Awards

2021 Council of Fellows Scholarship Winners

The Council of Fellows scholarship program was founded in 2004 to: 

• aid outstanding students who would not otherwise have an opportunity to continue a professional degree program due to unmet financial need;    
• increase the interest and participation of economically disadvantaged and under-represented populations in the study of landscape architecture; and  
• enrich the profession of landscape architecture through a more diverse population.  

Since the scholarship program’s inception, the Council has awarded forty students from over twenty programs across the country. The students have had the opportunity to attend the annual conference where they have networked with members, attended education sessions and special events such as the award ceremonies and the investiture dinner. The students regularly attend the Fellows business meeting where they receive their certificates.  

Your financial support of the scholarship program is essential to meet our goal and ensure we provide the next generation with the funds they need to continue their education. Please donate or pledge now to help us meet our target. Pledges may be fulfilled over a three-year period. Please indicate that the donation is for "Council of Fellows" or "COF" in the "why you support LAF" box. 

Congratulations to the 2021 Scholarship Winners!

 Matheus Gomes 

BLA, University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Award: $5,000

Born in Brazil, Matheus moved to the U.S. at nine years old. He completed the Electrical Program at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School and later worked across Co-operative Programs, landscaping/construction/masonry, freelance graphic design, and landscape design. In his career, he wants to expand resilient gardening in the urban environment with a focus on green infrastructure and food security. He looks forward to establishing community-driven initiatives that promote public health and awareness by combining the sectors of gardening and art.

Walter Hogue 

BLA, Mississippi State University

Award: $5,000

Walter is third in a family of fourteen and claims to have been shaped by both the joys and challenges of growing up in such an environment. I have a deep love for art, photography, the outdoors, and design that began to develop in his childhood. After high school he served with Peru Mission in Trujillo, Peru, working for a local carpentry-shop and leading English classes for children and college students. He later enrolled in community college, and then transferred to Mississippi State’s landscape architecture program. He hopes to focus on the planning and development of low-income cities and neighborhoods, particularly in developing nations. 

  Najla Said Lopez 

BLA, University of Florida

Award: $5,000

Najla moved to Miami, Florida in 2015 from Amman-Jordan, where she was born and raised. She got her Associates Degree in Architecture at Miami Dade College. Her experience working for non-profit organizations and in the mental health field developed her love for helping those in need. After spending some time working in horticulture, she developed her love for plants and expanded her plant knowledge. In her career, Najla hopes to have an opportunity where she can give back to the world and society, creating beautiful and meaningful spaces utilizing ecological and equity-based design.   

  Daniella Slowik 

BLA, University of Washington

Award: $10,000

At an early age, Daniella discovered nature’s ability to comfort, inspire, and rejuvenate. She shared that her experience with Tourette's Syndrome has granted her an intriguing blend of tics, curiosity, and challenges, and she has often escaped outside for respite and peace. Deeply embedded into her design values, these memories have greatly influenced her desire to develop symbiotic systems that both restore the health of sensitive ecosystems and invite underrepresented communities to experience the therapeutic benefits of the natural world.