Michael Ho Memorial Travel Scholarship

Please submit the following materials as a single PDF in the Online Registration and Eligibility Form by the deadline:

1. A statement of purpose (500 words maximum) explaining the proposed travel plans and the personal and educational value gained from pursing these travels.
2. A proposed travel budget and itinerary.
3. An unofficial transcript (a PDF print from Bearfacts is acceptable).
4. Statement of Financial Need (250 words maximum), briefly describing your current financial situation and the potential benefit of this scholarship.

Please note: Federal financial aid regulations require that all awards received by a student cannot exceed their financial aid need as determined by a congressional formula. It is possible, therefore, that the cash award for a Prize could reduce some component of a needy student’s package of financial aid awards. In these cases, the Financial Aid Office attempts first to reduce loan or work aid; fellowships, grants or scholarships are only reduced as a last resort. Regardless of your financial aid situation, the IRS views fellowships, grants, or scholarships that are not directly applied to tuition or other educational expenses as taxable income.

The Michael Ho Memorial Travel Fellowship was established in 2006 by the friends and family of Michael Ho to honor his legacy and love for learning, architecture, and travel. The fund supports an annual travel scholarship to an undergraduate in their junior year majoring in architecture at CED and has financial need. Supported activities include travel associated with enrollment in a formal study abroad program (EAP or a Department of Architecture study abroad program), senior thesis research, internships, and volunteer work. Preference will be given to students pursuing travels with a service-learning agenda.

Born in Canada, Michael grew up in Long Beach and graduated from UC Berkeley in 1984 with highest honors in architecture. He worked for various architecture firms in the Bay Area and Los Angeles and became a licensed architect in 1987. Michael returned to Berkeley in 1988 for a Haas MBA with an emphasis in real estate finance. In the 15 years since completing his MBA in 1990, Michael worked for Wells Fargo Bank in commercial banking, loan adjustment, and international trade finance in Southern California and Seattle. He ultimately became the Senior Vice President & Southern California Regional Manager of the Wells Fargo HSBC Trade Bank.

Michael’s philosophy of lifelong learning was reflected in his active participation in many community based organizations as well as volunteer service through Wells Fargo. He successfully established a mentoring program for the International Group at Wells Fargo and was actively involved with the YMCA, Los Angeles Urban League, and the Puente Learning Center in Southern California.

Michael loved to travel and, in this way, maintained his connection to his first career as an architect. Through the years, Michael’s travels took him to Asia, Europe, South America, Canada, and throughout the United States. On each one of these trips, he would make it a point to see the notable architecture of the area. He marveled at everything, from barreled vaulted ceilings in European cathedrals to modern skyscrapers in Asia.