Maya Lin
Maya Lin was born October 5, 1959 in Athens, Ohio. In 1981, at age 21 and while still an undergraduate, Lin won a public design competition for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, beating 1,441 other blind competition submissions. After her desgin was chosen, Maya Lin was enveloped in controversy. Opponents of her design claimed she was too young to understand the effects of war. Some even used her race against her, insisting one of Asian heritage should not design a memorial for soldiers who died in Asia. Following the dedication of the memorial the controversy dissipated and was replaced with nationwide appreciation and recognition. Today she owns and operates the Maya Lin Studio in New York City and continues to design and create memorials and sculptures.