2025 Rise Internship + Stipend
The Rise Internship and Stipend program provides financial assistance and professional experience to support promising Black architecture and interior design students. Recipients will receive a paid summer internship and a $5,000 stipend for university-related expenses including tuition fees, textbooks, boarding, and current semester balances.
The core of Rise is an eight-to-ten-week paid internship that begins with an intentional studio rotation designed to expose the recipient to core project phases. The remainder of their time will be spent fully immersed as a valued team member within an active project. The internship offers an essential opportunity to obtain the work experience required to successfully position any design professional for an entry-level role upon graduation.
“This has been a life-changing experience that I believe gave me the confidence that I am in the right industry,” shares Diamond Brown, our 2024 Rise intern. “By sitting in-person client meetings and helping with presentations, I observed how professional designers interact with clients, communicate effectively to showcase their problem-solving skills, incorporate client feedback, and produce innovative results.”
The Rise Internship and Stipend is awarded to a student who demonstrates excellence in the schools of architecture, planning, and interior design. Selection of the winning candidate is based on academic achievement, application quality, and a shortlist of candidate interviews. Funding is managed by Hickok Cole and may be subject to provisions of the recipient’s University and state and federal laws.
Key Dates
- Applications open: September 25, 2024
- Deadline to apply: January 10, 2025 at 5:00 pm EST
- Interviews: February 7th and 14th, 2025
- Winner notification: February 21, 2025
- Internship timeline: Summer 2025 (May-August, depending on the recipient’s class schedule)
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Black, African American, or African Diaspora students currently enrolled in an architecture or interior design program at an accredited university
- Rising 4th or 5th year undergraduate and graduate students must be returning to school in the Fall of 2025. Recent graduates seeking full-time positions should apply for a permanent position with Hickok Cole through our online portal.
- Applicants must be legally able to work in the United States
Interested applicants should submit the following via online portal by 5:00 pm EST on January 10, 2025.
- Resume
- Design portfolio
- Two letters of recommendation
- 150-200 word response to each of the following prompts:
- With our mission in mind, share your vision for the future of architecture and/or design.
- What does the concept of work that matters mean to you as an aspiring architect and/or designer?
- Why is inclusivity essential to great design?
Questions can be directed to info@hickokcole.com.
Access the online portal to submit your completed application.
About Hickok Cole
Hickok Cole is a forward-focused design practice. We connect bold ideas, diverse expertise, and partners with vision to do work that matters. For 35 years, we’ve worked hard to design projects that inspire change and leave a positive impact, bringing the best of our creativity and expertise to every opportunity across our diverse architecture, interior design, and creative branding practice. From landmark projects to conceptual explorations, we’re at our best working as part of a team pushing the boundaries of design. These collaborations have resulted in 300+ design and industry awards, record-breaking real estate transactions, and the first mass timber and net zero renovations in the Mid-Atlantic.