ASLA-NY Equitable Public Urban Space Scholarship

The New York Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA-NY) established this scholarship to support future leaders who will strive to make living in urban environments more equitable, healthier and enjoyable. ASLA-NY encompasses the five boroughs of New York City, Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, and Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange and Rockland counties.

The award is open to currently enrolled undergraduate or master's students studying landscape architecture at Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB) accredited programs in the United States. To be eligible, the applicant’s university must be within the ASLA-NY Chapter boundary* or the applicant must be a permanent resident of the Chapter boundary or must have graduated from a high school within the ASLA-NY Chapter boundary. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and have a minimum “B” grade point average (2.5 on a 4-point scale.)

At this time, the only accredited program in the ASLA-NY Chapter boundary is the City College of New York's Master of Landscape Architecture program.

Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to and interest in equitable design of the public realm. In their application materials, candidates can highlight any of the following or otherwise make the case for their passion for equitable public space:

• Their approach to academic or real-world public projects
• How they attempt to reflect the breadth of public needs and culture
• Organizations they may have worked for that contribute to the public realm
• Related volunteer activities
• A unique approach to equitable urban public space design as described in their essay and supported by their recommendation letters
• Creative methods of public participation in the design process as demonstrated in their work samples

Applicants will be evaluated based on:

• Clear response to essay question (40%)
• Creativity in approach to design (30%)
• Quality of writing (20%)
• Proven volunteer efforts (10%)

To Apply

See the General Application Guidelines for information on using our online application system. All submissions must adhere to guidelines and deadlines in order to be considered. Additional materials will not be reviewed.

Application Contents

All LAF scholarships and fellowships require applicants to submit the following materials:

• General Submission Form

Complete this online form with basic contact information and details about your degree program.

• Photo

Provide a color headshot in jpg format that is at least 1800x1200 pixels. It should be horizontally-oriented, well-lit with a simple background, and include your entire head and shoulders. LAF retains the right to use any submitted photo on our website and in other materials promoting LAF’s scholarship programs.

• Bio for the LAF Website (150 word max)

Provide a short bio in PDF, Microsoft Word, or TXT format. In 150 words or less, describe your background, current educational pursuits, future plans, and any other personal interests or activities.

• Resume (2 page max)

Upload your resume or CV in PDF format. It should include your education, professional experience, extra-curricular activities, and honors and awards. Please include Applicant Name/Resume/Scholarship Name and page number on each page.

In addition, this scholarship requires the following:

• Proof of Residency or High School within ASLA-NY Boundary

Upload a PDF or JPG copy of your current New York driver license or identification card, high school diploma, high school transcript, signed letter from an administrator, college enrollment papers, or other proof of being a permanent resident or having graduated from a high school within the ASLA-NY Chapter boundary. This is only necessary for applicants who do not attend a university within the ASLA-NY Chapter boundary.

• 2 Letters of Recommendation

Provide the e-mail address for each recommender and instructions will be sent to them. Letters should address the applicant’s dedication to equitable design of the public realm.

• Essay (1 page max)

Upload your original essay in PDF format. In 300 words or less, explain your interest in equitable public space design and how you plan to change our cities to be better, more equitable places to live, work, and play. The essay should be no more than one page with margins of at least 1”, 10-point or larger font, and no images or graphics. Please include Applicant Name/Essay/Scholarship Name and page number on each page.

• Work Samples (3 page max)

Upload three 8.5”x11” work samples in one PDF document. Each should include explanatory text describing the project. If it was a group project, state this and describe your role. Please include Applicant Name/Work Samples/Scholarship Name and page number on each page.