We are pleased to announce that B.Arch student Kelly Li has been awarded the Gelfand Student Service Award from Carnegie Mellon University. The Gelfand Award recognizes a student’s commitment to society through participation in service learning courses and educational outreach activities that positively impact the community beyond the walls of CMU. Each year three students from across the University are selected to receive the award following a competitive nomination process, with winners awarded a $250 prize.
As a teacher for the School of Architecture’s Architecture Explorations program, Kelly has had a direct impact on each of the outreach programs and will continue to have a lasting impact on the success of enriching the lives of youth in the Pittsburgh region. Through her involvement with Architecture Explorations, Kelly developed and designed the Architecture Without Walls landscape architecture themed EQUIP Backpack for use in area schools; it remains one of the most used and most requested backpack themes in the program.
Kelly also taught alongside Architecture Explorations Program Manager Samantha Weaver during the Summer Dreamers Academy program through Pittsburgh Public Schools. The program serves students from under-resourced neighborhoods who often have difficult home situations and struggle in school. Kelly’s poise and empathy helped the students to overcome challenges and contributed to the continuing participation in and success of the program.
Kelly’s involvement in the community also includes teaching the Architecture Explorations Saturday Sequence program, summer camps at the Carnegie Museum of Art, Saturday Gelfand Outreach camps, and working with Pittsburgh youth through Assemble programs.
“I am continually impressed by Kelly’s leadership, poise, empathy, and diligence; she is both a fantastic teacher and a gifted designer,” says Samantha Weaver. “I look forward to witnessing her growth as a designer, teacher, and leader and believe she has a great future ahead of her.”
Congratulations Kelly on receiving this award!