Community Service Awards
The Architects League Community Service Award is meant to honor an ALNNJ member based on their humanitarian, social impact or community endeavors. The award is open to all current members (including Assoc AIA members). You can nominate yourself or another ALNNJ member.
Award recipients are announced at the annual ALNNJ Installation Dinner in January. If you have any questions about the award or nomination process, please contact [email protected]
STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS ON THE UPCOMING COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD OPEN CALL!
Erik Polyzou, AIA, 2023 Architects League Community Service Award Recipient
This is a list of past winners
Abigail Benjamin, AIA
2024 Architects League Community Service Award Recipient
Since earning her license in 2019, Abigail Benjamin, AIA has felt the call to pay it forward through her service. She began her tenure as AIA NJ Licensing Advisor in January 2019, a position which she still holds, actively guiding future architects through their educational and licensure processes. She assists individuals with inquiries related to education requirements, the Architectural Experience Program (AXP), the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), initial licensure, and reciprocity in New Jersey. She has organized “Destination Architect” presentations, to discuss the path to licensure, at the 2023 and 2024 AIA NJ Architects League of Northern New Jersey and Newark Suburban Trade Show, and will be continuing this for the 2025 Trade Show. Through “Pizza with Professionals” gatherings at NJIT and Kean University, she has been able to support local architecture students, answering questions and providing resources on licensure. With the greater, NCARB Licensing Advisor Community, she presented at the NCARB Licensing Advisors Summit in 2023, "Creating a Culture of Licensure," which emphasized the importance of supportive networks in navigating the licensure process. Her work as Licensing Advisor has inspired them to continue their service, branching out with the AIA Young Architects Forum. Since 2023, she has held the position of Young Architects Representative for AIA NJ, where she has recently begun to serve as a liaison between AIA New Jersey executive committee and the NJ State Board of Architects. In this role, she actively advocates for the needs and concerns of NJ architects licensed for less than ten years, ensuring that their voices are heard in crucial discussions and serve as a bridging voice between the state board, NCARB, and AIA NJ. Additionally, she coordinates programming and volunteer opportunities in collaboration with the State Associates Representative (StAR), fostering an inclusive environment for all emerging professionals. Public outreach is also a vital component of her service. Together with the StAR, she has participated in events like the Career Carnival for Kids and the Morris County 4-H Fair, working to increase public awareness of AIA New Jersey and the value of an AIA architect. These initiatives not only inspire future generations and raise awareness among their parents, but also highlight the diverse roles architects play in shaping our built environment. Abigail Benjamin, AIA has dedicated herself to fostering mentorship, professional development and collaboration among young architects here in NJ over the last 6 years. As a mom, she sees the opportunity in cultivating the next generation of architects from a young age and strives to work with her community at a local and state level to provide hands-on opportunities for Pre-K – 12 students to learn about the role of the architect.
Erik Polyzou, AIA
2023 Architects League Community Service Award Recipient
Erik was nominated this year by 2024 President Elect Chris Brand, who described Erik as having “a spirit of volunteerism with a service leadership mindset: Erik doesn’t just build project teams, he creates community.” Erik worked with FEMA and the US Army Corps of Engineers to build a temporary hospital at Bergen New Bridge Center during the pandemic, he’s a founding member of AIA New Jersey’s mentoring committee, and has been involved with many volunteer organizations including Habitat for Humanity, the ACE Mentorship Program, the American College Health Association’s Career Path Committee, the Center for Food Action and Spectrum for Living’s 5K and Doggie Dash – an event that is held to give adults with developmental disabilities the independence, physical support, and emotional support needed to reach their full potential.
Delly D. Yaker, AIA
2022 Architects League Community Service Award Recipient
Delly Yaker has been part of Arquitina since early 2021. Arquitina is a non-profit organization whose mission is to raise the 1.7% of licensed Latina architects in the US. Delly has volunteered as a paired mentor to emerging Latinas architects taking the ARE, contributing to fall 2021 cohort and spring 2022 cohort. Delly also joined Arquitina’ s planning committee which promotes and organizes cohorts providing mentorship, encouragement, resources, and leadership to licensure candidates. Delly is proud to be part of this multicultural organization that offers great value to Latina architects while supporting diversity and inclusivity in the architectural profession.
