Desde 2007, Landscape Forms y Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) se han asociado para ofrecer becas anuales a estudiantes de grado distinguidos de arquitectura paisajista. Este año se presenta con orgullo la 14.º beca anual Landscape Forms Scholarship en memoria de Peter Lindsay Schaudt y la introducción de la beca para la diversidad, equidad e inclusión de Landscape Forms.

"While we're celebrating 14 years since we first launched our scholarship program with the LAF, Landscape Forms' relationship as a substantial contributor to the foundation goes back more than a quarter century," Landscape Forms' CEO Marjorie Simmons says proudly. "La Landscape Architecture Foundation​​​​​​​ es una plataforma para la participación y el crecimiento de múltiples generaciones en el desarrollo profesional de arquitectos paisajistas. And through our scholarships and other support for the foundation, we want to ensure the profession continues to thrive, and there continues to be a place where outstanding individual contributions can be recognized."

The company believes deeply in the positive impact landscape architects can have on the environment and society's connection to it and sees the scholarship program as an invaluable opportunity to support, celebrate and elevate the rising leaders in our industry. Through these two annual scholarships, Landscape Forms seeks to increase the capacity of the next generation of landscape architects in order to create a more just, inclusive, creative and sustainable future for the profession.

Barbara Deutsch, CEO of the Landscape Architecture Foundation, explains how scholarships are critical in building up the influence and capacity of our industry's future leaders. "Scholarships are a key strategy for the LAF to achieve its mission. We can't increase the influence and impact of landscape architects without supporting the next generation," she says. "And with the rising cost of education, scholarships are increasingly important for reducing barriers to education, easing debt burden, and creating opportunities for professional development. We're delighted to award two of our student scholarships in partnership with Landscape Forms."

This year's scholarship recipients, Jordan Chiang and Diamond Owens, are both exceptional undergraduate landscape architecture students embarking on their journey in the field with deserved self-confidence and ambition. Seeing the level of passion, dedication and love for the natural world both exhibit, one can't help but be excited for what this next generation of landscape architects will bring.

Jordan Chiang, 2021 recipient of the Landscape Forms Scholarship in Memory of Peter Lindsay Schaudt, FASLA, is an exceptional landscape architecture student graduating from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. Él, que se describe a sí mismo como un "nerd de los paisajes", se siente profundamente intrigado por el mundo natural y los aspectos interdisciplinarios de la arquitectura paisajista. "Para mí, adentrarme en la arquitectura paisajista significó la combinación natural de mis dos pasiones: el arte y las ciencias", describe Jordan. El nivel de pasión de Jordan está acompañado por el gran ojo que tiene para los paisajes. "En mi tiempo libre, me encanta explorar nuevos vecindarios, identificar plantas autóctonas y apreciar las diferencias sutiles en la arquitectura", relata. Jordan ha demostrado una pasión y una aptitud extraordinarias en su campo y, sin dudas, logrará grandes cosas dentro de la profesión de la arquitectura paisajista.

Diamond Owens, 2021 recipient of the Landscape Forms Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Scholarship, is an accomplished landscape architecture student from the University of Georgia in Athens. Ella elige esta profesión para descubrir nuevas conexiones significativas con el aire libre al basarse en sus propias experiencias con la naturaleza para ayudar así a mejorar las experiencias de los demás. "Me esfuerzo por ser más que una diseñadora y una arquitecta paisajista. "Me esfuerzo por ser activista y educadora", afirma Diamond. "Verdaderamente aprecio que mis aportes al mundo cambien la vida de adultos, niños, y personas de todas las edades y razas. My perception of nature was falsely shaped by its lack of prevalence in the inner city. Therefore, I commit to positively impact the lives of others in the urban environment." Con un enfoque en la salud pública, la educación ambiental y la integración de la naturaleza en el paisaje urbano, Diamond indudablemente hará aportes significativos al campo.

"I am incredibly proud of Jordan and Diamond, the level of passion that both display, and what this means for the future of landscape architecture," adds Simmons. "Our support of the LAF and its scholarship programs is an investment in the future of the profession and its profound impact on the world we live in."