Landscape Architecture Students and Alumni Honored at ASLA FL Conference

A large, diverse group of people poses enthusiastically outdoors around a round bush, many pointing towards a person crouching in the center of the greenery. Bright sunlight, trees, and umbrellas create a cheerful atmosphere.

Thursday, August 1, 2024
By: Kyle Niblett

Seven University of Florida Department of Landscape Architecture (UF LA) students received design awards at the 2024 Florida Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects Conference + Expo this past Wednesday. In addition, several alumni from the department took home awards at the annual event inside the Renaissance Orlando at Sea World.

“Their achievements reflect our commitment to advancing the field of landscape architecture through rigorous academic training and practical application,” said Department Chair Jules Bruck, Ph.D., who was also honored for being elected as an ASLA Fellow. “We look forward to their continued contributions to shaping resilient, sustainable, and aesthetically enriching environments.”

The ASLA Florida Student Design Awards recognize academic achievement, design competence, and interpersonal skills, and are distributed to outstanding students in programs across the state.

In addition to the student accolades, UF LA graduates Juanita Shearer-Swink (Jeffrey Siegel Leadership Award, BLAE ‘73), Raymond Jungles (ASLA Design Medal, BLAE ’81), Laurie Hall (ASLA FL Service Award, BLAE ‘09) and Nicole Plunkett (President’s Award, BLAE ’10) all took home awards.

2024 ASLA FL STUDENT DESIGN AWARD WINNERS FROM UF

Name: Carly Delay
Award: Award of Honor
Project Title: A Theme of Caring: Master Planning a Teaching Zoo to Reveal the Back-of House Operations, Gainesville, FL
Category: Resort and Entertainment
Faculty Advisor: Kevin Thompson

Name: Abby Boe
Award: Award of Honor
Project Title: Beyond the Storm: A Resilient Future for Cedar Key, FL
Category: Commercial Category
Faculty Advisor: Yi Luo, Jules Bruck, Andrea Galinski

Name: Haoting Hong
Award: Award of Honor
Project Title: From Pastoral to Pedagogical: The Dhangar’s Journey in Maharashtra’s Education Landscape
Category: Institutional Category
Faculty Advisor: Alpa Nawre

Two women smiling at an awards event. One holds a certificate for the 2024 ASLA Design Awards, Award of Excellence, titled Reconnecting Threads: Restoring Gainesville’s Urban Ecology. Colorful curtains are in the background.

Names: Gabriella Gilliam
Award: Award of Excellence
Project Title: Reconnecting Threads: Restoring Gainesville’s Urban Ecology
Category: Planning and Analysis Category
Faculty Advisor: Alpa Nawre

Two women stand smiling on stage. One holds a certificate that reads 2024 Design Awards of Honor with purple and blue lights in the background. Both are wearing name badges around their necks.

Name: Victoria Francis
Award: Award of Honor
Project Title: Return to Nature: Prairie Creek Lodge and Conservation Cemetery
Category: Open Space Category
Faculty Advisor: Yi Luo

Four people stand on a stage smiling at the camera; one person in the middle holds a certificate. The background is lit with green and blue lights. They are dressed in semi-formal and business casual attire.

Names: Gunnar Gierschke, Caroline Gordon, Elizabeth Myers
Award: Award of Honor
Project Title: Rooted In Sunshine: A Habitat for Humanity
Category: Residential Category
Faculty Advisor: Jiayang Li

Name: Weishunhua Zhang
Award: Award of Honor
Project Title: The Restorative Garden: Focusing Garden Design Principles for Users with Sensory Sensitivities
Category: Research and Communications
Faculty Advisor: Kevin Thompson & Yi Luo

2024 ASLA FL STUDENT DESIGN AWARD WINNERS FROM UF

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