Photo, L-R: (Front Row) Carla Jackson Bell (Director Multicultural Affairs), Elizabeth Ballard, Kymlyn Owens, Jeremy Duff and Natalie Atkins (Summer Camp Counselor). (Back Row) Tara Jones (Development Officer), Jonathan Tubbs, Yesufu O’ladipo.

Five high school students from the Black Belt region of central Alabama spent a week developing their creativity and technical skills after receiving scholarships to attend the School of Architecture’s Summer Camp at Auburn University.

Scholarships were provided by Dick Danner Construction, Vernell Barnes, Dr. Barbara Miller, Pitts Family Foundation, Joseph Bynum and Pamela Dorr. The donors worked with the College of Architecture, Design & Construction’s Director of Multicultural Affairs, Carla Jackson Bell, and the Office of Development in creating the scholarships. The donors focused specifically on students in Alabama’s Black Belt and surrounding communities.

The donors’ commitment to provide scholarships for Black Belt students ties in with Auburn University’s long-standing relationship to bring educational resources and opportunities to the region. The College of Architecture, Design & Construction has played a vital role in that relationship, assisting with personal development and exploring strategies to improve community and economic development.

Students Elizabeth Ballard (Huffman High School/Birmingham, Ala.), Jeremy Duff (Ramsey High School/Birmingham, Ala.), Kymlyn Owens (Valley High School/Valley, Ala.), Yesufu O’ladipo (Ramsey High School/Birmingham, Ala.), Jonathan Tubbs (Southern Academy High School/Greensboro, Ala.) each received full scholarships that covered the cost ($545) of attending the camp. Duff, Owens and O’ladipo will return to the Auburn campus as freshmen this fall.

The students spent an intensive, exciting, week at the workshop that introduced the students to basic design concepts and ended with an architectural design project. The students had hands-on exercises in design studios, technical demonstrations and professional guest speakers as part of their daily experience.

To sponsor a student for the 2008 Summer Camp, please contact Tara Jones by email at jonestg@auburn.edu or by phone at 334-844-1161.

The School of Architecture is housed in the College of Architecture, Design & Construction. The CADC offers degree programs in Architecture, Interior Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Community Planning, Building Science, Industrial Design, Graphic Design and Design-Build. The components of the CADC are annually regarded and ranked among the best in their respective disciplines nationally for the quality of education and quality of students.

Auburn University is a comprehensive research institution with more than 23,000 students and 6,500 faculty and staff. Ranked among the top 50 public universities nationally, Auburn offers more than 230 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs.