At Wold, we are committed to fostering positive change in the communities we serve. In line with this mission, we actively support education by providing scholarships to students pursuing degrees in architecture, design and engineering. The Wold Scholarship Fund, offering a $5,000 award, aims to support underrepresented individuals, foster diversity in the profession and nurture future leaders through impactful educational experiences. Sasha Reese, a rising junior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, was chosen as the 2024 Illinois Wold Scholarship Fund recipient.
Our team recently spoke with Sasha to learn more about her experiences, hopes and dreams for the architecture field. With a thankful tone, Sasha voiced her excitement about using the scholarship to cover tuition and fees as she continues to pursue her passion for architecture. Read on to learn about Sasha’s life experiences, areas of interest and more below:
Architecture has been a part of my life since the beginning, as I have always loved creating and building things. Initially, I found joy in designing houses and structures in video games and constructing homes for cats. Eventually, this morphed into a desire to make furniture and pursue sewing as a hobby. Architecture is so important to me because people experience the built environment daily, and I aspire to create spaces that shape experiences for the better.
The sustainability aspect of architecture is the most exciting part for me. I love the idea of making an impact across communities through the power of creating sustainable buildings and systems. As we collectively understand the impact of environmentally friendly spaces that protect our planet and improve efficiency, sustainability will continue to evolve and become more prominent across the field of architecture. I aspire to improve my community and the world around me through the built environment, and implementing sustainable practices in my future work is one way I hope to do that.
My favorite piece of architecture is the Chicago Aqua Tower. When I first saw it, I immediately fell in love with its white waves and biophilic design. I’m also fascinated by architectural styles from around the world and hope to see some firsthand if I’m able to study abroad in Japan!
My advice would be to explore all your passions – look into every nook and cranny as you learn about architecture and design, and appreciate creativity, whether it’s dreaming big and imagining impressive structures or just experiencing the joy of making things for yourself. You can also always look for hands-on experience by networking with architects to learn more about their experiences.