Joshua Fox

2021-2022 Scholarships
PGE Illumination Scholarship
Penny and Michael Wilkes Architecture Student Scholarship
Jerry and Nancy Ward Scholarship

Degree: BArch, Minor in IArch

Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2022

I Am Originally From Molalla, OR

WHY I CAME TO THE UO AND HOW I CHOSE MY MAJOR
I first chose the University of Oregon in 2011 directly after graduating from high school. I love it here! The campus is beautiful, the subjects are wide and varied, and there are so many opportunities to meet people. I took a hiatus from UO to finish an Associate’s Degree and follow a different career path, but I chose to come back because it has the program I was looking for and I knew I loved the place already.

It was a long process settling on my major. I entered school having a completely different idea, ended up stepping away and taking a four year break from study in pursuit of a career in welding. After some time spent in welding shops I realized that I didn’t want to do that for my entire career and I had to come to a decision if I wanted to pursue engineering or architecture. I knew I wanted to do something that relates to building things, but did I want to design objects or spaces? I have always had a fascination with the buildings in a city and the culture they create, and ultimately that pulled me to major in architecture!

UNIQUE QUALITIES I BRING TO MY STUDIES
Before coming back to pursue an architecture degree, I had a career as a certified welder and fabricator. I have spent time building components for steel buildings, bridges, nuclear facilities, military work, stainless steel tanks and pressure vessels… All kinds of things that give me a unique perspective.

MY INFLUENTIAL PROFESSORS
Many of my professors have been influential, but I believe one of the most has been Peter Keyes. Peter taught me a lot about the development of cities and the relationship of the city to the culture of the place. He has taught me a lot about site arrangement and architecture practices as a studio reviewer, but mostly we have just spoken a lot about ways to improve our housing situation and organize our cities and that has been very inspirational.

MY EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Groups that I have worked with have been awarded grants from the Holden Center and the Equity and Inclusion Committee to fulfill projects that we have worked on (even though this is more of a funding issue, I consider that an achievement to receive the money to fulfill the service project). I was invited to present my group’s work at the most recent HOPES X where we spoke about our recent renovation of the Food for Lane County Dining Room in downtown Eugene. One of my physical studio models is now being featured as an example for 1st year architecture students.

MY GREATEST LEARNING EXPERIENCE AT UO
Every studio that I have had has been incredibly valuable, and most of the classes have held content that I was very interested in. If I had to pick one thing, it is just the work ethic I’ve learned through all of my classes. Whether healthy or not, the amount of work that we are encouraged to put into our projects instills a drive to get things done and get things done well and I think that is a valuable ideal.

AFTER GRADUATION
I hope to use my education to help build communities. I want to pursue a career in Urban Design, designing public spaces and communities, and I will likely end up practicing in Portland. I would like to eventually work on projects internationally at a company in the Pacific NW that does that kind of work.

YOUR GIFT
These scholarships are incredibly helpful for my schooling. I pay my way through school on loans. I hardly receive any federal funding due to starting school so long ago, so I am wracking up so much debt every year. These scholarships helps me alleviate some of that burden and I am beyond thankful for the support.

Thank you. Thank you so much, I appreciate the opportunity you have made possible and I will absolutely put it to good use.