Landscape Forms Shane Coen Scholarship for Diversity in Design

AWARD: $5,000
DEADLINE: February 1

Established in memory of celebrated landscape architect, visionary designer, and Landscape Forms Board Member Shane Coen, FASLA, this scholarship honors Shane’s lifelong commitment to connecting people with nature and one another through thoughtful, inclusive, and diverse design. Shane believed that the landscape has the power to heal, inspire, and bring communities together — a philosophy that continues to shape the profession he helped define.

This award reflects Landscape Forms' enduring belief that diversity in thought, experience, and identity leads to richer, more human-centered design. The scholarship celebrates Shane’s legacy of empathy, creativity, and environmental stewardship by supporting Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) students pursuing undergraduate degrees in landscape architecture.

The Landscape Forms Shane Coen Scholarship for Diversity in Design is open to BIPOC students currently enrolled in LAAB- or LAAC-accredited programs in the U.S. or Canada who demonstrate financial need, academic achievement, and a commitment to advancing the discipline of landscape architecture. To be eligible, applicants cannot currently be in their final year of study. 

Through this scholarship, Landscape Forms seeks to nurture the next generation of leaders who, like Shane, see landscape architecture as a means to restore humanity’s bond with the earth and one another.

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:

• Financial Aid Form
  Complete this online form with information about your financial needs and any financial assistance you currently receive.
• 1 Letter of Recommendation
  The letter should be from a professor and speak to your commitment to the program and potential for impact on the landscape architecture discipline. Provide the e-mail address for each recommender and instructions will be sent to them.
• Essay (2 page max)
  Upload your original essay in PDF format. In 500 words or less, describe why you chose landscape architecture as an area of study and what impact you hope to have on the discipline. Please also share your areas of passion where you have demonstrated leadership in the classroom or in extracurricular activities. The essay should be no more than two pages 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.

*Applicants should indicate their association with a specific ethnic or cultural group on the last question of the General Submission Form.