2011
Kevin Phaup
"I am very honored and humbled to receive the Joseph P. Veasey Award in architecture. I understand that Joe was a leader and a helper and I value and honor those same attributes. I am a non-traditional student (nice way of saying old guy!) attending college for the first time at the age of 30. My wife Rachel and I moved to Oxford from Branson, Missouri where we met working in ministry with troubled teens. I began attending community college in Missouri, with no degree in mind, however much of my work and jobs throughout life have involved construction. I’m a very hands-on person and love to make and build things. It soon became clear that architecture was the right path for me. When Rachel and I came to visit Miami as a potential school, we both new right away that this was where God was bringing us. After selling our house in Missouri, relocating with no promise of employment and not really knowing what architecture was, we finally settled into Oxford, Ohio. Rachel now works at Miami University as a Financial Assistance Counselor and I am growing as an artist and designer. I declared Metals as my second major this spring, for a Bachelor of Fine Arts, in Studio Art. My workload is time consuming and requires a drive to succeed, but I love what I’m doing. Winning this award means so much to me. It was a privilege to be selected for this award by my classmates and is an honor to follow in Joe’s footsteps as a leader and community builder."
