Kiara K. Galicinao of Lahaina was recently named the 2015 Senator Mark O. Hatfield Architectural Award winner by the Architecture Foundation of Oregon. Galicinao is an architecture student at the University of Oregon.

LAHAINA – Kiara K. Galicinao, a third year undergraduate at the University of Oregon’s School of Architecture and Allied Arts, was recently named the 2015 Senator Mark O. Hatfield Architectural Award winner by the Architecture Foundation of Oregon.

The Lahaina resident graduated as valedictorian with the Lahainaluna High School Class of 2012.

In honor of the late senator’s own interest in architectural design and commitment to service, the award program was established in 1998 to annually recognize an Oregon architecture student for design promise and community service. The award includes a $2,000 scholarship.

AFO noted that Galicinao began a strong and broad commitment to volunteerism with many Maui organizations dating from her high school years, and she has continued her service as a student at Oregon.

Her design work is thorough and thoughtful, AFO reported, with a particular interest in and focus on housing.

Galicinao said, “My main purpose and goal for my degree is to make a difference in the world. I believe that every move makes a difference, no matter how small. If I can contribute to the communities of Oregon and Hawaii at the smaller scale, things will definitely improve at the world’s largest scale.”

Award candidates may be either undergraduate or graduate students in the architecture programs at Portland State University or the University of Oregon.

Portfolios, essays, transcripts and reference letters are evaluated by a committee of Architecture Foundation of Oregon board members.