LAF Scholarship 2026 Winners Announced

$168,500 Awarded to 25 Students
by Keziah Olsen, LASN

Twenty-five students received $168,500 in scholarships to become the next generation of Landscape Architects and researchers. (Photo Courtesy of LAF)

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Twenty-five students received $168,500 in scholarships to become the next generation of Landscape Architects and researchers. (Photo Courtesy of LAF)

LAF awarded a total of $168,500 to 25 students for the 2026 scholarship season -- $3,500 more than was given out last year. The scholarships are awarded to students for performance, increasing access, research, and financial need.

Scholarships for Masters Students:
LAF Honor Scholarship in Memory of Joe Lalli, FASLA
Award: $20,000
Darius Bottorff
MLA Candidate, Harvard University

LAF Honor Scholarship in Memory of Joe Lalli, FASLA
First Runner-up Award: $10,000
Amir Rafati
MLA Candidate, Harvard University

LAF Honor Scholarship in Memory of Joe Lalli, FASLA
Second Runner-up Award: $5,000
Shafaet Alam Abir
MLA Candidate, Texas Tech University

LAF Honor Scholarship for Inclusive Community Design
Award: $10,000
Aquilla Igwe
MLA Candidate, University of Michigan

Kenneth R. Brooks MLA Research Scholarship
Award: $7,500
Shima Goodarzi
MLA Candidate, North Dakota State University

MIG Scholarship for the Planning and Design of Equitable and Inclusive Environments
Award: $5,000
Felix Hernandez
MLA Candidate, University of Maryland

MIG Scholarship for the Planning and Design of Equitable and Inclusive Environments
Award: $5,000
Aisha Iyengar
MLA Candidate, Harvard University


Scholarships for Undergraduate Students:
ASLA Council of Fellows Scholarship
Award: $10,000 + travel to ASLA conference
Isaiah Ramsey
BLA Candidate, Michigan State University

ASLA Council of Fellows Scholarship
Award: $5,000 + travel to ASLA conference

 
Saudiyah Robinson
BSLA Candidate, North Carolina A&T University

ASLA Council of Fellows Scholarship
Award: $5,000 + travel to ASLA conference
Gene Sinnung
BSLA Candidate, Rutgers University

ASLA Council of Fellows Scholarship
Award: $5,000 + travel to ASLA conference
Hadasa Villalta
BLA Candidate, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Courtland Paul Scholarship
Award: $5,000
Jesse Fagen
BSLA Candidate, Purdue University

Courtland Paul Scholarship
Award: $5,000
Annabella Piantanida
BLA Candidate, Utah State University


LandDesign Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Scholarship
Award: $5,000 + mentorship
Zuri Askew
BSLA Candidate, North Carolina A&T State University

LandDesign Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Scholarship
Award: $5,000 + mentorship
David Taloma
BLA Candidate, University of Navada, Las Vegas

Landscape Forms Shane Coen Scholarship for Diversity in Design
Award: $5,000
Zuri Askew
BSLA Candidate, North Carolina A&T State University

Landscape Forms Scholarship in Memory of Peter Lindsay Schaudt, FASLA
Award: $5,000
Joshua Schneider
BLA Candidate, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Rain Bird Intelligent Use of Water?,,? Scholarship
Award: $5,000
McKenzie Garvin
BLA Candidate, University of Georgia


Scholarships for Undergraduate or Masters Students:

Daniel Zwier/Permaloc Innovation Scholarship
Award: $5,000
Taryn Randle
MLA Candidate, Illinois Institute of Technology

EDSA Diversity Scholarship
Award: $5,000
Manal Dar
MLA Candidate, Rhode Island School of Design

EDSA Diversity Scholarship
Award: $5,000
Parker Smith
BSLA Candidate, North Carolina A&T State University

Steven G. King Play Environments Scholarship
Award: $5,000
Ava Antoine
BLA Candidate, University of Wisconsin


Location Specific Scholarships:

Hawaii Chapter ASLA/David T Woolsey Scholarship
Award: $3,000
Brandi Baligad
MLA Candidate, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii Chapter ASLA/David T Woolsey Scholarship
Award: $3,000
Dylan Tawata
BLA Candidate, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo


Project Support

Douglas Dockery Thomas Fellowship in Garden History and Design
Award: $5,000
Kailey Kruse
MLA Candidate, Arizona State University

Douglas Dockery Thomas Fellowship in Garden History and Design
Award: $5,000
Lydia Olivier
PhD Candidate, University of California, Riverside

Including this year's winners, LAF has supported more than 700 students with over $2.08 million in scholarships. In the fall, LAF will announce the scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year and begin the application process. To see the LAF's announcement of this year's scholarship recipients, go to: https://www.lafoundation.org/news/2026/05/2026-scholarship-winners?utm_source=Landscape+Architecture+Foundation+Subscribers&utm_campaign=19e80b2b2a-scholarship-winners-25-06-13_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-6c58a99c3f-388868191

Filed Under: ASSOCIATIONS, AWARDS, LAF, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION, SCHOLARSHIPS, 2026, LASN