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To date 1,069 landscape architecture students with exceptional leadership potential have been recognized as LAF Olmsted Scholars.

Since its inception in 2008, the Landscape Architecture Foundation's (LAF) Olmsted Scholars Program has honored and supported students who are using ideas, influence, communication, service, and leadership to advance sustainable design and foster human and societal benefits. The program recognizes one outstanding student from each accredited landscape architecture program in the U.S. and Canada, along with the jury-selected graduate and undergraduate national winners and finalists.

The winner(s) and finalists from each year are showcased below. Photos and bios are from the year the students were honored.


2023 National Olmsted Scholars and Finalists

The winners and finalists were selected from a group of 50 graduate and 38 undergraduate students nominated by their faculty for their exceptional leadership potential. Learn more and see the full group of 2023 LAF Olmsted Scholars here.

  • Headshot of Keith Faminiano, 2023 LAF National Olmsted Scholar (Graduate)
    Keith Faminiano The Pennsylvania State University
  • Headshot of Leslie Dinkin, 2023 LAF National Olmsted Scholar Finalist (Graduate)
    Leslie Dinkin University of Southern California
  • Headshot of Allison Nkwocha, 2023 LAF National Olmsted Scholar Finalist (Graduate)
    Allison Nkwocha University of Pennsylvania
  • Headshot of Justin Thomas, 2023 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist (Graduate)
    Justin Thomas University of California, Berkeley
  • Headshot of Maryam Abutabikh, 2023 National Olmsted Scholar (Undergraduate)
    Maryam Abutabikh Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
  • Headshot of Mallak Al-Salmi, 2023 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist (Undergraduate)
    Mallak Al-Salmi Washington State University
  • Headshot of Maria De Jesus Arevalo Martinez, 2023 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist (Undergraduate)
    Maria De Jesus Arevalo-Martinez University of Washington
  • Headshot of Olivia Krum, 2023 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist (Undergraduate)
    Olivia Krum The Pennsylvania State University

2022 National Olmsted Scholars and Finalists

The winners and finalists were selected from a group of 50 graduate and 39 undergraduate students nominated by their faculty for their exceptional leadership potential. Learn more and see the full group of 2022 LAF Olmsted Scholars here.

  • headshot of Kathryn Finnigan
    Kathryn Finnigan University of Colorado Denver
  • headshot of Robert Douglass
    Robert Douglass Cal Poly Pomona
  • headshot of Kate Flaherty
    Kate Flaherty Cornell University
  • headshot of Daniel Kletzing
    Daniel Kletzing University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
  • headshot of Trecia Cintron
    Trecia Cintron The Ohio State University
  • headshot of Megan Adams
    Megan Adams Iowa State University
  • headshot of Avery Haynes
    Avery Haynes Louisiana State University
  • headshot of Leigh Muldrow
    Leigh Muldrow University of Delaware

2021 National Olmsted Scholars and Finalists

The winners and finalists were selected from a group of 51 graduate and 36 undergraduate students nominated by their faculty for their exceptional leadership potential. Learn more and see the full group of 2021 LAF Olmsted Scholars here

  • Headshot of Harshat Verma
    Harshat Verma The Ohio State University
  • Headshot of Taylor Davis, 2021 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Taylor Davis The University of Texas at Austin
  • Headshot of Leah Kahler, 2021 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Leah Kahler University of Virginia
  • Headshot of Jared Edgar McKnight, 2021 LAF National Olmsted Scholar finalist
    Jared Edgar McKnight University of Southern California
  • Headshot of Abigail Long
    Abigail Long Temple University
  • Headshot of Tracie Chazares, 2021 LAF National Olmsted Scholar finalist
    Tracie Chazares Cal Poly Pomona
  • Headshot of Madison Hutchings, 2021 LAF National Olmsted Scholar finalist
    Madison Hutchings Virginia Tech
  • Headshot of Barbara Kornak, 2021 LAF National Olmsted Scholar finalist
    Barbara Kornak Cornell University

2020 National Olmsted Scholars and Finalists

The winners and finalists were selected from a group of 48 graduate and 37 undergraduate students nominated by their faculty for their exceptional leadership potential. Learn more and see the full group of 2020 LAF Olmsted Scholars here

