Student Receives Holstrom Architecture Scholarship

Clemente Jaquez-Herrera, fifth-year student in architecture, has been awarded The John E. Holstrom Alpha Tau Omega Architectural Scholarship.

The presentation of this nineteenth Holstrom Scholarship, in the amount of $1,000, was presented to Jaquez-Herrera, along with a plaque and certificate, by Kansas State Alpha Tau Omega Students’ Aid Endowment Fund President William L. Muir.

A resident of Lakin and Garden City, Kansas, Jaquez-Herrera was the President of the National Organization of Multicultural Architecture Students (NOMAS). He was a KSU Multicultural Ambassador and traveled to high schools around Kansas for recruitment and retention of K-State students. He is a member of Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Mortar Board Senior Honor Society, Golden Key Honor Society, Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO), Black Student Union (BSU) and the Diversity Program Committee. Last year, Jaquez-Herrera was a member of the architecture team that cleaned up, tore down, designed and erected the first structure in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He was a member of the Dean’s Student Advisory Council (DSAC) and a Putnam Hall Resident Assistant and is a tutor for Upward Bound and elementary schools.

An instructor states that Jaquez-Herrera “is the most public-spirited student I have ever come across in more than a quarter of a century of teaching experience. It is truly astounding to see how much substantive community and professional service he has managed to perform while all the while maintaining the highest of academic standards.”

Dennis Law, dean of K-State’s College of Architecture, Planning and Design, says “Clemente is a very hard working, diligent young man who has distinguished himself academically since his arrival. The Holstrom Award is a fitting tribute to this student who has proven to have a work-ethic closely aligned with lofty personal goals.”

And finally, one of his advisers states that “walking the halls of Seaton, it is always a pleasure to see Clemente, his broad smile telegraphing his interest in those around him. By smile and manner, he projects his commitment to the ideals of fellowship in the college and the university. Working by himself and with his peers in NOMAS, Clemente has been an important part of creating an academic environment that is diverse and inclusive. He is a natural leader with a special talent for working with and inspiring the people around him. In his final year, I expect he will continue to make important contributions to our college and the university. In the future, we will no doubt continue to hear about his contributions to our profession as a practicing architect.”

Jaquez-Herrera is working toward his Master of Architecture and maintains a 3.886 grade point average.

The Holstrom Scholarship, established in 1990, is named after John E. Holstrom, a 1968 initiate of the Kansas State University chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity and 1972 Kansas State University graduate who died in December of 1989 at the age of 40. The stated purposes of this Scholarship are “to perpetuate the memory of John E. Holstrom on the campus of Kansas State University and to provide educational opportunities and assistance for fifth-year architecture students who possess exemplary attributes in scholarship, fellowship and character.”

The Kansas State Alpha Tau Omega Students’ Aid Endowment Fund, in conjunction with the College of Architecture, Planning and Design, established the Holstrom Scholarship. An endowed gift of $20,000 from the architectural firm of Weeter-Kienast-Alexander (WKA) of Dallas, Texas, which was Holstrom’s firm, is the largest part of this endowment.

To be eligible, a student must have at least a 2.75 grade point average and “judged to be of good character and sound academic standing and who has contributed to the quality of life of the Department of Architecture, the College of Architecture, Planning and Design and Kansas State University. The recipient should demonstrate a high interest and ability in the field of architecture, with demonstrated professional promise. In all other respects, this Scholarship will be awarded without restriction to gender, race, handicap, religion or national origin.”

The finalists for this scholarship are chosen by a screening committee within the Department of Architecture selected by the head of the department. The screening committee provides a written assessment of each finalist, describing and evaluating potential, scholastic aptitude, exemplary fellowship, outstanding character and contributions to the University. The head of the Department of Architecture, in consultation with the dean of the College of Architecture, Planning and Design, selects the recipient.

Dean Law commented, “We are very pleased to be able to offer this scholarship to an outstanding fifth-year architecture student. Special thanks to the local Alpha Tau Omega Endowment Fund and the WKA architectural firm for making this scholarship a reality, and congratulations to Clemente Jaquez-Herrera on being this year’s recipient.”

Peter Magyar, head of the KSU Department of Architecture, said, “Clemente Jaquez-Herrera is one of our top students and possesses good, all-around qualities that fit the criteria for this scholarship.”

Muir, president of the Kansas State Alpha Tau Omega Students’ Aid Endowment Fund, stated, “We are extremely proud to have the opportunity to award this scholarship in memory of John Holstrom to such an outstanding architecture student as Clemente Jaquez-Herrera. John loved architecture, he loved life in general, and he loved Kansas State University. It is very appropriate that we memorialize his life of service with this scholarship.”

For more information, contact:
William L. Muir, 785.532.6269
Diane Potts, 785.532.1090