Welcome to our 2022 Summer Scholars
Hanbury’s Nicholas E. Vlattas Summer Scholar program officially kicked off last week and it’s already become clear that the future of our profession is bright.
Our 2022 scholars represent the 20th class of this highly revered legacy program, which engages and enriches our firm’s culture. Building upon the success of last year’s program, we have further expanded by hosting a total of 10 scholars representing some of the industry’s best and brightest emerging professionals spread across all of our locations. This enhancement to the program will help further strengthen our connections and realize our vision of being a seamlessly-aligned multi-office organization.
The 2022 Nicholas E. Vlattas Summer Scholar program selection jury reviewed more than 100 applicants representing 23 different design institutions stemming from three different continents. As our largest cohort yet, we’re confident the contributions of the chosen scholars will have an outsized impact on our firm.
Through a highly competitive process, Hanbury selected the following talented students:
Frankie Reed is a Bachelor of Architecture candidate with a minor in Law and Society, 2024, from Cornell University. At the University, she has been engaged in several research and analysis projects such as studying urban poverty in the Philippines, with a focus on anti-poverty programs, land use, and informal housing; researching and tracking legislation pertaining to fair housing, homelessness, and public housing. Frankie has spent time serving as a Housing Legal Hotline Operator for Ithaca Tenants Union giving advice on housing issues and tenant rights while collaborating with attorneys, law students, and tenant organizers. Her honors include Dean’s List and a US Air Force ROTC Full-Tuition Scholarship. Frankie is in Hanbury’s Norfolk office.
Abhishek Ambekar is a candidate for a Master of Architecture degree from McGill University, 2023. He received an Honours Bachelor of Architecture Studies from the University of Waterloo in 2021. His previous experience includes internships with Alison Brooks Architects in London producing final publication drawings for two mixed-use, civic and residential projects; ERA Architects leading efforts to expand their growing residential and conservation portfolio; Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership; and Emmanuel Combarel Dominque Marrec Architectes in Paris. He contributed illustrations to HMWRK, a Yale School of Architecture publication, and Peripatetic Magazine, a University of Waterloo publication. Abhishek’s honors and awards include the International Experience Award and Grant and the President’s Entrance Scholarship from Waterloo University. Abhishek is in Hanbury’s Raleigh office.
Irem Sezer is a 2023 Master of Architecture candidate from Virginia Tech. Previously, she received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Department of Architecture at Istanbul Technical University. She has experience as a teaching assistant both at her University in Turkey and at Virginia Tech and has received several awards for design competitions. She assisted in revising technical construction documents and preparing reports while she was working in Ankara, Turkey in 2018. Irem also has experience producing several publications related to the practice of architecture, including an article about the future of architectural education in Turkey, an essay series “Architectural Design Series,” and a book chapter that highlights her work from a Landscape Design Studio. Irem is in Hanbury’s Norfolk office.
Kelly Clark received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Clemson University, in 2022. While at Clemson, she was awarded the President’s List, the Dean’s List, membership to an architectural honors organization, Tau Sigma Delta, and is a McMillan Pazdan Smith Scholar. Her professional experience includes working with Builders FirstSource in North Carolina where she collaborated across the architectural and engineering disciplines to develop structural plans. Kelly has numerous leadership experiences that include her role as a mentor to incoming architectural students during the pandemic, her position as Treasurer for the American Institute of Architecture Students at Clemson, and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. Kelly is in Hanbury’s Clemson office.
Kenneth Hicks is a rising fifth-year student anticipating a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Virginia Tech in 2023. As Kenneth was also a part of our 2021 Summer Scholar Class, he will be Hanbury’s first return scholar – we are honored he chose us again! He and the 2021 cohort made an incredible contribution not just to our firm but also to the Kappa Brothers Raleigh Chapter. Please ask him about this experience. After the scholar program ended in the fall, Kenneth traveled to Dubai along with the VA Tech FutureHAUS team to reconstruct, present, and give tours of Virginia Tech’s FutureHAUS at the Dubai World Expo. Kenneth has experience as a properties project manager and as an electrical engineering intern where he prepared CAD documents from architectural and engineering sketches of Norfolk’s CHKD Emergency Care Wing. His honors include a second-place award in Virginia Tidewater Builders Association Young Designer’s Competition and he recently completed a work-study program in Chicago. Kenneth is in Hanbury’s Norfolk office.
Lizandro Marcial-Armas is a Master of Architecture candidate, 2023, and Master of Landscape Architecture, 2025, both from North Carolina State University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Interior Design from the University of North Carolina Greensboro, achieving Summa Cum Laude. Lizandro has interior design internship experience with Solomon Cordwell Buenz and Fortuna Enterprise LLC. While interning he created furniture bid presentations, made material and furniture selections, and assisted with 3D modeling, space planning, and concept design. While at UNCG he was a member of several design groups such as the International Interior Design Association, UNCG IIDA Student Chapter, and the American Society of Interior Designers, and served as an officer for the UNCG Public Art Committee. Some of his accolades include NC Masonry Contractors Sigmon Memorial Scholarship, IARC Portfolio Award, and IFDA rising star. Lizandro is in Hanbury’s Raleigh office.
Nic Campbell is a rising fifth-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Virginia Tech, 2023. Along with Kenneth, Nic was a part of the FutureHAUS team in Dubai and assisted with assembling and disassembling the modular house, was responsible for repair and refurbishment of the building, and gave daily tours communicating FutureHAUS’s modular and sustainability features. His experience includes an internship with HKS where he engaged in schematic and design development phases of design and documentation and assessment of LEED, Fitwell, and WELL design. Fun fact – Nic designed pipe organ and pipe organ chests and has experience tuning and rewiring pipe organs. Nic is in Hanbury’s Richmond office.
Ryan Hays is a rising fifth-year student at Virginia Tech anticipating a Bachelor of Architecture in 2023. He has several achievements and honors from Virginia Tech including Dean's List 2018-2021, being a finalist in VA Tech’s second-year competition and third place for their fourth-year competition, and selected as Vice President of Young American Collegiate Hedge Fund Triumvirate. Ryan is a member of the VT chapter of AIAS. Ryan’s experience includes an internship in NYC for Margulies Hoelzli Architects where he analyzed code, created demolition packages, schematic design, construction drawings, and renderings. Ryan is in Hanbury’s Richmond office.
TM Peterson is a Master of Architecture candidate at Virginia Tech, 2024. He received his Bachelor of Science from James Madison University where he studied Biology. Before returning to graduate school, he studied screen printing at Umbau School of Architecture and Design. TM has published several works in university journals, was named as the featured photographer in the James Madison University Gallery, and was the 2012 Winter Guard International Indoor Percussion World Champion. At VA Tech, he is a part of Studio Collective serving on their Advisory Board, on their Editorial Team, and as a Layout Designer. TM also is currently assisting a furniture maker in the design, construction, and delivery of handcrafted furniture. TM is in Hanbury’s Blacksburg office.
Shuqi Liu is a first-year Master of Architecture candidate at Cornell University. In 2021 she received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and was honored on the Dean’s List numerous years for her academic accomplishments. She has experience as an architectural intern with Ningxia Modern Architecture Design Institute. While serving with Volunteer Illini Projects from 2017 to 2019, she held the role of Art and Outreach Director. Her other interests include jewelry design and equestrian competitions. Her work has been displayed in the exhibition, La Seu d’Egara, and she participated in a study abroad program in Barcelona. Shuqi is in Hanbury’s Raleigh office.
