AIA Nebraska Announces 2024 Honors & Awards

HonorsAwards Congratulations to the 2024 AIA Nebraska Honors and Awards recipients to be recognized at the 2024 AIA Nebraska Excellence in Design Gala – Registration Required – Sponsorship Opportunities Available. Registration Deadline: October 27, 2022.

Friday, November 15, 2024, 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm.
*Must be 21 years or older to attend
5:30 pm – 6:15 pm – Lecture, Matt Seltzer, AIA, archimania
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Reception
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm – Honors and Awards + Excellence in Design Awards
Dress: Dressy Casual
Women: Dress; Skirt and dressy top; Dressy pants outfit
Men: Seasonal sport coat or blazer and slacks; Dress shirt, casual button-down shirt, open-collar or polo shirt; Â Â Â Â Optional tie.
Please no jeans or t-shirts

College of Architecture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 400 Stadium Drive, Lincoln, NE 68588

Associate Award

Recognizes an Associate AIA Nebraska, unlicensed member who has shown exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the profession in the areas of design, education, and/or service in an early stage of their architectural career.

Emily Tetschner, Assoc. AIA, is a dedicated young designer actively shaping the architectural landscape in Omaha through leadership and service.

Driven by the belief that inclusive architecture creates more vibrant communities, Emily is a fervent advocate for diversity within the architectural profession. She is one of the first members of the national AIA LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group. Her dedication to uplift women in the discipline was highlighted when she represented HDR at the AIA Women’s Leadership Summit. Community engagement is central to Emily’s ethos. She co-leads HDR’s annual Kaneko Kids Camp, empowering youth in the Omaha community with knowledge about architecture. Her commitment to give back to the local art and design scene is demonstrated through her volunteer work with organizations like the Radial Arts Center, Omaha by Design, the Durham Museum, and the Omaha Public Library.

Motivated by a love of problem-solving and a desire to enhance the built environment for all, Emily first found her calling during her education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s College of Architecture. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Design and Master of Architecture degrees from UNL, graduating at the top of her college with the highest distinction. Her talent for environmentally friendly and socially responsive design was recognized when she became the runner-up in the International APT Sustainable Design Build Competition. During her time at UNL, she served as a graduate teaching assistant and showcased her work in multiple exhibitions, including the New Attainable House Exhibition with FACT and the Campus of the Easy Parts with WAI Think Tank. She also gained valuable experience as an intern at BCDM and Berggren Architects before graduation.

Currently, Emily is a Design Coordinator at HDR, specializing in healthcare projects. She is passionate about projects that invest time to engage with local voices to better promote overall well-being. She has played a crucial role in the design of the new Henry Ford Hospital, which will serve central Detroit. Her innovative approach and unwavering dedication to service make her a true asset to the profession. Emily is excited to further her career and continue giving back to the local Omaha community.

Young Architect Award

Recognizes an AIA Nebraska member, licensed less than 10 years who has shown exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the profession in the areas of design, education, and or service in an early stage of their architectural career.

Growing up in Lincoln, Heather Hughes, AIA, spent her early years playing outside with neighbors and making lifelong friends. Her interest in the design process emerged when her mom opened a new early childhood center when Heather was 10. Heather’s mom engaged her in the design process, bringing her along to meetings with the architect. This later inspired her architectural thesis, which focused on how the built environment can have a positive impact on a child’s learning and development.

After earning her Master of Architecture in 2011 from the University of Nebraska College of Architecture, Heather was hired as a summer intern then an employee at DLR Group in the Omaha office. After six years of soaking up as much knowledge as she could from some incredible mentors, serving different sectors, including K-12, Sports, Workplace, and Higher Education, respectively, she transferred to the Lincoln office and began to focus her career on her passions for K-12 and sustainability.

Since moving back to Lincoln in 2017, Heather has immersed herself back into the design community of her hometown and environmental stewardship in particular. She is involved with USGBC’s Women Green and the Mayor’s Resilient Lincoln Round table. Heather also stays active with the College of Architecture at UNL, hosting a group of mentees this past year through the AIAS Mentorship Program, attending the Career Fair each year to cultivate talent, and participating in design critiques as a guest critic. She served as President-Elect this year for AIA Nebraska and was involved in the Architecture in Schools Committee. It is an important part of Heather’s involvement in the community, the impact of which ranges from the advocacy efforts in the industry to bringing concepts into the classroom to help connect with K-12 students.

