American Architectural Foundation And Target Announce Semi-Finalists And Honorable Mentions For "Redesign Your School Contest"

High school students voice their opinion and design next generation of America’s schools. Students want greater environmental sensitivity

November 1, 2007—Washington—Hundreds of high school students have entered a unique national contest which asked them to design the next generation of America’s public schools. Students overwhelmingly favor schools that are environmentally sensitive and connected to nature.

Tyler J. Rush, an eighteen year old senior at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, is the "Grand Prize" winner in this national contest. Tyler’s winning design, entitled "Light + Nature School," presents a vision of his ideal school, located in the Hill Country of central Texas that incorporates "as many of the elements of the outdoors as possible."

Seven other student entries were chosen as finalists, twenty students were selected as semi-finalists and an additional eighty students received honorable mention status. The one hundred semi-finalists and honorable mention entries hailed from 29 states and reflect the diversity of America’s 55 million public school students.

"Students are rarely ever asked their opinion about the design of our nation’s public schools even though they spend years of their lives in and around them," said Ronald E. Bogle, President and CEO of the American Architectural Foundation, "so we decided to ask students to use their imaginations and design the next generation of America’s schools."

"I am impressed by the results," Bogle continued "Some the designs are rich in detail and site specific and could be built today while others are whimsical and artful. One winning design even included floors made of glass so children could see fish. What connects all of these designs, however, is a search for a better way to link schools to nature and the environment."

Sponsored by the American Architectural Foundation (AAF) and Target, the "Redesign Your School" contest has been the largest national design competition open to 9th through 12th grade students in the United States. Every year, school districts across the United States spend 30 billion dollars building new schools facilities.

"Target is proud to be a part of this program that taps into the creativity, experience, and energy of our nation’s youth," said Laysha Ward, vice president, community relations, Target. "It’s exciting to see how the winners, like Tyler, envision great design enhancing the learning experience for future generations of students."

The "Redesign Your School" contest drew hundreds of entries from across the country as students voiced their opinions about how to design their vision of ideal places to learn in the 21st century. $45,000 in scholarships will be presented to winners, eight of whom will also be invited to Washington, D.C., to present their ideas on November 5th, 2007 at the Redesign Your School Dinner and Awards Celebration.

Semifinalists

$100 Target Gift Card

Mireya Avila
Santa Barbara, CA 		Sheryl Chocron
Weston, FL 		Cameron Coker
Carrollton, TX
Chloe Gray
Santa Barbara, CA 		David Heckelsmiller
Palatine, IL 		Amy Huang
Brooklyn, NY
Christopher Ioffreda
Arlington, VA 		Alice Kao
Fremont, CA 		Angela Khermouch
New York, NY
Lauren Ledbetter
Carpinteria, CA 		Zhuojun Li
Williamsburg, VA 		Ryan Magoon
Cummington, MA
Taylor Mercer
Auburn, CA 		James Piccone
Blackwood, NJ 		Cyrene Quiamco
Little Rock, AR
Hannah Rutledge
Katy, TX 		Michael S. with Kamren K.
Saint Cloud, MN 		Jerad Starr
Eden Prairie, MN
Rolando Vega
Miami, FL 		Annie Villaneuva
Santa Barbara, CA

