Founded in Omaha in 1915 by Leo A. Daly Sr. with little more than a draftsman, an assistant and a dream, Leo A Daly has grown into an internationally recognized design firm with projects spanning the globe. More than a century later, the firm’s enduring relationship with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Architecture continues to shape generations of students through the legacy of the Leo A Daly Scholarship.
For nearly seven decades, the scholarship has quietly transformed lives, opened doors and expanded the educational experiences of aspiring architects and designers. What began as a recruitment scholarship in the 1950s later evolved into one of the college’s signature travel opportunities, encouraging students to experience architecture, cities and cultures far beyond Nebraska. Today, with the recent endowment of the scholarship by Leo A Daly — where Leo A. Daly III continues to serve as Chairman-Emeritus — that legacy is positioned to continue for generations to come.
For Robert Kuzelka, the scholarship changed the course of his life before he even fully understood architecture as a profession.
Kuzelka, the first recipient of the Leo A Daly Scholarship in 1956, recalled learning he had been selected only after his high school mechanical drawing instructor secretly applied on his behalf. At the time, the scholarship provided $500 annually for four years — enough to make attending Nebraska possible.
“I had been accepted to Iowa State and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,” Kuzelka said. “But the scholarship made Nebraska the easy choice.”
The support connected him not only to the university, but also to the larger architectural community. Through legendary faculty member Linus Burr Smith, Kuzelka met Leo A. Daly II and developed relationships with practicing architects whose influence extended far beyond the classroom.
Though Kuzelka ultimately pursued careers in planning, environmental studies and higher education rather than architectural licensure, he went on to lead UNL’s interdisciplinary Environmental Studies Program and serve with the University of Nebraska Water Center. He credited his architectural education with shaping the way he approached the world.
“Architecture taught me planning, management and how to think ahead,” he reflected.
As the profession evolved, so too did the scholarship.
By the late 1960s, the Leo A Daly fund became a traveling scholarship and one of the college’s most transformative educational opportunities — giving students the chance to study architecture firsthand across the world.
For alumnus Lloyd Meyer, AIA and a Distinguished Alumnus of the College, the scholarship became a defining moment in both his professional and personal life.
Awarded the traveling scholarship in 1968, Meyer spent 90 days traveling alone through 10 countries, studying more than 400 buildings, museums, cathedrals and historic sites across Europe. His focus was tracing the evolution of concrete design and experiencing architecture directly rather than simply reading about it in books.
“You can read about a subject, study and attend lectures and collect pictures,” Meyer said. “But until you visit, touch and experience exceptional design, you cannot really understand the built reality.”
Traveling with little more than a Eurorail pass, a backpack and a 35mm camera, Meyer immersed himself in architecture, history and culture during one of the most turbulent years in modern history. The experience fundamentally expanded his understanding of design, culture and the world itself.
“Travel extensively and you will be a better designer and, more importantly, a better person,” Meyer said.
The scholarship’s influence extended far beyond the summer journey. Meyer later earned a Master of Architecture from Harvard University Graduate School of Design and spent 42 years with Leo A Daly, ultimately serving as managing principal at Leo A Daly’s Omaha headquarters.
Today, leaders at Leo A Daly view the scholarship as an investment not only in students, but in the future of the profession itself. Jeff Monzu, vice president and senior director for health and wellness at Leo A Daly and a member of the college’s Professional Advisory Council, helped lead the effort to revitalize the Leo A Daly Architectural Traveling Scholarship. A $50,000 gift was made through the University of Nebraska Foundation to establish a permanent scholarship endowment.
The endowed scholarship is designed to provide more meaningful support for student travel experiences and underscores the value of immersive learning opportunities that allow students to engage with the world beyond the classroom and gain new perspectives through travel and design exploration.
“Experiencing different cities, cultures and design traditions shapes stronger professionals,” Monzu said. “It expands students’ understanding of what is possible.”
Across three generations of Daly leadership, the partnership between the firm and the college has remained rooted in mentorship, professional engagement and educational opportunity. Beyond scholarship support, Leo A Daly professionals have long served as studio critics, lecturers, mentors and advocates for the college and its students.
For the College of Architecture, the Leo A Daly Scholarship represents far more than financial assistance. It represents a lasting investment in curiosity, exploration and human connection — values that have shaped the college for decades.
Its legacy lives not only in the careers it launched, but in the generations of students whose perspectives — and futures — were expanded because someone believed they should see more of the world.