  • Headshot of Lys Divine Ndemeye, 2020 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    Lys Divine Ndemeye University of British Columbia
  • Headshot of Madalyn Baldwin, 2020 LAF National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Madalyn Baldwin North Carolina State University
  • Headshot of Martin Egan, 2020 LAF National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Martin Egan University of Colorado, Denver
  • Headshot of Robert Levinthal, 2020 LAF National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Robert Levinthal University of Pennsylvania
  • Headshot of David Hooper, 2020 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    David Hooper University of Massachusetts, Amherst
  • Headshot of Aaron Lewis, 2020 LAF National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Aaron Lewis Iowa State University
  • Headshot of Jake Tiernan, 2020 LAF National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Jake Tiernan The Pennsylvania State University
  • Headshot of Audrey Wilke, 2020 LAF National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Audrey Wilke University of Maryland, College Park

2019 National Olmsted Scholars and Finalists

The winners and finalists were selected from a group of 49 graduate and 37 undergraduate students nominated by their faculty for their exceptional leadership potential. Learn more and see the full group of 2019 LAF Olmsted Scholars here

  • Headshot of Areti Athanasopoulos, 2019 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    Areti Athanasopoulos University of Colorado Denver
  • Headshot of Jennifer Lauer, 2019 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Jennifer Lauer SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
  • Headshot of Fatema Maswood, 2019 National Olmsted Scholars Finalist
    Fatema Maswood University of Washington
  •  Headshot of Grace Mitchell Tada, 2019 National Olmsted Scholars Finalist
    Grace Mitchell Tada University of California, Berkeley
  • Headshot of Anjelyque Easley, 2019 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    Anjelyque Easley The Pennsylvania State University
  • Headshot of Madelynne Clark, 2019 National Olmsted Scholars Finalist
    Madelynne Clark Ball State University
  • Headshot of Adriana Hernandez Aguirre, 2019 National Olmsted Scholars Finalist
    Adriana Hernandez Aguirre Texas A&M University
  • Headshot of Christian Moore, 2019 National Olmsted Scholars Finalist
    Christian Moore The Ohio State University

2018 National Olmsted Scholars and Finalists

The winners and finalists were selected from a group of 50 graduate and 35 undergraduate students nominated by their faculty for their exceptional leadership potential. Learn more and see the full group of 2018 LAF Olmsted Scholars here

  • Headshot of Liz Camuti, 2018 National Olmsted Scholars Finalist
    Elizabeth Camuti University of Virginia
  • Headshot of Rachel Ison, 2018 National Olmsted Scholars Finalist
    Rachel Ison University of Southern California
  • Headshot of Nicholas Jabs, 2018 National Olmsted Scholars Finalist
    Nicholas Jabs University of Pennsylvania
  • Headshot of Steven Nunez, 2018 National Olmsted Scholars Finalist
    Steven Nuñez University of Texas at Arlington
  • Headshot of Karina Ramos, 2018 LAF National Olmsted Scholar (600sq)
    Karina Ramos University of Massachusetts, Amherst
  • Headshot of Toni Candanedo, 2018 National Olmsted Scholars Finalist
    Tonantzin Candanedo Arizona State University
  • Headshot of Bryce Donner, 2018 National Olmsted Scholars Finalist
    Bryce Donner University of Florida
  • Headshot of Karen Lomas-Gutierrez, 2018 National Olmsted Scholars Finalist
    Karen Lomas-Gutierrez University of California, Davis

2017 National Olmsted Scholars and Finalists

The winners and finalists were selected from a group of 50 graduate and 31 undergraduate students nominated by their faculty for their exceptional leadership potential. Learn more and see the full group of 2017 LAF Olmsted Scholars here

  • Headshot of David de la Cruz, 2017 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    Davíd de la Cruz University of Washington
  • Headshot of Catharine McCord, 2017 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Catharine McCord University of Colorado Denver
  • Headshot of Ruth Nervig, 2017 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Ruth Nervig City College of New York
  • Headshot of Ylan Vo, 2017 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Ylan Vo Washington University in St. Louis
  • Headshot of Lauren Delbridge, 2017 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    Lauren Delbridge Virginia Tech
  • Headshot of Kristi Lin, 2017 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Kristi Lin University of California, Davis
  • Headshot of Nathania Martinez, 2017 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Nathania Martinez University of Florida
  • Headshot of Stephen Zimmerer, 2017 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Stephen Zimmerer The Pennsylvania State University