Matthew Fink, AIA
2021 Architects League Community Service Award Recipient
As a lifelong resident of Waldwick, NJ, Matthew Fink, AIA, has made it a personal goal to give back to the town that provides him so many opportunities. Grateful for the experiences and knowledge the school district has provided, he has annually volunteered in multiple organizations benefiting the Waldwick students. Matthew has been aiding the annual Waldwick Grad Ball for the past eight years by assisting in the theme concepts and translating these ideas into plans, elevations, and three-dimensional imagery for the team. These efforts have helped the organization assign tasks to volunteers, track its productivity, and set major milestones throughout the year while also making the final assembly easier right before graduation. He has been an annual contributor to STEAM Competitions, many at WHS, assisting in their formulation and acting as a judge for the student teams. Recently, Matthew joined the Waldwick Education Foundation as a Board Trustee to support them in their mission to provide annual scholarships, school/classroom grants, and community events. In recent years, he has helped create multiple fundraisers, notably Waldwick Warrior Spirit Apparel, while also utilizing his graphic skills to help spread the organization’s message. While the COVID-19 pandemic has sidetracked some in person plans, many of the organizations are still finding creative ways to assist the students and connect the community.
Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA
2020 Architects League Community Service Award Recipient
Stacey has been providing and supporting free, STEAM, architecture/ creative problem solving K-12 programming for 30 years. Her original efforts were for underprivileged, minority communities in Washington, D. C. while she was still in college. Since then, her programs have been provided throughout NJ, while continuing to prioritize reaching communities that cannot afford specialty programming or are underrepresented in the profession, such as predominantly Black, Latinx and female populations. Stacey has mentored girl scouts; facilitated design, architecture and engineering badges and certificates; hosted STEM Day presentations; taught at after school clubs; mentored gifted and talented programs; provided library enrichment; volunteered for NJSBA STEAM Tank mentoring and judging; taught lessons at science fairs; judged design competitions and spoke at career fairs. These programs have supplemented core curriculum education plans, allowing the students to understand real-life applications of their school lessons and given a peek into life as an architect. Most of the programs she has introduced to AIA NJ / ALNNJ K-12 and Environmental Education committees, like the AIA 150 Architects in 150 Schools, KIDS Design Day, and LEGO build events, were based on programs that she designed herself and was offering independently first. During COVID-19, she was even presenting, judging and mentoring virtually. Additionally, she is an Ambassador for Ridgewood Walks, Ridgewood Talks, and as such has provided free, historical, architectural tours of her town. She also participates annually, singing, dancing and fundraising, in Ridgewood Jamboree, a local variety show that raises money for need based scholarships. Last year, they raised over $200,000 in support of young scholars preparing to go to college.
William J. Martin, AIA
2019 Architects League Community Service Award Recipient
Community service has always been an active part of William Martin’s career as an AIA Architects League member. He believes architects are here to help their communities. He was appointed as an Alternate Member to the Westwood Zoning Board of Adjustment in January 1994. In January 1995 he was reappointed as a Full ZBA Member. That same month, he was elected as Chairman of the Zoning Board. The terms are 4 years long and being appointed is a determination of the Governing Body (Mayor and Council). Since 1995, he has been reappointed to 5 more terms, by elected officials from both political parties and he has led the Westwood ZBA as Chairman for the last 25 years. At the same time, in January 1996, he was asked to serve on the Westwood Planning Board. He would serve as the Class 2 member as designated by the Mayor. This is a one year appointment that reoccurs every year. He has served in this position for 24 years appointed by various mayors from both political parties. In 2010, he was asked by the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders to serve on the Bergen County Historic Preservation Advisory Board. This County Board advises the County Executive and Freeholders on matters of historic preservation affecting the county. The BCHPAB also reviews historic preservation grant applications to advise on the awarding of grant funds. He has been re-appointed twice and continues to serve to the present time. For the last 5 years he has been chosen to emcee the annual Bergen County Historic Preservation Commendation Awards. These awards recognize preservation projects and persons involved in Bergen County Historic Preservation. In 2012, he was approached by Closter Mayor Sophie Heymann. The Mayor asked him to consider joining the Closter Historic Preservation Commission citing his architect credentials as well as his other community service as her reasons for asking. He joined the Closter HPC as a “Class A” member and continues to this day. This community service has allowed him to directly educate the public and elected leaders on how architecture and architects can positively affect their towns. Architects can urge the beneficial use of land, and improve the beauty and economics of their municipalities and the region. The New Jersey chapter of the American Planning Association awarded Westwood NJ, its 2019 Great Places in NJ award. Officials chose their own AIA Architect Chairman to formally accept the award which hr was overjoyed to do. Architects can make significant contributions to our communities and are here to help people.
