In mid-August, Senior Associate and Project Architect in Minneapolis, Ellie Ziaie, was officially honored at the AIA Minnesota Awards Celebration with the 2023 Next Gen Award. This award is given to recent graduates of an accredited NAAB architecture program who have demonstrated early leadership potential or exceptional service to the AIA, the architecture profession, or the community at large. Ellie fully exemplifies these qualities, with a jury member commenting, “Over the years, I have seen many excel in various ways as students and as professionals, but I can think of very few who have done as much as Ellie Ziaie to volunteer in so many academic, professional, and community efforts and to participate in so many local and national leadership and mentoring programs.”

In addition, Architectural Designer in Minneapolis, Jena Quast, was the recipient of the Minnesota Architectural Foundation’s (MAF) Beverly Hauschild-Baron Leadership Fund AIA Women’s Leadership Summit Scholarship. Its purpose is to help develop ongoing leadership for AIA Minnesota by providing financial support for AIA Minnesota members and AIA Minnesota staff pursuing leadership training.

Cheers and a hearty congratulations to both Ellie and Jena!