Summerour Prize Announcement
Left to Right: Matt Russell, Eilís Finnegan, Henry Savoie, Keith Summerour
Eilís Finnegan and Henry Savoie have been named as the inaugural recipients of the Summerour Prize awarded through the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture. The Summerour Prize, established by 1986 Architecture graduate Keith Summerour, recognizes rising fifth year architecture students based on their accumulated work in the program with a special emphasis on presentation skills.
When asked about his motivation to establish the school’s only student prize based on four years of academic performance, Mr. Summerour stated that “cultivating the art of presentation has played a significant role in the success of my firm. It is my hope that the Summerour Prize encourages Auburn architecture students to develop this powerful skill”. Prize winners are selected by a faculty committee and announced at the conclusion of the fourth year spring semester.
When informed that she was to receive the prize, Eilís Finnegan responded “I am so grateful for the generosity and commitment to higher architectural education and presentation by Keith Summerour, his family, and his practice. The prize and engagement with Summerour Architects has allowed me greater insight into my architectural value set, while also aiding me in continuing my education at Auburn University on a very direct and helpful level”. The Chicago home where she grew up was adjacent to a Frank Lloyd Wright house, which may have influenced her early interest in architecture. Since coming to Auburn, Eilís Finnegan has participated in APLA’s study abroad option in Denmark, and has received numerous honors for her studio and classroom work. She will graduate with concurrent degrees in Architecture and Interior Architecture in 2020.
Henry Savoie offered similar sentiments when he was notified of the award. “I am grateful to Keith Summerour and Summerour Architects for their generous scholarship and the gift of their time! Their eagerness to follow up with Eilís and I reinforced the value they place on encouraging aspiring young architects in the pursuit of excellence.” Savoie is a National Merit Presidential Scholar from Santa Rosa FL whose father is a practicing architect. Most recently, he completed a world tour of significant architectural places as Auburn University’s Aydelott Travel Scholar. As a third year student Savoie participated in both the Rural Studio and the study abroad option in Rome. He will graduate with a degree in Architecture in 2020.
Keith Summerour and the work of his firm has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Garden & Gun, Milieu and Traditional Home. Based in Atlanta, his firm provides design services for individual and corporate clients nation-wide. He is the author of Creating Home, Design for Living. Mr. Summerour and his wife Stephanie divide time between Atlanta and their farm in rural Georgia. This fall, he will offer a presentation on his work, business experiences and the motivation to start the Summerour Prize. This presentation will take place in Dudley Hall on November 1, 2019.