On Wednesday, July 31, 2024, students from the Department of Landscape Architecture + Environmental and Urban Design brought home multiple awards after impressing judges in a blind jury competition. This prestigious event took place at the ASLA Florida 2024 Annual Conference & Expo in Orlando, Florida.
Every year, the ASLA Florida Student Design Awards recognize the exceptional accomplishments of Landscape Architecture students from the University of Florida and Florida International University.
This year, FIU LAEUD students received high honors in design categories such as Research and Communication, Planning and Analysis, Preservation and Conservation, and more. Our students secured 11 out of 18 blind-juried state-level student design awards.
Throughout the three-day conference, students gained valuable insights during sessions, explored new materials and construction techniques, and represented their student chapter at the executive committee meeting.
They also connected with leading design professionals, presented their research for feedback during sessions, and had the opportunity to meet with ASLA leadership. This event not only recognized students for their designs but also rewarded their hard work and academic dedication, leading to internships, job offers, and scholarships.
Student Achievements in Landscape Architecture
We are proud to announce the outstanding accomplishments of our students in the 2024 ASLA Student Honor and Merit Awards and other distinguished categories. Congratulations to all!
Award of Merit: Research and Communications Category
- Katherine Galaz
Faculty Advisor: Linda Chamorro
Project Title: Preserving Island Paradises: The Impact of Regenerative Landscape on Ecotourism
Award of Excellence: Planning and Analysis Awards Category
- Mitzi Napoles
Faculty Advisor: Linda Chamorro
Project Title: DAKOTA: An Urban Design Framework for Micro-Entrepreneurship
Award of Excellence: Open Space Awards Category
- Katherine Galaz, Divina Herzog, Krishna Villar
Faculty Advisors: Linda Chamorro & Ebru Ozer
Project Title: AquaCool Canals: Mitigating Heat Islands Through Innovative Landscapes
Award of Honor: Planning & Analysis Awards Category
- Milena Chavez, Sofia Hernandez, Raquel Rosati
Faculty Advisors: Ebru Ozer & Linda Chamorro
Project Title: Greening West Little River: From Heat to Harvest
Award of Merit: Planning & Analysis Awards Category
- Mitzi Napoles
Faculty Advisors: Linda Chamorro & Ebru Ozer
Project Title: Canopy Color: A Placemaking Toolkit to Mitigate Heat
Award of Excellence: Institutional Awards Category
- Jaimundo Gulapa, Derrek Roncek, Gabriel Valdes-Recio (ARC), Kaylee Sosa (ARC)
Faculty Advisors: Roberto Rovira, Linda Chamorro, Camilo Rosales (ARC)
Project Title: Rookery Bay ELC Expansion: Promenade of Preservation
Award of Excellence: Planning and Analysis Awards Category
- Valeriia Tolkacheva, Karen Dorra, Jose Rodriguez (ARC), Nicholas Ramirez (ARC)
Faculty Advisors: Roberto Rovira & Cynthia Ottchen (ARC)
Project Title: Machine in the Garden: Live Work & Play: Waterland Urban Framework
Award of Merit: Institutional Awards Category
- Karen Dorra, Valeriia Tolkacheva, Jose Rodriguez (ARC), Nicholas Ramirez (ARC)
Faculty Advisors: Roberto Rovira & Cynthia Ottchen (ARC)
Project Title: Machine in the Garden: Fish Farm
Award of Honor: Preservation and Conservation Awards Category
- Sofia Hernandez
Faculty Advisor: Michael Del Giudice
Project Title: Baywood Oasis: Renewing Coastal Harmony
Award of Merit: Residential Awards Category
- Karen Dorra
Faculty Advisor: Gianno Feoli
Project Title: Thinking Urbanism: Designing Beyond One Size Fits All Cities
Award of Honor: Research and Communications Awards Category
- Valeriia Tolkacheva
Faculty Advisor: Gianno Feoli
Project Title: The Costly Truth About Lawns: A Toolkit for a Sustainable Alternative
ASLA 2024 Student Honor and Merit Awards
- Mitzi Napoles – Award of Honor
- Valeriia Tolkacheva – Award of Honor
- Jessica Fuentes – Award of Merit
- Amy Wieland-Carlson – Award of Merit
FIU LAEUD students are excited to make their mark in the world of Landscape Architecture and Design as the Fall 2024 semester unfolds.
