UIC’s College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts and the School of Architecture are pleased to announce Gabija Gricius, Racheal Olujide, Toluwalogo (Tolu) Oluyede, and Sofiia Romanets as the 2026 recipients of the UIC Kokkino Educational Fund Scholarship. All four students are pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Architecture at UIC.
Gabija and Sofiia are both second-year students whose experiences have informed their interest in architecture. Sofiia shares that moving to the U.S. from her native Ukraine has been a driving force in her studies. “My motivation comes from the people who stayed in Ukraine, facing daily attacks and unsafe homes. I feel a strong responsibility to help create safe and meaningful spaces.” Gabija, who has split time between the U.S. and Lithuania, agrees that the pursuit of architecture is personal. She shares, “I don’t see architecture as just creating buildings, but as creating spaces that offer comfort, safety, and support.”
Racheal and Tolu are both fourth-year students who intend to pursue master’s degrees in architecture after their May graduation. Tolu finds that studying architecture has given her a sense of agency. “The challenges I have faced have taught me resilience, focus, and the importance of creating environments that support all people.”
Racheal was the first recipient of the Kokkino Scholarship in its inaugural year. Now, as a four-time recipient of the award, she has felt its significant impact. She shares, “I am truly grateful for the generosity of the Kokkino family and their commitment to UIC.”
A total of ten Kokkino Educational Fund Scholarships have been awarded since its inception in the 2022–2023 academic year. David Brown, Interim Director of the School of Architecture, shares, “I have enjoyed getting to know the Kokkinos and seeing the impact of the scholarship. All four 2026 recipients met with the family. The students and Evangel (Angelo) Kokkino shared with one another their experiences at UIC, as well as how they developed an interest in architecture. I am grateful to the Kokkino family for fostering this kind of exchange.”
Evangel Kokkino, a 1971 alumnus of the School of Architecture, made the gift along with his daughter, Sofia Kokkino Patton, in memory of his mother. Kokkino practiced architecture in Chicago; his career has involved leading architecture/engineering practices locally and overseeing large capital programs and projects around the world. Kokkino serves on the President’s Council of the University of Illinois Foundation.
For further information about the scholarship, please contact Jonathan Kinkley, Executive Director of Development, at (312) 996-4714 or kinkley@uic.edu.