacles!” They also admired her perseverance and “commitment to architecture, family and her journey” and wrote that “her willingness to return to architecture after her hiatus is inspiring.”
	The DC Memorial Award to is given to Telicious Robinson. The jury noted Ms Robinson’s commitment “to NOMA and her community which is inspiring given all the other responsibilities she has.” The jury also called her a “great example of someone who is finding her voice and who is using it to influence others in a positive way…Each of those [community] activities has the benefit of reaching many people, amplifying her voice and magnifying her potential impact on those about her!”
	The Harrisburg Memorial Award to is given to Alyssa Mitchell. The jury wrote Ms Mitchell “has a good understanding of the benefits of getting licensed and has the intention of leveraging it to give back to the community!” The jury said “her application conveys a lot of energy and excitement and it’s clear that she takes advocacy, representation and mentorship very seriously.”

The jury consisted of friends, colleagues, and family of Desiree Cooper.
Chair: Richard Lyew, DC architect
Mrs Vivian Cooper, mother
Yinka Ajirotutu, friend
Carolyn Ricard, architect, former supervisor
Morina Peterson, DC architect

We wish all of the awardees and applicants much success in as they work toward completing the licensure process and advancing in the architecture profession.

Thank you to those who donated toward the 2023 Awards.
Carolyn Rickard-Brideau, Gensler, OTJ, Cooper Carry, Evan Todtz, Kartini D, Nessa McClain, Dyesha Holmes, Stacy Bourne, Safiya Hodari, Nicole Kumar, Lauren Brown, Talisha Sainvil, DeMauri Mumphrey, Shaun Martin, Carol Corr, Genell Anderson, Valarie Franklin, Janet Pogue McLaurin, Janeen Harrell, Sandra Martin, Ebere Daramola, Lakisha Woods, Krystol Austin, Helena Manuel, Michele Crawford, Camille Martin-Thomsen, Felicia Middleton, Sarah Bannerman, Feyi Quadri, Alana Alsop, Susan Nelson, Telicious Robinson, Taiesha Edwards, Carol Twyman, Marci Reed, Dahlia Nduom, Kathy Dixon, Annette Adams-Beckford, Morina Peterson, Elaina Ricks, Crystal Satterfield, Kathleen Lowman and proceeds from the 2022 Black Women in Architecture Brunch

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Listen to committee members and past winners on the Architecture is Political Podcast:
April 2023 | January 2021

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Grant Announcement
In December 2021, the Desiree V. Cooper (DVC) Memorial Scholarship Committee accepted the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation President’s Grant Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation. This grant will allow the fund to increase the scholarship amounts given in its four categories and fund awards for the next three years. The Washington DC Alumnae Foundation Inc will support administration of this grant.
Press release.

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The fund is administered by the NOMA Foundation (EIN 95-4609045). Tax deductible donations can be made to the NOMA Foundation.