Honorable Mention

Lauren Amery
Santa Barbara, CA 		Muhammad Anwar
San Francisco, CA 		James A. with Austin B.
Gastonia, NC
Amelia B. with Miri S.
Santa Barbara, CA 		Lilyann Berg
New Hope, MN 		Katlyn B. with Pilar C.
Santa Barbara, CA
Leah Brisby
Santa Barbara, CA 		Samantha Buckley
La Habra, CA 		James Carroll
La Place, LA
Adrienne Chabot
Mishawaka, IN 		Janice Chan
San Jose, CA 		Lacey Cochran
Corvallis, OR
John C. with Kevin D.
Cincinnati, OH 		James Dotson
Nashville, TN 		Michael Draghi
Santa Barbara, CA
Andre Edwards
Landover, MD 		Martin Estes
Saint Paul, MN 		Hayley Estes
New Carlisle, OH
Andrea Fishman
Boynton Beach, FL 		Kristen Fowler
Colorado Springs, CO 		Eyitemi Fregene
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Kallie Friedman
Santa Barbara, CA 		Maria Gomez
Greeley, CO 		Juan Gomez
Evans, CO
Caitlin Guinan
Geneva. IL 		Desiree Harig
Alto, MI 		Chi H. with Hidalgo C.
Sherwood, OR
Jessica Harris
Glendale, AZ 		Neal H. with Mark Z.
North Bergen, NJ 		Jonathan Haswell
Whitehouse, TX
Katelyn H. with Ryan L.
Cincinnati, OH 		Veronica Hernandez
San Antonio, TX 		Samantha Hochhauser
Santa Barbara, CA
Meghan Jackson
Santa Barbara, CA 		Molly Jacques
Wilmington, NC 		Tara J. with Hector M.
Hollywood, FL
Josh J. with Sara G.
Lindsborg, KS 		Joe Juliano
Wood Dale, IL 		Claire Kaufman
Wilmette, IL
Benjamin Larson
Underhill, VT 		Nathan Leber
Glendale, AZ 		Kathryn L. with Rachel R.
Santa Barbara, CA
Joshua Leonard
Columbus, GA 		Anthony Lieser
Greeley, CO 		Jessica Liscano
Aurora, IL
Martina Lo
La Honda, CA 		Eric Lo
Fresh Meadows, NY 		Landon Luick
Fairmount, ND
Andrew Luy
Lexington, KY 		Allison M. with Timothy G.
Webster, NY 		Abigail McCauley
Fredericksburg, TX
Austin McKeon
Vista, CA 		Russell Mendenhall
Huron, SD 		Chelsea M. with Havah B.
Santa Barbara, CA
Michael Mosher
Worcester, MA 		Regina Nappi
Newburgh, NY 		Sean O'Rourke
Rocky River, OH
Laura Otremba
Blaine, MN 		Caroline P. with Erica S.
Ambler, PA 		Mark Pothier
Cleveland, OH
Nicholas Prater
Tampa, FL 		Jared Reisweber
Buffalo, NY 		John R. with Michael M.
Magnolia, DE
Tye Ridolfi
Kissimmee, FL 		Victoria Rosage
Jacksonville, NC 		Sharika Sanku
Naperville, IL
Stephanie Schill
Westlake, OH 		Angela Schrock
Loxahatchee, FL 		Sarah Southerland
Bethesda, MD
Patrick S. with Christopher S.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 		Kaitlyn Thompson
Niceville, FL 		Megan W. with Aaron G.
Lenexa, KS
Terrence W. with Jair M.
Jersey City, NJ 		Shakira S. with Jennifer L.
 

 

About the Contest
The contest sought to generate innovative ideas for 21st century learning spaces while encouraging a more collaborative discussion among students, educators, parents, designers and the media. Individuals or teams of two were asked to utilize background resources and work with a community member to create engaging and original ideas for the design of a school, classroom, or other learning environment. Submissions could be submitted in the form of drawings, video, model photos, PowerPoint, or other media, so long as they fit in one 11" by 17" envelope.

About Great Schools by Design
Launched in 2004, the American Architectural Foundation’s Great Schools by Design program supports improved quality in America’s schools by promoting outstanding design of the learning environment, encouraging collaboration in the design process and providing leading-edge resources that help schools and communities transform themselves. Target is the presenting sponsor of Great Schools by Design. Target’s involvement with Great Schools by Design has made numerous AAF publications, resources, and events possible. KnowledgeWorks Foundation, OWP/P and the AIA’s Committee on Architecture for Education are advisers to AAF and partners on the Redesign Your School Contest.

About AAF
The American Architectural Foundation (AAF) is a national nonprofit organization that seeks to educate individuals and community leaders about the power of architecture to transform lives and improve the places where we live, learn, work and play. Through numerous outreach programs, grants and educational resources, AAF seeks to inspire people to be thoughtful and engaged stewards of the built environment. For more information, please visit www.archfoundation.org

About Target
Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,591 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today’s best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through innovative products, in-store experiences and community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives more than $3 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.

 

Media Contacts
Helen Wechsler
(202) 626-7372
hwechsler@archfoundation.org
 
Target Communications
612-696-3400