2016 National Olmsted Scholars and Finalists

The winners and finalists were selected from a group of 45 graduate and 32 undergraduate students nominated by their faculty for their exceptional leadership potential. Learn more and see the full group of 2016 LAF Olmsted Scholars here

  • Headshot of Azzurra Cox, 2016 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    Azzurra Cox Harvard University
  • Headshot of Jorge Alarcon, 2016 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Jorge Alarcón University of Washington
  • Headshot of Olivia Fragale, 2016 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Olivia Fragale Boston Architectural College
  • Headshot of Ellen Oettinger White, 2016 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Ellen Oettinger White Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
  • Headshot of Casey Howard, 2016 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    Casey Howard University of Oregon
  • Headshot of Kate Chesebrough, 2016 National Olmsted Scholars Finalist
    Kathryn Chesebrough SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
  • Headshot of David Duperault, 2016 National Olmsted Scholars Finalist
    David Duperault North Carolina A&T State University
  • Headshot of Lyna Nget, 2016 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Lyna Nget University of Washington

2015 National Olmsted Scholars and Finalists

The winners and finalists were selected from a group of 43 graduate and 29 undergraduate students nominated by their faculty for their exceptional leadership potential. Learn more and see the full group of 2015 LAF Olmsted Scholars here

  • Headshot of Grant Fahlgren, 2015 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    Grant Fahlgren University of British Columbia
  • Headshot of Andrea Johnson, 2015 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Andrea Johnson City College of New York
  • Headshot of Teresa Pereira, 2015 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Teresa Pereira Temple University
  • Headshot of Harris Trobman, 2015 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Harris Trobman University of Maryland
  • Headshot of Maria Munoz, 2015 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    Maria Muñoz Louisiana State University
  • Headshot of Erin McDonald, 2015 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Erin McDonald Iowa State University
  • Headshot of Nathaniel Oakley, 2015 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Nathaniel Oakley University of California, Davis
  • Headshot of Daniel Xu, 2015 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Zhicheng (Daniel) Xu Purdue University

2014 National Olmsted Scholars and Finalists

The winners and finalists were selected from a group of 45 graduate and 30 undergraduate students nominated by their faculty for their exceptional leadership potential. Learn more and see the full group of 2014 LAF Olmsted Scholars here

  • Headshot of Sara Zewde, 2014 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    Sara Zewde Harvard University
  • Headshot of VeraEve Giampietro, 2014 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    VeraEve Giampietro University of Washington
  • Headshot of Harriett Jameson, 2014 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Harriett Jameson University of Virginia
  • Headshot of Anneliza Kaufer, 2014 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Anneliza Kaufer University of Pennsylvania
  • Headshot of Erin Percevault, 2014 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    Erin Percevault Louisiana State University
  • Headshot of Viviana Castro, 2014 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Viviana Castro University of Florida
  • Headshot of Clemente Rico, 2014 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Clemente Rico Arizona State University
  • Headshot of Blythe Worstell, 2014 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Blythe Worstell The Ohio State University

2013 National Olmsted Scholars and Finalists

In 2013, LAF began offering separate awards for graduates and undergraduates. Each university could nominate one student from each of its accredited landscape architecture programs. The winners and finalists were selected from a group of 39 graduate and 28 undergraduate students nominated by their faculty for their exceptional leadership potential. Learn more and see the full group of 2013 LAF Olmsted Scholars here

  • Headshot of Leann Andrews, 2013 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    Leann Andrews University of Washington
  • Headshot of Jose Alvarez, 2013 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Jose Alvarez Florida International University
  • Headshot of Tina Chee, 2013 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Tina Chee University of Southern California
  • Headshot of Graham Prentice, 2013 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Graham Prentice University of Pennsylvania
  • Headshot of McKenzie Wilhelm, 2013 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    McKenzie Wilhelm The Ohio State University
  • Headshot of Zachary Barker, 2013 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Zachary Barker SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
  • Headshot of Pamela Blackmore, 2013 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Pamela Blackmore Utah State University
  • Headshot of Eliza Rodrigs, 2013 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Eliza Rodrigs University of Massachusetts, Amherst

