Gifford Albright Architectural Engineering Scholarship

Gifford “Giff” Albright ps53 is a distinguished Triangle alumnus who has made a storied career for himself. He received degrees first from Penn State and then from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

He is affiliated with numerous engineering organizations, including the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the ASTM, the Civil Engineering Corps of the US Navy, the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Society for the History of Technology, and many others.

Brother Albright was the first Department Head of the Department of Architectural Engineering at Penn State, after that department was reestablished in 1963 under the College of Engineering (despite contemporary pressure from the AIA to eliminate “Architectural Engineering” as discipline separate from Architecture). He shaped the development of the program for 20 years, until 1983. He left temporarily to become Program Director at the NSF, before returning in 1988 and finally retiring from Penn State as Professor Emeritus in 1992.

In addition to his career accomplishments, Brother Albright has been a dedicated Triangle member. He served for 10 years on the chapter alumni executive board, including positions as president and chapter advisor. Furthermore, he completed a four-year term on the National Council. In honor of his service, Albright was chosen as a recipient of the Triangle Men of the Century Award during the 2007 National Convention.

Objective

To foster members majoring in Architectural Engineering by rewarding academic proficiency and by promoting increased involvement within the department, in professional organizations, and in industry or academia. The scholarship amount is $1000, to be awarded to one winner in the Spring semester.

Applicant Criteria

• Applicant is an Active or Associate Member of the Penn State Chapter of Triangle Fraternity

• Applicant is enrolled in one of the Undergraduate Programs administered by the Penn State Department of Architectural Engineering

• Applicant possesses full-time enrollment status at the University Park campus for the current semester (i.e., the semester during which the applicant applies for the scholarship)

• Applicant either possessed full-time enrollment status at the University Park campus for the previous semester, OR earned Penn State credit for a full-time co-op or research assignment during the previous semester

  • Applicant has met with a Department of Architectural Engineering faculty member or emeritus faculty member (preferably Giff himself) and has submitted the following materials to the Scholarship Committee prior to the last meeting of the Scholarship Committee before awards:

  • Proof of the meeting, such as an e-mail from the faculty member sent to the Scholarship Chairman
    An essay detailing what the applicant learned during the meeting and how he plans to apply his new knowledge in the future