Activities include mixer, volunteerism.
By T.M. Harvey
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
This college’s American Institute of Architecture Students chapter hosted a Membership Week filled with activities to recruit students.
On Monday, students who liked AIAS on Facebook received a free cup of coffee from 7:30 a.m.-noon on the first floor of Chance Academic Center.
Starbucks donated the coffee and the organization received 20 likes on Facebook.
The club also sold tacos for $2 9 a.m.-noon Tuesday from on the first floor of Chance.
This college’s chapter worked with the University of Texas at San Antonio’s chapter to bring guest speaker David Zach for a free web lecture on Wednesday about sustainability at Gallery Monterey at UTSA.
Architecture sophomore Alexis Rodriguez and AIAS vice president said Zach is a highly influential voice in architecture that promotes bettering the craft.
The organization hosted Friendly Friday, an off-campus social, at The Friendly Spot at 943 S. Alamo St.
Membership Week wrapped up Saturday with Freedom By Design, a subgroup of AIAS, joining students for a project from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Freedom By Design, in collaboration with The Texas Ramps Project, built wheelchair ramps for newly disabled people.
According to Rodriguez, Freedom By Design is strictly a volunteer community service group. The group worked with The Texas Ramps Project, a statewide organization that builds ramps for disabled and elderly people who cannot afford to buy one.
The volunteer group also helps to maintain historical communities as well as the promotion of community image.
The American Institute of Architecture Students is a national organization geared toward preparing students for a career in architecture.
The organization offers a variety of benefits for students to get a jump-start on their architectural career, says Dewayne Bohuslav, program coordinator architecture and former adviser of AIAS.
Students will have the opportunity to participate in community service efforts, nationwide competitions, president Isaias Garcia said, and will be provided an outlet for professional architects to view their work.
Additional benefits include a 20 percent discount for materials, such as chip wood, bass wood and museum board, as well as a chance to attend lectures, workshops and seminars, says Bohuslav.
There is a membership fee of $23 annually. Meetings are every third Wednesday of the month in Room 253 of Chance Academic Center. For more information, visit AIAS.org.