Thursday, July 17, 2025
By: Kyle Niblett
Ranging from third grade to 10th grade, many of the young boys had never stepped foot on a college campus, let alone interacted with professionals in an intimate setting.
That all changed this past month, when the group from Kut Different had their minds opened to possibilities they never considered via the University of Florida Department of Landscape Architecture.
The opportunity came when Nicole Plunkett (BLAE ’10), leader of the Future Landscape Architects of America (FLAA), brought up the idea to UF LA Director Jules Bruck, Ph.D. Along with the department, the FLAA supported, organized and participated in the event.
“Our collaboration with Kut Different and the Future Landscape Architects of America (FLAA) reflects our commitment to increasing the visibility of landscape architecture,” Bruck said. “We all enjoyed seeing their curiosity and creativity as they imagined their own park designs and the realization that designing a park or other community amenities is the preview of landscape architecture.”
Instructional Assistant Professor Aishwarya Shankar was the instructor for the students during the “Intro to LA Workshop,” teaching the nearly 30 schoolboy’s basic skills in visual communication, storytelling, and preparing them to think like designers. Then, they conducted a design charette in the format of a design studio, so that the students were able to do landscape design based on the skills they learned in the morning. There was even a UF Gator Corp presentation during lunch. The workshop ended with students pinning up and presenting their work in the John and Anne Sofarelli Family Gallery.
The collaboration between the department, Kut Different, and FLAA was a powerful example of what is possible when education, mentorship, and community engagement intersect. FLAA’s involvement focused on introducing young people to the profession of landscape architecture in an inspiring and hands-on way. By partnering with Kut Different and UF, FLAA was able to connect students, many of whom had never heard of landscape architecture before, with professionals, alumni, and current UF students who shared real-world experiences and career journeys. This type of outreach has always been central to FLAA’s mission: expanding awareness of the profession, especially in communities that have been historically underrepresented in design.
“Exposure is the bridge to belief,” said Jamie Gilmore Jr., CEO and co-founder of Kut Different. “What the University of Florida offered our boys wasn’t just a workshop, it was a moment that expanded their minds and shifted what they see as possible for their future. At Kut Different, we believe young men can only aspire to what they’ve seen. That day, they saw creativity, professionalism, and purpose in a way many never have before. Experiences like this are exactly how we disrupt cycles and build future leaders. When institutions like UF open their doors, they help us rewrite narratives and replace limitations with vision.”
As a result, the impact was immediate. The boys couldn’t stop talking about the experience all day and reflected on what they learned, the people they met, and how they saw their own creativity in a new light. The next day, the kids wrote essays about the experience and many shared that it was one of the best activities they’ve participated in.
“Workshops like this are not just ‘field trips,’” Gilmore Jr. said. “They are moments that plant seeds, seeds of interest, confidence, and self-belief.”
Plunkett said it was incredibly meaningful to see UF alumni come together to give back, share knowledge, and open doors for the next generation of Gators.
“As alumni, we carry both the responsibility and the privilege of shaping the future of our profession, and there is no better way to do that than by investing our time and energy into young people and our alma mater,” Plunkett said. “I hope it inspires more Gator alumni to stay connected and give back in their own ways, knowing that even a single conversation can spark a future career in landscape architecture.”
