Scholarship + Internship
MOA offers an annual architectural scholarship and paid summer internship award to students in accredited architecture programs.
The scholarship and internship program is designed to provide students with an opportunity to learn and gain practical experience in concert with their education to better prepare them for their chosen career in architecture. It is our intent that the internship opportunity challenges and rewards students, and further stimulates their interest in architecture.
2023 Robert L. Outland Scholarship Award + Summer Internship
Named in honor of founding Principal Robert L. Outland, this $3,000 merit-based private scholarship and paid summer internship (including travel and living expense reimbursement) was established to recognize and reward entering fifth year and graduate level students in an accredited architectural program. This Scholarship + Internship is specifically intended for women and minority students who demonstrate a passion for architecture, high academic achievement, and design ability.
Program applications will open in January 2023.
Learn more about MOA’s Scholarship + Internship program in the words of our previous recipients:
2019 Scholarship + Internship Winner
Ana Celdran
Ana Celdran is pursuing her Master of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania and the 2019 winner of our Robert L. Outland Women and Minority Scholarship + Internship.
“Working at MOA this summer 2019 was a unique experience. It was a very enjoyable way to learn how an architecture firm works and what I would like to specialize in the future. MOA is a very mentoring work environment where I was able to expand my design knowledge to education and healthcare programmatic strategies. I worked at projects on different stages such as planning and design, construction and evaluation, programming and analyses, etc. I had the opportunity to be part of different meetings such as marketing meeting where I learned how the firm applies for a job, general staff meetings where I got a weekly update on what is everyone at the office doing, etc. I was also part of site visits and I reviewed construction documents. My time in Denver also taught me about work life balance, and the hospitality of MOA team extended to show me around the city and make me part of their social events. I will always remember this summer internship for how much I grew as a professional and as a person. I look forward to come back to Colorado and visit the office as soon as I can.”
2018 Scholarship + Internship Winner
Hossein Goudarzi
Hossein Goudarzi is pursuing his Master of Architecture degree from the University of New Mexico and is the 2018 winner of our Kiyoshi Murata Scholarship Award + Summer Internship.
“To me, MOA is a professional office with an academic expression. Thanks to the summer internship at MOA, I could balance my life between my educational and professional experiences. This internship offered me an insightful look at several aspects of the projects and made me familiar with the different phases of an architecture project from marketing to operation. I contributed to an architecture competition, which helped me learn how to participate with a team to create a successful project. I also got familiar with BIM and construction documentation through several projects. Site tours gave me a deep understanding of how a detail can be built, can be operated and can support the building in terms of function and aesthetic. Working and organization of project records allowed me to understand that data organization is a crucial part of the construction process. I really valued this experience as it helped me develop skills of communication, teamwork, public speaking, presentation. I sincerely appreciate everyone at MOA that tried to transfer their knowledge and experience to me and make me prepared for the professional world. My internship has given me the confidence and the required experience necessary to pick my future goal with a vision.”
2017 Scholarship + Internship Winner
Jamie Marchini
While pursuing her Master of Architecture degree from the University of Florida, Jamie Marchini was the 2017 winner of our Robert L. Outland Women and Minority Scholarship + Internship.
“My summer at MOA has been one of most memorable and rewarding experiences. I have grown both professionally as a young architect and personally as my own independent person, exploring other areas of interest in my life. I was treated as a regular employee with my own project team, responsibilities, and freedoms. I had the unique opportunity to design a stand-alone middle/high school cafeteria for the DSST College View Campus for Denver Public Schools. That experience challenged the way I design, adhering to codes, site pressures, client requests, budget, and existing building conditions. Surprisingly, after all those external pressures, the overall design concept remained strong. I really appreciated being able to follow my design from the schematic phase into the design development phase. I began to understand the practicalities of building construction and how much coordination and work it takes to create even the smallest building. I am excited to come back to Denver and finally stand in something I took part in. Everyone at MOA contributed immensely to my personal development, helping me transition from a student into the professional world. MOA does a great and consistent job preserving a socially supportive studio culture. I will miss everyone and beautiful Colorado until my return.”
2016 Scholarship + Internship Winner
Trieu Vo
While pursuing his Master of Architecture degree at Clemson University, Trieu Vo was the 2016 winner of our summer Scholarship + Internship.
“The design in a professional environment is not as simple as what we usually see in the design studio in school and this summer internship will help me prepare for the future. My work experiences this summer included participating in a design competition for a large urban redevelopment project, concept design of a mixed-use project, and the interior design of the new MOA office. I got a chance to visit a construction site, it was a very helpful visit since I learned a lot about the details and material applications. I also participated in some client meetings, one of my favorite activities. They helped me realize there are a lot of factors that impact the design process. All of these opportunities helped me to realize the similarities and differences between the design studio and the professional work and will enhance my design thinking and skills. I really enjoyed working hard while still having fun.”
2015 Scholarship + Internship Winner
Laura Rodriguez
While a graduate student at the University of Florida, Laura Rodriguez was the 2015 winner of our inaugural Robert L. Outland Women and Minority Scholarship + Internship.
“MOA has given me the opportunity to grow as a person, a student, and a young intern. I couldn’t picture a better firm to work for to see the practice of architecture and its process. Getting to go on client meetings, working on renderings for presentations, and working side by side with the designers, project managers, architects, and other interns has allowed me to see how a firm is structure. The relationships I formed are not only networking opportunities in the future, but they are also friendships that will continue to grow. The ability to have a coworker who has been in my shoes guide me and advise me throughout the internship was comforting. I can without a doubt say that having a mentor was a key to my success this summer. I will never forget the amazing people I’ve met, and I will cherish the great experiences I had in the office and in Denver.”
2014 Scholarship + Internship Winner
Longwei Wu
“The MOA internship program exceeded my expectation in many ways. I can truly feel that people at MOA did their best to make my internship experience meaningful and fun. I was offered to sit down to discuss with my mentors about the goals I would like to achieve during this summer, and they treated these goals seriously. Working on projects was only one portion of the overall internship experience. I also had a great time with my MOA colleagues – hiking, camping, sports, etc. There are a lot of big firms with big names providing internship programs out there, but I doubt that they can reach the same level of experience that MOA’s program provides.”
2013 Scholarship + Internship Winner
Mariah Trevizo
Mariah Trevizo was our 2013 Scholarship + Internship Program Winner. Mariah had recently completed her 4th year as an undergraduate student at the University of Kansas in the MArch program. She graduated in May of 2014 after spending her final year in Paris and completing an internship during the second semester.
“In the time I have been working as an intern at MOA Architecture I have been fortunate enough to be involved with all aspects of the design process. This internship has truly been the best experience that any student could ask for. There are very few firms that will sit down and talk with you about what you actually want to get out of your time there and tailor your experience for that. In the short time I am here I am able to work on everything from model making, design and marketing work, and the CD and DD phase of a project. Overall, I couldn’t have asked to intern for a better firm in a city as great as Denver.”