Category Archive: Education
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Landmarks Scholarship Program Marks 25 Years
We are pleased to announce that our Landmarks Scholarship Program, now celebrating 25 years of recognizing high-achieving, community-minded, college-bound students in Allegheny County who care deeply about the Pittsburgh region, has awarded three scholarships and eight honorable mentions to students as part of the 2023 program.
We look forward to celebrating these students’ achievements together with their families in an afternoon reception, which will be in the dining room of the Grand Concourse Restaurant in Station Square on July 12.
Our Landmarks Scholarship recipients are:
- Emily Barrie (Upper St. Clair High School/University of Virginia);
- Andrew McLaughlin (North Allegheny Senior High School/University of Pittsburgh); and
- Nelson Morris (Pittsburgh Westinghouse/Penn State University).
The scholarship award of $6,000 is payable over four years to the recipient’s college/university to help pay tuition and book expenses.
Our Honorable mention recipients are:
- Taylor Billet (Riverview Jr.-Sr. High School/Ohio University);
- Kendal Chilcoat (Pine-Richland High School/University of Pittsburgh);
- Dylan Folan (Pittsburgh CAPA/University of Pennsylvania);
- Maya Leyzarovich (Shady Side Academy/University of Pennsylvania);
- Lindsey Storey (Gateway High School/University of Pittsburgh);
- Annali Thomas (Thomas Jefferson High School/Slippery Rock University);
- Sejal Verma (South Fayette High School/Purdue University); and
- Brayden Wisniewski (Avonworth High School/Savannah College of Art & Design).
The Honorable mention award is a one-time gift of $250, payable to the student’s college/ university to help pay for tuition and book expenses.
We thank the trustees and members of our organization who have served on the Landmarks Scholarship Committee, and especially David Brashear, who as chair of the committee for 25 years, shepherded this program, which helped introduce young people to the work and mission of our organization. Two former scholarship recipients have served as trustees of PHLF––Todd Wilson and Kezia Ellison––and many others contribute their time and expertise as members.
Our organization has awarded 88 scholarships and 59 honorable mentions to high school graduates from Allegheny County since the creation of this scholarship program in 1999. Applicants are asked to write about a place in Allegheny County that is meaningful to them.
The essays this year were outstanding and insightful. Featured places included the Gilfillan Farm in Upper St. Clair, the Homewood neighborhood, Allegheny County Courthouse, Bridge of Sighs, the former Pittsburgh Athletic Association clubhouse, St. Nicholas Church in Millvale, Carnegie Science Center, Mister Rogers statue on the North Shore, Frick Park Market, and Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor. The essays from all the applicants are bound and archived at PHLF.
PHLF welcomes contributions in support of the Landmarks Scholarship Program. Please click here to contribute; be sure to designate your gift to “Scholarship.”
Thank you!
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Pine-Richland’s First Annual Architectural Design Challenge
After many months of work, six teams of sixth-grade gifted students from Eden Hall Upper Elementary School presented their models on April 5 to a jury of architects and community representatives showing how they would adapt the vacant Parsons House Garage on Chatham University’s Eden Hall campus to house an orientation center that would connect the community with the Falk School of Sustainability that is being developed on the 388-acre site in Gibsonia, PA.
“This first annual architectural design challenge was the result of a new partnership with Chatham University’s Eden Hall Campus and the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation,” said PHLF Executive Director Louise Sturgess. “Joanna Sovek and Jennifer Kopach, Eden Hall Upper Elementary Gifted Support teachers, connected with our organizations in 2015 so they could involve their students in meaningful assignments based in their community.” Kelly Henderson (LEED AP O+M), K-12 education coordinator at Chatham University’s Eden Hall Campus, highlighted this educational partnership (that also involves the Frick Art & Historical Center) during her presentation with Ms. Sovek, Ms. Kopach, and Principal Steven Smith at the Green Schools Conference, held in Pittsburgh from March 31 to April 1 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
In the gallery below see the Design Challenge on April 5, 2016.
“One of our main goals in design challenges such as these,” said Louise, “is to let young people know that they have a voice in their community and that they have valid ideas for making it better. In the process of developing their model, oral report, and written presentation, they strengthen academic, problem-solving, and teamwork skills; they become passionate about their ideas for reusing a historic structure; and they feel more connected to their Pine-Richland community. They take tremendous pride in what they accomplish, and we are always impressed and inspired by their ideas and energy.”
Each team demonstrated that they can collaborate and develop an excellent design concept for a vacant building. By saving and finding a new use for that building, they are able to rejuvenate a local landmark so a sense of continuity is maintained in Pine-Richland.