2012 National Olmsted Scholar and Finalists

The winner and finalists were selected from a group of 46 graduate and undergraduate students nominated by their faculty for their exceptional leadership potential. Learn more and see the full group of 2012 LAF Olmsted Scholars here

  • Headshot of Jack Ohly, 2012 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    Jack Ohly University of Pennsylvania
  • Headshot of Marin Braco, 2012 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Marin Braco SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
  • Headshot of Tina Chee, 2013 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Tina Chee University of Southern California
  • Headshot of Tera Hatfield, 2012 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Tera Hatfield University of Washington
  • Headshot of Fadi Masoud, 2012 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Fadi Masoud Harvard University

2011 National Olmsted Scholar and Finalists

The winners and finalists were selected from a group of 40 graduate and undergraduate students nominated by their faculty for their exceptional leadership potential.

  • Headshot of Kate Tooke, 2011 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    Kate Tooke University of Massachusetts, Amherst
  • Headshot of Charles Hamilton, 2011 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Charles Hamilton SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
  • Headshot of Alison Hirsch, 2011 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Alison Hirsch University of Pennsylvania
  • Headshot of Sarah Primeau, 2011 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Sarah Primeau University of British Columbia
  • Headshot of Abigail Shemoel, 2011 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Abigail Shemoel Ball State University
  • Headshot of Andrew Zientek, 2011 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Andrew Zientek Harvard University

2010 National Olmsted Scholar and Finalists

The winner and finalists were selected from a group of 38 graduate and undergraduate students nominated by their faculty for their exceptional leadership potential.

  • Headshot of Emily Vogler, 2010 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    Emily Vogler University of Pennsylvania
  • Headshot of David Godshall, 2010 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    David Godshall University of California, Berkeley
  • Headshot of Lauren Hackney, 2010 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Lauren Hackney University of Virginia
  • Headshot of Chris Hardy, 2010 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Christopher Roth Hardy Cornell University
  • Headshot of Caitlin Harrigan, 2010 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Caitlin Harrigan University of British Columbia
  • Headshot of Amanda Jeter, 2010 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Amanda Jeter University of Colorado, Denver

2009 National Olmsted Scholar and Finalists

The winner and finalists were selected from a group of 28 graduate and undergraduate students nominated by their faculty for their exceptional leadership potential.

  • Headshot of David Malda, 2009 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    David Malda University of Virginia
  • Headshot of Peter Emerson, 2009 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Peter Emerson Temple University
  • Headshot of Brent Jacobsen, 2010 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Brent Jacobsen University of Arizona
  • Headshot of Tim Mollette-Parks, 2010 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Timothy Mollette-Parks University of California, Berkeley
  • Headshot of Emily Vogler, 2010 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    Emily Vogler University of Pennsylvania

2008 National Olmsted Scholar and Finalists

In the inaugural year of the LAF Olmsted Scholars Program, each university could nominate one student. A winner, runner up, and three other finalists were selected from the group of 24 nominees.

  • Headshot of Andrea Gaffney, 2008 LAF National Olmsted Scholar
    Andrea Gaffney University of California, Berkeley
  • Headshot of Stephanie Bailey, 2008 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Stephanie Bailey University of Oregon
  • Headshot of Karl Krause, 2008 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Karl Krause University of Virginia
  • Headshot of Ellen Pond, 2008 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    Ellen Pond University of British Columbia
  • Headshot of David Vogel, 2008 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist
    David Vogel Kansas State University

The LAF Olmsted Scholars Program is made possible with support from our generous sponsors. Promotion support is provided by the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Program Sponsors

Finalist Awards

Thanks to the generous support of LAF’s 50 & Forward Campaign donors, starting in 2018, the Olmsted Scholar finalist awards increased from $1,000 to $5,000 for graduate students and $3,000 for undergraduates.

See campaign donors