Announcing the 2023 Zabar Scholars

The League was thrilled to receive a record number of applications for the 2023 Zabar Family Scholarship. Established by former League Trustee Lori Zabar, the Zabar Scholarship has been supporting three students every year since 2019. Thanks to an outpouring of support following the passing of Lori Zabar early last year, the League was able to increase this year’s scholarships to $2,500. The three students receiving scholarships this year truly represent the future of our field, and we are honored to support them. Get to know this year’s Zabar scholars: Kerrian France (Columbia), Kaylee Johnson (Pratt), and Eleanor Phetteplace (Columbia).

Kerrian France is an architectural historian and preservationist pursuing an M.S. in Historic Preservation at Columbia University. With a background in architecture and anthropology from Carnegie Mellon University, her current work is focused on bringing diversity and equity to the preservation field while using research and policy to engage with underrepresented groups and preserve their sites of cultural significance. Kerrian’s current thesis research aims to amplify descendent community engagement and agency in heritage policy and interpretation on the Caribbean island of Nevis. Kerrian’s experience has included writing nominations of historic African American sites for the National Register and Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, working with the Where Women Made History program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation to elevate underrepresented narratives of intersectional women’s history, and organizing historic property data with Amtrak. Kerrian is also a National Trust Mildred Colodny Scholar.

Kaylee Johnson is an artisan and preservationist pursuing an M.S. in Historic Preservation at Pratt Institute. Having honed her skills as a stone mason at Green-Wood Cemetery, she developed a deep appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship required to create beautiful and enduring architectural works. This experience laid the foundation for her current work as an artisan for an architectural arts company, where she continues to push the boundaries of what is possible with natural materials. Kaylee holds a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin, which has given her a unique perspective on the intersection of history, culture, and architecture.

Driven by a passion for materials science, building technologies, and sustainable and ethical practices in architecture and preservation, Kaylee is constantly seeking new techniques and innovations that can help minimize the impact of human activity on the natural world. She believes that by combining the best of old-world craftsmanship with cutting-edge scientific knowledge, we can create buildings and structures that are both beautiful and sustainable.

Eleanor Phetteplace is a Structural/ Preservation Engineer currently pursuing her M.S. in Historic Preservation at Columbia University's GSAPP, following several years of working in the industry. Her experience has led her to appreciate the interdisciplinary nature and varied challenges of preservation, each project unique and requiring a distinct design solution. She greatly enjoys determining the appropriate preservation approach and solution while simultaneously considering impact, safety, cost, and functionality. Eleanor often engages with topics typically considered outside the realm of engineering, with a particular interest in interrogating social inequities within preservation. Through this lens, she sees preservation as a critical element in the future of our built environment and is interested in the critical evaluation of preservation's role in a more equitable and sustainable future.