A special thanks to the following people for serving as judges: Lou Anne Caligiuri, Chatham University; Samantha Carter, Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture; Christopher Driscoll, Young Preservationists Association; Nancy Evans, Northwood Realty; Brian Newhouse, engineering consultant; Kelley Stroup, architectural historian; and Paul Tellers, AIA.
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Arts and Crafts Conference in Pittsburgh
PHLF members and friends are invited to attend the 17th Annual Arts and Crafts Conference, which will be held in Pittsburgh from September 17 through September 20.Register for all four days or for any one day of this national conference sponsored by the Initiatives in Art and Culture (IAC), titled “Multiple Modernities: From Richardson to Wright and Beyond––The Arts and Crafts Movement in Pittsburgh and Environs.” As part of the “Beyond” portion of the conference, participants will be able to tour the Frank Giovannitti House, designed by Richard Meier in 1979-83, on Sunday afternoon, September 20.
Click here for a full agenda and to register. Please use the Promo Code PHLF to receive a conference discount of $475. Regular registration is $550.
Please note: the discount applies to those who register for the whole conference, not for one-day registrations. However, for those who are interested in attending more than one day but less than all four, then call the IAC at 646-485-1952. The IAC might be able to work something out and offers the warmest of welcomes to anyone who wishes to attend.
Conference organizer Lisa Koenigsberg, PhD, has planned an incredible agenda of tours and lectures (including one by PHLF trustee Lu Donnelly and one by Historical Collections Director Al Tannler). “Pittsburgh is astonishing,” said Lisa. “There is so much to showcase and explore.”
Participants will be touring Wilpen Hall in Sewickley Heights (protected by a PHLF easement); the Duquesne Club in Downtown Pittsburgh; several private homes, including an Arts-and-Crafts foursquare in Squirrel Hill featuring a superb collection of furniture and art; and several historic religious properties in Downtown, Shadyside, and Sewickley.
“This is a terrific opportunity to tour a selection of significant sites in the Pittsburgh region,” said PHLF Executive Director Louise Sturgess, “and to immerse yourself in the Arts and Crafts tradition.”
Conference partners include PHLF, the Frick Art & Historical Center, Carnegie Museum of Art, Fallingwater, and Kentuck Knob, among others.
Register today!
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Creating Magic with Second-Grade Explorers
“I can’t thank you enough for the magic that you have helped to create in assisting our students learn the vital foundations of their own community,” wrote Jeffrey Zeiders, supervisor of Social Studies for the Mt. Lebanon School District. “The PHLF is simply the best,” he added.
Every year since 2001, PHLF staff and docents and volunteers from the Mount Lebanon Historical Society, have been leading second-grade students in the Mt. Lebanon School District on a walking tour of Washington Road. Students search for architectural details that match photos on their worksheets and tour the historical society, municipal building, and public safety building. They paste photos of the 105 details they find on Washington Road buildings on a huge map with a timeline that they take back to school to study further. PHLF also provides students with a workbook, Your House, with worksheets on their school, and with a book of community stories, Memory Lane. Click here to see 15 photos of the award-winning educational program.
PHLF first developed the program for the Mt. Lebanon Public Library and many of the school tours still begin and end there. The program won a state Social Studies award in 2002 and continues each year through funding from the School District, a $3.00 per student tour fee, and the Alfred M. Oppenheimer Memorial Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation, The Fine Foundation, and the McSwigan Family Foundation that help underwrite PHLF’s educational programs for students, teachers, and adults.
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Historic Crafton Elementary School Threatened with Closure
PHLF News
January 28, 2011In 2010, the Carlynton School District conducted a district-wide facilities-use study on renovating or replacing its two elementary schools: the Carnegie Elementary School and the Crafton Elementary School.
The Crafton Elementary School, built in 1913 and designed by architect Press C. Dowler, is a handsome Tudor-style building located at 1874 Crafton Blvd, a lovely residential neighborhood of Crafton Borough. The school is threatened with closure and ultimate abandonment in one of the options being considered.
Included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Architectural Survey of Historic Resources, the building has served as a community focal point for nearly a century and was one of the deciding criteria in selecting Crafton as the best place to raise children in Pennsylvania by Bloomberg BusinessWeek. The Crafton Elementary School is made of hand-burned brick laid in Flemish bond and has two projecting bays with crenelated tower projections, giving the building a stately appearance.
Crafton Councilwoman April Weitzel called the building a “gem of the community that has served and will continue to serve the citizens of Crafton and Carnegie.” Councilwoman Weitzel is convinced that renovating the school will be less expensive, resulting in no tax increases for the district. She further stated that “maintaining our neighborhood schools instead of abandoning them helps stabilize property values and encourages others to move into Carnegie and Crafton.”
Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation would like to see this building continue being used as a school and has expressed its concern about possible closure of this important community asset. Renovation of historic schools is often less expensive than new construction. Restoration supports “green” policy and helps stabilize historic neighborhoods. This issue is scheduled to be discussed at the next School Board meeting. Comments can be sent to:
Carlynton School District
435 Kings Highway
Carnegie PA 15106
Click for MapBoard Meeting: Thursday, February 3, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. in the High School Cafeteria
and
Board Meeting: Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. in the High School Cafeteria -
Thank You Summer Interns
PHLF News
July 29, 2011
Since March, PHLF has involved 15 students (high school, college, and graduates) in its educational programs and preservation activities. As volunteers with PHLF, each student decides how many hours a week and what days h e/she is able to help out. Once here, interns assist with school tours, workshops for teachers, research and archival assignments, and main street programs. And, if they enjoy being with students, they help out with CampDEC, a 2 0-day adventure with middle school students in the Pittsburgh Public School’s Summer Dreamers Academy. Thank you everyone for your help and effort!
As a result of their experiences, interns add to their portfolios and gain a new (or deeper) appreciation for Pittsburgh’s architecture and history and for the economic, social, and cultural benefits of historic preservation. Intern comments on the value of their experiences include the following:
- Julie Edwards: “PHLF has given me a deeper understanding of Pittsburgh’s extensive architectural heritage and a greater appreciation for the built environment.”
- Alyssa Malobicky: “Thank you for welcoming me back to PHLF again. The hands-on involvement in the day-to-day activities of PHLF teaches me so much. I appreciate all that PHLF does to keep Pittsburgh a special place.”
- Ashley Moore: “Through interning with PHLF, I have a new-found appreciation for Pittsburgh. It is amazing how evidence of the city’s changes was here long before I was and may be here long after I am gone.”
- Barrett Reiter: “My experiences with the educational, non-profit portion of PHLF have taught me that educating future generations is as important as preserving the accomplishments of those past. Without understanding and a personal connection to the built environment our unique history is too easily lost.”
- Shane Martin: “My time with PHLF has broadened my horizons on subjects ranging from historic preservation to urban design and the strenuous human effort put into the systems that hold our society together. I was fortunate to work alongside the very minds that ensure our city’s rich history and put forth my own efforts at planning the future.”
We thank the following 15 people (all pictured above) who volunteered their time and talent to PHLF:
- Lauren Borrelli, Penn State University (Architecture)
- Emily Bush, Miami University of Ohio (History/Journalism)
- Julie Edwards, Kent State University graduate (Interior Design)
- Michal Gould, University of Pittsburgh
- Stacy Litwinowicz, West Virginia University (Interior Design)
- Samantha Mabe, Clemson University (Architecture)
- Alyssa Malobicky, Virginia Tech (Landscape Architecture)
- Shane Martin, University of Pittsburgh (Urban Studies/Architectural Studies)
- Grace Meloy, University of Pittsburgh (Architectural Studies/Civil Engineering)
10. Ashley Moore, University of North Carolina graduate (Masters of Urban Design)
11. Barrett Reiter, University of Pittsburgh ( History/Political Science/Historic Preservation)
12. Katherine Schmotzer, Baldwin High School
13. Emily VanBuren, Slippery Rock University––Masters (History)
14. Camden Yandel, Saint Vincent College (Graphic Design)
15. Sydney Zalewski, Carnegie Mellon University (Architecture/Photography)
To learn more about PHLF’s volunteer internship program click here.
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PHLF Awards Five Scholarships to College-Bound Students
Pittsburgh, PA…On June 16, during a luncheon celebration, the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation (PHLF) will award scholarships to five high-achieving college-bound students who are involved in their communities and value Pittsburgh’s history, architecture, and landscape design. PHLF received 47 applications this year and was able to award five scholarships, thanks to the continuing support of the Brashear Family Named Fund at PHLF and generous donations from others.
“Each year the Landmarks Scholarship Committee looks forward to reviewing all the applications,” said David Brashear, founder and chair of PHLF’s Scholarship Committee. “This program helps us connect with young people who share our values and who we believe will contribute to Pittsburgh during their lifetime.” The five scholarship recipients are:
Stephen R. Karas of Pittsburgh Schenley High School;
Victoria N. Lewis of Woodland Hills High School;
Anna M. Murnane of Woodland Hills High School;
Candice L. Thornton of Sto-Rox Sr./Jr. High School; and
Eric C. Wise of South Fayette High School.Each scholarship, for book and tuition expenses only, has a maximum value of $4,000, and is made payable to the recipient’s college/university over a four-year period. “The Landmarks Scholarship Program is helping our organization build relationships with capable young people who value Pittsburgh’s history, architecture, and landscape design,” said Louise Sturgess, Executive Director of PHLF. “It is the culmination of our educational programs for thousands of students (K-12) in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County and gives students an incentive to excel in school, become involved in their communities, and explore their city in a meaningful way.”
