Applications are Open!

Thanks to the Zabar Family Scholarship Fund, the Preservation League of New York State is pleased to offer academic scholarships to the best and brightest preservation students in New York.

Three scholarships of $3,000 each will be awarded during the spring 2026 semester. These are competitive scholarships intended to help defray the cost of a students education and support their growth as future leaders in the preservation field.

Scholarships are available to students enrolled in a college, university, or post-graduate program in historic preservation or related fields in New York State.

Applications are due by Friday, February 13, 2026.

Eligibility Criteria

  • You are currently enrolled or will be enrolled in a degree program during the spring 2026 term, pursuing an undergraduate or post-graduate degree at an institution in New York State. 

  • You are a Preservation League Student Member (membership is free! Sign up here.)

  • You are studying historic preservation or a related field, such as:

    • Architecture

    • Architectural Conservation

    • Engineering

    • Historic Trades

    • Landscape Architecture

    • Materials Science

    • Museum Studies

    • Planning

    • Public History

    • Sustainability/Environmental Design

  • You are a permanent resident of the United States.

To apply, please combine the following into a single PDF and send to scholarships@preservenys.org:

  • A completed application form

  • A personal essay (no more than 500 words)

  • One (1) copy of your resume of curriculum vitae

  • One (1) copy of your official school transcript

  • One (1) letter of recommendation from someone qualified to assess your academic work (this can be emailed directly from your reference to scholarships@preservenys.org)

Additional Opportunity
In addition to receiving a scholarship, successful applicants will be invited to attend the New York Statewide Preservation Conference in either 2026 or 2027. The Preservation League will cover hotel accommodations and registration costs, offering recipients a chance to connect with professionals, peers, and mentors in the preservation field. 

Congratulations to our Zabar Scholars!

Featured
Announcing the 2025 Zabar Scholars
Announcing the 2025 Zabar Scholars

Meet this year's recipients: Jack Christie (SUNY Alfred State), Sophie Hass (Columbia University), and Elizabeth Kostina (Columbia University).

Read More →
Announcing the 2024 Zabar Scholars
Announcing the 2024 Zabar Scholars

Since 2019, the League has been awarding cash scholarships to the best and brightest preservation students studying in NYS. The Zabar Family Scholarship Program was established by former League Trustee Lori Zabar and continues to award students in her memory. This year’s applicants were extremely strong, inspiring a lively discussion among our scholarship jury. The three students receiving scholarships this year truly rose to the top, and we are honored to support them. Get to know this year’s Zabar scholars: Lorraine Colbert (City College), Cecelia Halle (Columbia), and Siena Leone-Getten (Pratt Institute).

Read More →
Announcing the 2023 Zabar Scholars
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.

Read More →
Announcing the 2022 Zabar Scholars
Announcing the 2022 Zabar Scholars

The League is proud to announce the recipients of this year's Zabar Family Scholarship: Emily Conklin (Columbia); Jeffry Iovannone (Cornell); and E.J. Shin (Columbia). Many thanks to Lori Zabar and the Zabar Family for their generous support of the Zabar Family Scholarship program. Lori passed away earlier this year, but her generosity and support of preservation lives on.

Read More →
Announcing the 2021 Zabar Scholars
Announcing the 2021 Zabar Scholars

For three years, the League has been fortunate to work with Lori Zabar and the Zabar Family Foundation to award scholarships to the best and brightest preservation students from around New York State. Thanks to their generosity, these Zabar Scholars will receive $1,000 to support their education and research.

Read More →
Announcing the 2020 Zabar Family Scholarship Recipients!
Announcing the 2020 Zabar Family Scholarship Recipients!

The Zabar Family Scholarship Program is a partnership between Lori Zabar, the Zabar Family Foundation, and the Preservation League to award three annual scholarships of $1,000 each to the best and brightest preservation students from around the state.

Read More →
Awarding the Next Generation of Preservation Professionals
Awarding the Next Generation of Preservation Professionals

Thanks to a generous grant from the Zabar Family, three scholarships of $1,000 each will be awarded annually to student members of the League. This year’s winners: Tabitha O’Connell, Camille Sasena, and Ryan Zeek

Read More →