Baltimore Design School is proud to congratulate rising seniors Jaden Crump, Kenya Husbands, and Jermaine Jackson on being selected as recipients of the Cornell Future Architect Award (CFAA), earning a fully funded opportunity to attend Cornell University’s Introduction to Architecture and Design Precollege Program this summer. For six weeks, the students will live and learn […]

Baltimore Design School is proud to congratulate rising seniors Jaden Crump, Kenya Husbands, and Jermaine Jackson on being selected as recipients of the Cornell Future Architect Award (CFAA), earning a fully funded opportunity to attend Cornell University’s Introduction to Architecture and Design Precollege Program this summer.

For six weeks, the students will live and learn on Cornell University’s campus in Ithaca, New York, participating in an immersive academic experience designed for high-achieving and high-potential students interested in architecture and related design disciplines. The scholarship covers tuition, housing, meals, and travel expenses, and students will earn six college credits upon successful completion of the program.

The award is part of a formal partnership between Cornell University and Baltimore Design School that expands access to pre-college architecture opportunities for BDS students. Through this collaboration, BDS Architecture teachers identify and encourage promising students to apply for the program, while Cornell maintains its standard admissions review process and independently selects students for admission and scholarship consideration.

This year, BDS Architecture teachers nominated three students and two alternate candidates whose academic achievement, design potential, and commitment to the field distinguished them as strong representatives of the school. Following Cornell’s admissions review, Jaden, Kenya, and Jermaine were selected to participate in the program and receive scholarship support.

Hosted by Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP), the Introduction to Architecture and Design Precollege Program introduces students to foundational principles of design at multiple scales, ranging from design objects and installations to buildings, landscapes, and urban environments. Through studio-based learning, creative experimentation, and critical inquiry, students explore how architecture and design can shape communities and address real-world challenges.

Cornell Architecture is recognized for advancing innovative design practices while encouraging students to think critically about the relationship between people, places, and the built environment. Participants are challenged to develop independent thinking, embrace creative problem-solving, and consider how design can contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future.

For Jaden, Kenya, and Jermaine, the experience represents an extraordinary opportunity to deepen their understanding of architecture, strengthen their portfolios, earn college credit, and gain firsthand exposure to life at one of the nation’s premier universities. The opportunity also reflects the dedication they have demonstrated throughout their studies in the Baltimore Design School Architecture pathway.

This year’s scholarship selection highlights both the talent of individual students and the strength of the learning experiences available through BDS’s design-focused curriculum. More than a summer enrichment opportunity, the program represents a deliberate investment in the next generation of architects and designers. By connecting talented high school students with college-level learning experiences, Cornell is helping cultivate future leaders who will contribute new perspectives to the built environment and the architecture profession. The experience aligns closely with Baltimore Design School’s mission of preparing students to use creativity, critical thinking, and design as tools for innovation, problem-solving, and positive community impact.