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(Honolulu, Hawaiʻi) — The School of Architecture at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa recently announced the creation of the Leighton Liu Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship, established with gifts from friends and alumni totaling $35,000, honors former Associate Professor Leighton Liu who retired last year after dedicating nearly 40 years to the School. This scholarship will support an outstanding second year architecture student who demonstrates design excellence and completed their first year at the School of Architecture.

"Leighton Liu is an outstanding educator who always placed the students first. His dedication to teaching and learning has inspired thousands over the forty years he spent at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa," said Clark Llewellyn, Dean, School of Architecture. "I am proud to have served with him and am rewarded that his legacy will be remembered and reinforced through the endowed scholarship in his name."

Leighton Liu began as an instructor at the School in 1971 and, in addition to teaching, he assumed numerous responsibilities. Most recently Leighton served as supervisor of the Fabrication Workshop, which unites traditional hand and digital construction techniques. Liu also founded popular annual traditions like the Pumpkin Carving Esquisse and the Sand Castle Esquisse which are enjoyed by students, architectural firms and the general public.

Architectural education at the University of Hawaiʻi began in 1946 with a Pre-Architecture Program and has evolved over the years. It became a four-year program in Pre-Architecture in 1967, and later a new Department of Architecture in 1969. The School was established in 1980 led by Dean Elmer Botasi.

"Thanks to the generosity and hard work of our alumni, I am delighted that this scholarship will continue to benefit promising young students in the years to come," said Leighton Liu.

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The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation, a nonprofit organization, raises private funds to support the University of Hawaiʻi System. Our mission is to unite our donors' passions with the University of Hawaiʻi's aspirations to benefit the people of Hawaiʻi and beyond. We do this by raising private philanthropic support, managing private investments and nurturing donor and alumni relationships. www.uhfoundation.org.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa serves approximately 20,000 students pursuing more than 225 different degrees. Coming from every Hawaiian island, every state in the nation, and more than 100 countries, UH Mānoa students matriculate in an enriching environment for the global exchange of ideas. For more information, visit http://manoa.hawaii.edu.

School of Architecture
Vision: Global Connections.

The School of Architecture inspires transformative design at the global scale with preeminence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mission: Building for the 21st Century.
The School of Architecture
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