Arizona Architecture Student Designs for Equity, Empowered by Scholarship
A commitment to community service and a childhood fascination with design have converged for Vivian Pelayo, a Master of Architecture student at Arizona State University, who is dedicated to creating temporary shelters and equitable spaces for under-resourced communities in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Pelayo’s efforts are now bolstered by a 2025 Fiesta Sports Foundation Empowering Diversity Scholarship, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.
Pelayo’s passion for helping others was instilled in her from a young age. Her mother, a teacher, consistently emphasized the importance of compassion, teaching her “to never pass someone in need without offering help,” a lesson that profoundly shaped Pelayo’s life and career aspirations.
Now, Pelayo is channeling that upbringing into a tangible mission. She aims to leverage her architectural training to address critical needs within the “Valley,” as the Phoenix area is known. “My end goal is to design temporary shelters in the Valley,” she explained. “It’s to help people.”
The Empowering Diversity Scholarship is instrumental in making that goal attainable. The award not only eases the financial burden of graduate studies – where, Pelayo noted, financial aid is often scarce – but also provides a powerful sense of validation. “I was beyond grateful,” Pelayo said. “It’s an honor to be recognized by a program that supports voices from different backgrounds.” The scholarship has allowed her to dedicate more time to her studies and valuable internships, reducing stress and maximizing her learning opportunities.
Pelayo’s interest in architecture sparked early, fueled by her mother’s habit of bringing home books on a variety of subjects, including engineering, medicine, and design. A small book on design, in particular, captivated her. “I was seven or eight, super young… and I was like, ‘I want to be that,’” she recalled. “And now I’m in my master’s program, and I’m doing it.”
Growing up in Phoenix, Pelayo witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness. This exposure, combined with her mother’s values, solidified her desire to use architecture as a force for positive change.
Her decision to attend ASU was a natural one, given her family’s strong ties to the university – her mother, sister, and uncles are all Sun Devil alumni. “Definitely a Sun Devils family. I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else,” she affirmed. Pelayo also benefited from the university’s Leadership Scholarship Program.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Pelayo is actively involved in professional organizations. She is a member of the American Institute of Architects and the National Organization of Minority Architects Students (NOMAS), crediting these groups with providing crucial mentorship, networking opportunities, and her first internship experience. She is also engaged with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley’s AZYouthforce program, a workforce development initiative for young adults.
Pelayo is also keenly aware of the need for greater diversity within the field of architecture. “I definitely would like to see more people who look like me in these rooms,” she stated. “Even though it’s 2025, we still have to stick together.”
Following graduation, Pelayo plans to pursue licensure, a demanding process involving thousands of training hours and six rigorous exams. Long-term, she envisions gaining experience at firms specializing in temporary housing, construction, and sustainability before ultimately establishing her own architecture firm.
For aspiring students navigating the scholarship application process, Pelayo offers encouraging advice, drawn from her own experience. She applied for over 150 scholarships before receiving her first award in late March. “Never get discouraged with application season,” she urged. “It might be that one application that changes the game.”
Pelayo expressed her gratitude to the Fiesta Sports Foundation and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona for their belief in her and her peers. “Thank you to the people at Fiesta Sports Foundation and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona for believing in us,” she said. “It has been truly life-changing.”
Applications for the 2026-27 iteration of the Empowering Diversity Scholarship will open this spring. For more information, click here.
