Scholarship Winner: Tathiana Volpe-Ruiz

An Architectural Student with an International Force

It is our honor to recognize the latest recipient of the Flex-Ability Concepts Scholarship. Meet Tathiana Volpe-Ruiz, a student in the master’s program at the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma (OU).

Tathiana is an international force with a less-is-more design philosophy who focuses on cultural influences, kindness and hospitality. Flex-Ability Concepts is proud to be an advocate of this force via its University of Oklahoma (OU) scholarship program. This is the 24th year Flex-Ability Concepts has offered a scholarship to OU architectural students like Tathiana.

Congratulations, Tathiana!

• Why did you pick OU? 

Tathiana: Because my husband is in the military, we are given a list of places to which we can request to go. When the time came to PCS (permanent change of station), I researched which locations had a university with an accredited architectural master's program. At the time, the choices were few—Mississippi, California and Oklahoma. We felt that Oklahoma offered the most affordable cost of living and proximity to my husband's work and my university. As for the university aspect, upon reading more about OU Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture, I felt that it offered the best academic preparation. OU has been a great experience filled with so many great people who have helped me shape and continue to shape my academic journey.

• Tell us about your father and his influence as an architect.

Tathiana: Perhaps the biggest influence my dad has had on me is his integrity and professionalism. My father enjoys working more on residential projects though he is always encouraging me to try it all until I find my niche. My father lives in Florida, and although he may be physically far from me, he is just one phone call away. I do call him frequently to ask for his guidance or his support when school gets tough. He as well as my mother are my biggest supporters. I hope to move back home after graduating and work alongside my father; he has many years of experience and is very thorough with his work. I believe his mentoring will have a great impact on my journey as an aspiring architect. I hope to make him and my mom proud in all I do.

• How does your native Colombia influence you?

Colombia is truly a wonderful place. Home of some of the most creative minds, such as writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, architect Rogelio Salmona and singer Shakira, just to name a few. The Colombian culture appreciates and values beauty, which can be seen in every aspect of what we do. From our people, architecture, music, literature, gastronomy and even our folklore. Where I am from in Barranquilla, we are a culture with a rich history and a great sense of hospitality. My culture compels me to treat everyone I meet like family, with great warmth and respect. My Colombian heritage influences the way I approach life, with beauty, warmth and zest. These are qualities that can be applied to my work as well as those who surround me.

• Tells us about your travels?

I have been to 40 countries, and I can read the Korean alphabet. I also can somewhat understand French and Italian! Travel allows for biases to be broken and perceptions and knowledge to be expanded. As an inspiring architect, I believe that traveling allows for your tools to be sharpened, to enable you to go beyond the vernacular architecture that surrounds you and explore ways that extend beyond your immediate geographical location. Traveling engages all the senses; those same senses are too considered when architects design because buildings, just like traveling, are an experience. 

• What year are you in architecture school?

By God's grace and providence, I have made it to my last year! It has been an invaluable experience that I am sure will last a lifetime. As I enter my last year, I look forward to what is to come while looking back and feeling a great deal of gratitude for those who have supported me along the way, such as my close peers, professors, mentors and of course Flex-Ability Concepts for their generosity.

• Did you know about Flex-Ability Concepts before the scholarship?

I did not. But I am so glad that I got the opportunity to learn about Flex-Ability Concepts. I had no idea of the impact they have on our field and how their products allow for our designs to come to life in a shorter amount of time than it would take with other methods of construction. 

• How did you learn about the scholarship?

I learned about the scholarship through the Centralized Academic Scholarship Hub, or CASH for short, which is the premier place for current and continuing students to apply for university scholarships.

• Describe your architectural/interior design style.

I am still developing my very own architectural design style. However, I am a fan of simplicity and contemporary architecture. The phrase  “less is more,” a famous quote by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, captures the essence of minimalism in design and architecture.

• Tell us about your family.

My husband Alexsander and I just celebrated our 12th anniversary, and we have been blessed with three sons—Alexsander Jr., Isaac and Kevin. We are a military family, my husband proudly serves in the United States Air Force, and after being stationed overseas for four years, we were relocated to Oklahoma. We are originally from Florida, that is where my family resides. My in-laws recently moved back to the Dominican Republic, so we bounce from Florida to the DR when summertime break comes. Although we have made great friends and memories in Oklahoma, we are looking forward to rejoining our family back home in the Sunshine State. Aside from missing our loved ones, we miss the year-round heat, beach and ocean breeze.

• Other than travel, what do you like to do?