Since 1999, PHLF has granted 40 scholarships to a remarkable group of young people. Nineteen students are Pittsburgh Public School graduates and 21 are graduates from other schools within Allegheny County. Twenty winners have already graduated from various colleges/universities, and 14 of those people still have a home base in Pittsburgh: several work as architects and engineers, one teaches at CMU, one works at UPMC, and another inspects bridges.
The Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation Scholarship Program is offered each year. Applications for the 2010-11 school year will be available in Jan. 2011. Applicants must:
- live in Allegheny County;
- be a high school senior who has been accepted to a college or university;
- have a cumulative Grade Point Average at the end of the first semester senior year
- of 3.25 or greater; and
- write an essay on a certain topic, complete an application, and submit two letters of recommendation.
2010 Landmarks Scholarship Recipients: Student Profiles
Stephen R. Karas
A graduate of Pittsburgh Schenley High School, Stephen Karas will be attending Penn State University to study Mechanical Engineering.
Stephen is an Eagle Scout and the recipient of the Kiwanis Club of Sheraden scholarship. At Schenley, he helped his Think-A-Thon team win an Overall Grand Champions award in 2009. He also was a member of the 2009 Soccer City Championship team and a member of the Volleyball City Championship teams in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Stephen has worked as a lifeguard for the City of Pittsburgh and as a soccer coach for the Special Olympics; he is a driver for Meals on Wheels and a member of his church choir.
In his scholarship essay Stephen wrote that “the memories that I have of the Ascension Church [in Sheraden] are powerful ones and will stay with me. This building . . . still touches the lives of the people in the community . . . I believe that the architectural history of the building is very representative of Pittsburgh as a whole. It is a humble structure, whose constituents are friendly and hardworking individuals. Its history is an interesting one and important lessons can be learned from it. Through hard work and change, beautiful things can come forth.”
Victoria N. Lewis
A graduate of Woodland Hills High School, Victoria Lewis will be attending Howard University to study Architecture. Victoria is a member of the National Honor Society and was recognized by State Representative Paul Costa for excellence in academics, leadership, and community service. At Woodland Hills, she was a member of the high school track and field team. Her Gymkhana Gymnastics team won the 2008 and 2009 State Gymnastics Championships. As a member of Urban Youth Action, Inc., Victoria has participated in annual Thanksgiving food drives and community clean-ups. She is a member of Deliverance Baptist Church and has worked at BNY Mellon and Gwen’s Girls, Inc.
In her scholarship essay Victoria describes her sense of awe over downtown Pittsburgh: “When I took the Pittsburgh city tour with my class in grade school I learned the importance of the designs on the Smithfield Street Bridge and the meaning of many inconspicuous designs on the buildings throughout downtown. After the tour I looked at my city with pride. . . .
“I made a decision to study architecture at Howard University. After talking with the dean of the school of architecture, imagine my surprise when I learned that all domestic travel to study architecture in the college is done in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. . . .
“Pittsburgh is unique because it has been successful in preserving the beauty of many historical structures while weaving them together with modern architectural designs.”
Anna M. Murnane
Also a graduate of Woodland Hills High School, Anna Murnane will be attending Syracuse University to study Architecture.
Anna is a member of the National Honor Society and was on the Woodland Hills varsity cross country team. She has performed with the Woodland Hills Orchestra, Marching Band, and Fine Fiddlers of Pittsburgh, where she also has volunteered. Anna has worked as a camp counselor and has attended pre-college art/architecture programs at Carnegie Mellon and Drexel universities.
In her scholarship essay Anna wrote: “Pittsburgh is my birthplace, so it is a city I have taken for granted for most of my life. In my sophomore year of high school I had the opportunity . . . to . . . participate in the Architecture Apprenticeship offered by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. My interest was driven by my desire to learn more about a career that would combine my artistic talents with my interest in math and physics. What I did not expect was that it would open my eyes to the beauty and history offered by Pittsburgh, and provide a direction and vision for my future.”
Candice L. Thornton
A graduate of Sto-Rox Sr./Jr. High School, Candice Thornton will be attending The College of Wooster to study Chemistry and Archaeology.
