Meet the 2018 National Olmsted Scholar and Finalists: The Undergraduates

The Landscape Architecture Foundation’s Olmsted Scholars Program is the premier leadership award program for landscape architecture students. The program honors students with exceptional leadership potential who are using ideas, influence, communication, service, and leadership to advance sustainable design and foster human and societal benefits.

Here, we showcase the 2018 undergraduate winner and finalists, who were announced in April after being selected from a group of 35 undergraduate students nominated by their faculty. The winner receives $15,000, and each finalist receives $3,000.

They are among the 85 LAF Olmsted Scholars named in 2018 and will be honored on October 18-19 in Philadelphia at a luncheon, LAF’s 33rd Annual Benefit, and a celebration of 10 years of the Olmsted Scholars Program.

National Olmsted Scholar Karina Ramos of the University of Massachusetts Amherst

Karina discusses her plans to use her background in design of informal settlements to create a physical plan for Puente Piedra, an emerging town 55 km away from Lima, Peru.

National Olmsted Scholar Finalist Bryce Donner of the University of Florida

Bryce discusses his ideas about reframing our historical understanding of Florida’s springs and artfully redesigning spring landscapes in their ecological and cultural contexts.

National Olmsted Scholar Finalist Toni Candanedo of Arizona State University

Toni blends her background of graphic design and civil engineering to develop a South Phoenix neighborhood called Space of Opportunity, which will advocate and empower community members to better understand landscape architecture.