Sara Guedez

I grew up with graphite on my hands and sawdust in the air. My earliest memories of architecture are of sitting beside my grandpa, an architect and my biggest inspiration, as he guided my five-year-old hand across a sheet of paper. Every line I drew would soon become a wall, and every wall would become part of a home for a real family. Months later, I would walk through the house we had drawn together, and although I only really traced his drawings, I watched our little paper sketch spring to life.

Architecture has been a grand part of my life ever since. My favorite childhood adventures were exploring construction sites with Grandpa, jumping through the exposed wall framework and imagining the rooms that would soon fill them. I watched him hand families the keys to their new homes and saw the excitement on their faces as they imagined the lives they would build inside. I learned early that architecture is about the people who give buildings meaning, and I wanted to make an impact on someone’s life through it.

Growing up in the Rio Grande Valley, I witnessed families at the U.S.-Mexico border living in difficult conditions. Wanting to help, I co-founded Bridge Builders for Refugees, a nonprofit supporting refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants. Through our first projects, we collected more than 1,000 blankets for 300+ families and created resources explaining immigrants’ health, legal, and educational rights. In the future, I hope to continue my work with under-served communities through architecture.

Inspired by my Venezuelan roots, I looked into indigenous housing methods. I discovered how simple, locally available materials can create homes filled with dignity and community. I want to carry that perspective into my career in architecture, designing spaces that don't just shelter people, but help them thrive. At UT Austin, I hope to ultimately learn how to use design to build a better future for the people and communities I care about.

Major
Architecture

What drew you to the Forty Acres Scholars Program?
The incredible benefits of the program itself drew me to it originally, but what captured me was its people. During Finalist Weekend, I instantly felt like I met my people and found my place. I’ve never been around so many accomplished individuals who are also genuinely kind and care so deeply about those around them. Throughout the weekend, everyone encouraged one another, and I found myself wanting to be better simply because of them.

I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to be mentored by the FASP staff and donors and to connect with the incredible network of Texas Exes, not to mention the many other experiences we get to have as scholars! Being a part of FASP is truly such a privilege, and I cannot wait to see where this journey takes us and the people we end up becoming along the way.
What makes your scholar cohort unique?