Candice was a Student Ambassador for Sto-Rox High School and a member of the marching band, concert band, and chorus. She was manager of the volleyball team, editor-in-chief of the newspaper, peer tutor, and a team leader for Environmental Journalism, among other activities. Candice also was a member of the National Honor Society and Student Government. She has volunteered for Meals on Wheels, the McKees Rocks Community Development Group, and at a nursing home.
In her scholarship essay Candice wrote, “As a third grader I rode the Duquesne Incline to Mt. Washington for a field trip. When I saw the view of Pittsburgh from the overlook I was completely astounded, so much so that I leaned too far over the edge and lost my glasses. My mind was rattled by the sight of the Pittsburgh Golden Triangle and the convergence of the rivers. . . . Pittsburgh’s history and architecture are a part of my heritage. Growing up in the Pittsburgh region has given me much to be proud of and imbued in me many values such as: perseverance, diligence, character, pride, and a strong sense of self. . . .
“My grandfather was a craftsman . . .
“My father was an iron worker . . .
“I am a student of Pittsburgh’s history. It teaches me life lessons and values about hard work and determination. I am an admirer of Pittsburgh’s architecture. . . . To me the landscape, history, and architecture of Pittsburgh are my heritage.”
Eric C. Wise
A graduate of South Fayette High School, Eric Wise will be attending Carnegie Mellon University to study Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering.
Eric was South Fayette’s Valedictorian, a Westinghouse Science Honors Institute exam winner, and an AP Scholar with Distinction. He was selected as a gold medalist from among the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s “Outstanding Young Citizens” and was included in NEXT Magazine’s top 25 young men in Pennsylvania for service to school and community. Eric performed in South Fayette’s Marching and Concert Bands, and participated in the Future Business Leaders of America and in the National Economics Challenge, among many other activities.
In his scholarship essay Eric wrote: “Schenley Park in Oakland contains the components that contribute to making a place significant. It is rich in landscape design with its many trails, ice skating rink, and golf course. Its layout highlights nearby architectural treasures like Phipps Conservatory and the many museums of Oakland. These gems of culture, history, science, and the arts are what make Pittsburgh a treasure for me and all of its citizens.”
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Founded in 1964, the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation is a non-profit membership organization working to: identify and save historically-significant places; revitalize historic neighborhoods, towns, and urban areas; preserve historic farms and historic designed landscapes; and educate people about the Pittsburgh region’s rich architectural heritage. www.phlf.org.
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Westmoreland County Students Propose New Uses for Historic Vacant Building in Monessen, PA
PHLF News
by PHLF Intern William Prince
April 1, 2010On March 22 & 23, 2010, PHLF and the Greater Monessen Historical Society hosted the 14th Annual Architectural Design Challenge for schools in Westmoreland County. Over 100 middle school and 40 high school students participated, from Belle Vernon, Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Laurel Valley, Ligonier Valley, Monessen, Penn Trafford, Valley, and Yough school districts.
The students began this project in October 2009 by visiting the design site in Monessen, PA. They were assigned the task of (1) building a model showing a new use for the vacant and historic Monessen Savings & Trust Building of 1904-06 and (2) drawing a streetscape showing design improvements for the 500 Block of Donner Avenue. Through this experience, they learned about the history, architecture, and unique character of Monessen, PA.
Twenty-six teams presented their work on March 22 and 23, 2010 to a jury of architects, urban planners, and interior designers. The event was held at Monessen Senior High School and awards were presented. Students described their concepts during a 6-minute oral presentation and then entertained questions and comments from the judges.
Models showed the former Monessen Savings & Trust Building repurposed as a place of activity and entertainment housing a variety of new uses: a community center, sports emporium, day-care and tutoring center, candy store and yoga center, restaurant/hotel/coffee shop, family fun center, arts and music center, roller rink, physical therapy and exercise studio, and under-21 dance club, among other ideas. Many teams included “green-building” concepts such as roof top gardens, “living” walls, solar panels, Energy-star appliances––but the greenest feature of most models was reusing the existing building.
The judges were impressed with the students’ concepts and with the models they built to scale. Walls were constructed out of foam core, wood, or cardboard, and furniture and architectural details were crafted out of many materials, including clay. One team even created a pond filled with real fish in the vacant lot adjacent to the Monessen Savings & Trust Building.
The students learned a lot about teamwork and time management––and they gained an appreciation for the architecture and the history of main street communities. “Before this project I found the former Savings & Trust Building to be an eyesore,” said one student. “Now, I look at it as a structure that only needs to be renovated” and brought back to life for the city of Monessen.
The following photos show the project site in Monessen and some of the projects presented on March 22 & 23, 2010.
Tribune Review Article
Architectural Design Challenge Process
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