MISIA LEONARD SCHOLARSHIP

This scholarship honors Misia Leonard, who worked for the City of New York for over twenty years and served eight years as the city's Director of the Historic Preservation Office for the Department of Design and Construction. As a Board Member for the Preservation Trades Network (PTN), she was instrumental in establishing PTN's AIA/CES program. Misia was a stalwart advocate for the preservation of our shared cultural heritage. 

The Misia Leonard Scholarship is open to students, apprentices, and emerging professionals. Five applicants receive $1,000 to support their participation in the International Preservation Trades Workshop. 

The 2025 Misia Leonard Scholarships are open from April 4 - June 6.

APPLY HERE

Who can apply

Students, apprentices, and emerging professionals in the preservation trades, specifically someone:

• Enrolled in a recognized historic preservation or preservation trades program at a high school, college, university or technical school level (required to show proof of enrollment);
• Enrolled in high school contemplating a career in the trades (required to have letter from a teacher or counselor);
• Enrolled in a trades apprenticeship program (required to include a copy of your apprenticeship agreement);
  OR
• Employed by a PTN member's firm for less than one year (required to include a letter from the company owner on company letterhead stating the date you started employment).

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Desire to attend IPTW and the value it can bring to their professional prospects
• Passion for preservation trades
• Commitment to pursuing a career in the preservation trades
• Likelihood of their ability to attend IPTW without the scholarship
• Applicants who have never attended an IPTW will be prioritized
• Preference given to current members of PTN

What to expect

Scholarship recipients are required to:

• Register and pay for the IPTW at the student/apprentice rate. 
• Arrange and pay for all associated travels costs to the IPTW, including lodging, transportation, and meals.
• Attend the full conference.
• Assist the PTN Board during the IPTW with assigned tasks; the Board will ensure recipients are able to spend the majority of their time participating in activities and attending sessions.
• Submit a write-up of their experiences after the end of IPTW to the Awards and Scholarships Committee.

Recipients will receive their scholarship after the Awards and Scholarships Committee receives their write-up. These will published by the PTN on platforms like the website and social media. Failure to submit a summary may result in forfeiture of the award.

When to apply

Applications are open and close several months before the IPTW.

How to apply

Submissions are only accepted via an online form. Please check the menu for the latest cycle of the award. It will provide a link to the latest application. The application consists of the following questions.

1. Name
2. Email
3. Mailing Address
4. Phone Number

5. Please establish your eligibility:

• Historic Preservation or Preservation Trades School Student (required to show proof of enrollment);
• High School Student intending to pursue a Trades Career (required to have letter from a teacher or counselor)
• Trades Apprentice (required to include a copy of your apprenticeship agreement)
• Employed by a PTN Member Organization (required to include a letter from the company owner on company letterhead stating the date you started employment)
6. Please provide the required documentation demonstrating your eligibility.
7. Please provide contact information for someone that can verify your status as a student, apprentice, or emerging professional. Include their name and email address and/or phone number.  
8. Name of School or Employer
• If in school, what is your expected graduation date?
• If an apprentice or employee, when was your start date?
9. Area of Study or Specialty
10. Have you attended an IPTW before? If yes, please provide details about your attendance (date, location, if you volunteered or registered, etc.)
11. Why would you like to attend the IPTW?
12. What inspired you to work in preservation? Provide an example of a project or event that inspires you.
13. What are your career goals in preservation?
14. How would this scholarship support your ability to attend IPTW?
15. Volunteer work - Please list any relevant volunteer work.
16. Memberships - Please list any relevant organizational memberships