Education & professional growth
scholarship OPPORTUNITIES
Supporting the Next Generation of Preservation Professionals
APTNE is committed to supporting students and emerging professionals who are passionate about historic preservation, conservation, and the technologies and practices that help us care for our historic places.
Each year, APTNE awards two $3,000 scholarships to students, recent graduates, and emerging professionals pursuing education, training, or professional development in historic preservation and related fields.
Whether your interests are rooted in preservation technology, conservation, architecture, engineering, material science, or the skilled trades, APTNE scholarships are designed to help you take the next step in your preservation career.
Available Scholarships
Melissa Morrissey Scholarship Fund
The Melissa Morrissey Scholarship Fund was established in 2014 by APTNE to honor the memory of former board member Pat Morrissey’s daughter, Melissa Morrissey, whose professional contributions centered around advancing new technology and ideas. Melissa, like her father and many members of the APTNE community, believed in knowledge-sharing “lessons-learned” and uncovering leading edge ideas that best-serve the end client.
Melissa demonstrated immense pride in making unexpected connections between decision makers and free thinkers to reach new and innovative solutions. The scholarship named in Melissa’s honor provides financial support for students who are interested in looking at preservation through a new, technological, or otherwise innovative lens. The scholarship is intended to help with student expenses relating to education, training, or continuing professional development.
Deadline: December 31, 2026
Award: $3,000
Jill Verhosek Scholarship Fund
The Jill Verhosek Scholarship Fund was established in May 2022 by APTNE to honor the memory of our former board member, Jill Verhosek. Jill’s lifelong love of travel reflected her insatiable curiosity for different cultures and places; it led her to explore the world, and its historic buildings, far and wide. She brought a worldwide curiosity and unwavering commitment to her work as a historic preservationist.
For many in the APTNE community, Jill demonstrated an unmatched strength and determination to improve the preservation industry through purposeful events, initiatives, and outreach. The scholarship named in Jill’s honor provides financial support for students who are actively advocating and/or promoting curiosity, engagement, and excellence in the field of preservation. The scholarship is intended to help with student expenses relating to education, training, or continuing professional development.
Deadline: December 31, 2026
Award: $3,000
Support Our Student Scholarships
Our Student members have several opportunities to be awarded a scholarship which provide direct support to students in accessing higher education, empowering them to pursue their dreams, enabling them to focus on their studies, and ultimately contributing to a more diverse and skilled workforce.
Join us in helping to provide this opportunity to our student members.
2026 Scholarship Winners
Jeremiah Ojo
SUNY WestCHESTEr, New York
Jeremiah is a cultural heritage preservation professional transitioning from arts administration into technical preservation through the SUNY Westchester Historic Preservation Certificate program. His academic and professional interests are defined by a deep curiosity about “forgotten” built environments, particularly the documentation and protection of earthen vernacular architecture and the fragile heritage of marginalized communities. His focus was shaped by attendance at the APTI 2025 Conference in Providence, where sessions on Adobe Conservation, community-centered preservation, and democratizing digital heritage documentation reinforced the importance of pairing historical research with hands-on, field-based practice. Inspired by these experiences, Jeremiah is pursuing a self-directed, globally informed path of technical and cultural training supported by this scholarship. Jeremiah plans to deepen his expertise through immersive learning opportunities, including participation in TICRAT Arizona and specialized training in FAA Part 107 drone operation and LiDAR documentation.
Sabina Busch
columbia university, new york
APTNE is proud to announce Sabina Busch (Boston MA), Recent Graduate from Purdue University, Master’s Degree in Structural Engineering as our 2026 Melissa Morrissey Scholarship Fund Recipient.
Sabina is a second-year student at Columbia, whose interests center on interdisciplinary collaboration and the adaptive reuse of historic structures. Her engagement with preservation deepened through participation in the Association for Preservation Technology (APT) Conference and the PETC Student Design‑Build Competition, where she served as a lead engineer. Working alongside colleagues from both technical and non‑technical backgrounds, she helped navigate complex project specifications, revise design proposals, and iterate architectural solutions—an experience that mirrored real‑world professional practice. Sabina’s thesis focuses on researching and advocating for the reuse of existing building components, particularly wood flooring salvaged from light industrial buildings in New York City that have been lost to redevelopment. Her research has brought her into ongoing collaboration with architects, preservation professionals, and tradespeople, reinforcing the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to mitigating landfill waste and sustaining historic materials. With support from this scholarship, Sabina plans to continue building her technical and professional experience in preservation while contributing meaningfully to the stewardship of New York City’s historic resources. She is committed to advancing thoughtful, collaborative preservation practices and to remaining actively involved in the preservation community as an emerging professional at TYLin in New York City.
How to Apply
Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
Candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Be a student enrolled full-time in a high school, field-related trade school, college, or graduate program either demonstrating an inclination towards or enrolled in academic fields related to historic preservation or conservation trades in New York, Northern New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont or Maine; or be a recent graduate (within the last two years) from one of these programs; or be an emerging professional (graduated within the last two years) working in the preservation-related industry and living in the aforementioned locations.
- Be a current APTNE member. Go to our Membership Page for more information.
- Have attended at least one APTNE event within the calendar year.
- Special consideration will be given to students actively working towards specializing in fields relating to preservation technology, and to students who demonstrate interest in the APTI and/or APTNE; and activities/interests related to one of the above scholarship descriptions.
APTNE reviews applications based on the above criteria and may also consider geographical and institutional distribution. Past recipients cannot be awarded for two consecutive years. Proof of eligibility may be requested to verify that all criteria are fulfilled.
Applications
Applicant should fill out the standard application form, including up to 250 words describing a personally impactful preservation event, idea, or experience (required), future plans related to the field of preservation (required), intended use for the scholarship funds (required), and include a letter of recommendation (required).
When to Apply
Applications open in September and will be reviewed annually by the end of January for consideration. To be eligible for consideration during the current cycle, please submit applications no later than December 31, 2026. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered for the following cycle, unless APTNE grants an extension to all applicants.
Applicants will be notified of the APTNE Student Scholarship Committee’s decision within one month of application deadline. Student scholarship winners will be announced at the APTNE Annual Meeting and Symposium and advertised on APTNE's website and in social media.
Recent APTNE Scholarship Recipients
2025:
Eleanor "Ellie" Phetteplace, Columbia University
Ziyu Liu, Columbia University
2024:
Sophie Hass, Columbia University
Delaney Lewis, Purdue University
2023:
Angela Fernandes, Cornell University
James Churchill, Columbia University
2022:
Shannon Trono, Columbia University
Preme Chaiyatham, Columbia University
2021:
Anagha Jatin Naik, Pratt Institute
Marissa Gibbs, University of Vermont
