The Scholarship Honors the Memory and Legacy of Criswell Davis, a Passionate Advocate for Biophilic Design and the Use of Hardwoods in Architecture
Dayton, OH, 6/1/2026 — The Timber & Forestry Foundation, or “TFF,” today announced Danielle Haniph as the 2026 recipient of the annual Criswell Davis Scholarship.
Haniph is a third-year Bachelor of Architecture student at Syracuse University’s School of Architecture. She is pursuing a minor in Innovation, Design, and Startups through Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies and is a member of the Renee Crown University Honors Program.
She has been awarded the scholarship for $1,500, proudly presented by the Timber & Forestry Foundation (TFF). The scholarship was funded this year and for years to come by donations and contributions from the hardwoods industry and friends and family of Criswell Davis. Ms. Haniph’s letter of recommendation was provided by Ivi Diamantopoulou, AIA, Professor of Practice at Syracuse University, Program Director of Syracuse Architecture NYC, and Principal of New Affiliates Architecture.
The Criswell Davis Scholarship was created to honor the memory and legacy of Criswell Davis, a passionate advocate for biophilic design and the integration of hardwoods into architectural projects. The scholarship supports college candidates pursuing careers in architecture or interior design who demonstrate a commitment to sustainable, nature-inspired environments and the thoughtful use of natural materials.
Haniph was selected by Criswell Davis’s family as the recipient of the 2026 scholarship following a competitive review process. Her application stood out for the quality of her essay, portfolio, resume, academic record, and letter of recommendation, as well as her thoughtful and mature understanding of biophilic design.
In her scholarship essay, Haniph wrote about architecture as a discipline that can connect nature with the built environment, uplift the people who inhabit a space, and invite the natural world into the design process. She specifically discussed a studio project titled The Memory Reserve, a community-run nature reserve near Otisco Lake in Syracuse, New York. The project featured a sustainable structure designed to be built gradually by visitors using rocks from the lake, transforming natural materials into symbols of community, memory, and place.
Her portfolio further demonstrated a sensitive approach to site, narrative, material selection, and human experience. In addition to The Memory Reserve, Haniph’s work includes projects exploring spatial relationships, wood modeling, architectural storytelling, and the ways built environments can shape movement, interaction, and emotional connection.
“It is a great honor to be selected for this award, and especially to be recognized as an individual who embodies some of the same characteristics as Criswell Davis,” said Haniph. “It is a privilege to carry forward his legacy and dedication to biophilic design. Since high school, I have seen how architecture can act as a bridge between nature and the built environment. In college, I continue to explore this relationship in my design work, studying how biophilic architecture can improve how people work and live. As I continue my architecture studies, I will continue to pursue the same curiosity and passion that define this memorial award. And, most importantly, it will be an honor to do so in Criswell Davis’ memory.”
Diamantopoulou described Haniph as an impressive student who consistently performs at the top of her cohort and demonstrates enthusiasm, rigor, design sophistication, technical competency, collaboration, independence, thoughtfulness, and dedication to architecture.
“Danielle is exactly the kind of student this scholarship was created to support,” said Dane Coleman, President of The Timber & Forestry Foundation. “Her work reflects a serious and thoughtful understanding of biophilic design, not only as an aesthetic approach, but to connect people, materials, landscapes, and communities. Criswell Davis believed deeply in the power of natural materials and thoughtful design to improve the human experience, and Danielle’s work carries that spirit forward in a meaningful way.”
The Criswell Davis Scholarship is funded by donations and contributions from the hardwoods industry, friends and family of Criswell Davis, and supporters of The Timber & Forestry Foundation. Organizations and individuals interested in supporting the scholarship are welcome to help through direct financial contributions. As a nonprofit, donations to TFF are tax-deductible and can be made publicly or anonymously.
For more information about The Timber & Forestry Foundation and the Criswell Davis Scholarship, visit www.timberandforestry.org/criswell-davis-scholarship.
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The Timber & Forestry Foundation (TFF) (www.timberandforestry.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation and education organization that promotes the inherent sustainability, carbon sequestration benefits, and beauty of American timber and hardwoods. We believe that with promotional efforts, advocacy campaigns, and educational programs, these widely varied species of timber and hardwoods can thrive like never before.