As a Principal in the firm and now Office Leader, Heather’s passions and focus continue to evolve. She is a champion of environmental stewardship, serving as a member of the firm’s Climate + Environment Forum.
Outside of work, Heather enjoys spending time with her family. She and her husband, Troy, immerse themselves in all the adventures that come with having two young girls.

Architectural | Design Education Award

Recognizes a living person of esteemed character who has rendered distinguished service to the profession of architecture design or to the arts science in a Nebraska institution of higher learning. The award recognized an individual whose activities have consistently influenced students and provided the ability to make connections between the educatorâ€™s particular areas of expertise and other areas as appropriate.

Stephanie Ling, AIA, was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. Her interest and love for design was fostered by her mother, a retired landscape architect. Steph takes pride in her winding path through and toward architecture education which involved earning college credits from 5 different universities in 3 different countries, a year of federal service in the United States AmeriCorps in Greensburg, KS, and experience working on lots of different types of projects throughout the design and construction process while in private practice.

Stephanie’s approachable, flexible, and inclusive teaching style empowers students to forge their own path to success in architecture or in life in general. Stephanie is a passionate and dedicated full-time teacher at Metropolitan Community College (MCC) in Omaha, NE. Since 2017 she has been the Architectural Design Technology (ARCH) Program Coordinator and one of two full-time faculty. Her strategic vision and leadership have reshaped the ARCH programâ€™s industry involvement, enrollment, learning outcomes, curriculum development, articulation agreements, and most importantly, the bright futures of her many students over the last 7+ years.

From 2012-2016, Stephanie was a mentor and teacher to multiple award-winning teams of high school students competing in the SAME Student Mentoring Program (SMP) with architecture and engineering solutions. In that time, she worked at Studio951, Encompass Architects, p.c., and Holland Basham Architects in Lincoln and Omaha and completed her AXP and AREs to become a licensed architect in Nebraska.

Stephanie is an accessible leader in Omaha’s design education landscape through her community presence and involvement in multiple organizations including the AIA, Nebraska Women in Architecture, Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) – Omaha Post, Coalition of Community College Architecture Programs (CCCAP), Omaha by Design – Open Omaha and more. Find her featured in ‘The Cube’ at the Kiewit Luminarium along with 10 other impactful community organizers and leaders or on MCC’s Fort Omaha Campus at the Construction Education Center.

Harry F. Cunningham Gold Medal

The Gold Medal commemorates the achievements of Harry Francis Cunningham who came to Nebraska as lead architect for Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue’s office during completion of the tower phase of construction for the State Capitol following Goodhue’s death in 1924. It was Goodhue’s revolutionary building design which won the nationwide competition in 1920 for the creation of the state house in Lincoln. Cunningham subsequently established the first school of architecture at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln.

John Sova, AIA, is managing principal/president at RDG Planning & Design with more than 40 years of experience strengthening the firm’s commitment to innovative design and thoughtful planning. â€œJohn Sova has been a fixture in the landscape of Nebraska Architecture for nearly 45 years. From his participation in growing a small Nebraska-based firm to a nation-wide footprint with over 225 employees in six offices to his influence on the communities across the state, John is through and through a Nebraska Architect.” Said nominator Joe Lang, AIA.

Through his advocacy for a culture of trust and collaboration, John fosters an environment where individuals are encouraged to bring innovative ideas forward. His overarching aim is to inspire and support, ensuring each RDG employee feels valued and motivated to realize their potential. Through everyone’s growth and participation, RDG becomes a better place that allows the employees to grow the firm, providing more opportunities for those same individuals.

Since joining the firm in 1981, John has assumed diverse roles such as project architect, project director and principal-in-charge, contributing to hundreds of projects. His design portfolio spans multiple markets, including work for RDG’s College & University, Commercial, Education, and Worship markets. John has comprehensive experience with all project phases, from master planning to construction administration.

Holding a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, John extends his knowledge and passion to aspiring design professionals as a guest lecturer at UNL’s College of Architecture and as a member of the college’s Professional Advisory Council. John is an active member of Design Intelligence â€“ Design Futures Council and the Coxe Group’s Design Network Roundtable, where he engages in insightful discussions at a national level and collaborates with fellow thought leaders across the country to shape the future of the design field

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John and his wife of forty-three years Tami, have four children, two daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren. His immediate family and the RDG family have made it possible for John to dedicate and contribute so much of his time to educational initiatives, the design profession and community work in the state of Nebraska.