Kalamazoo, MI – Landscape Forms has announced the award winner for its Design for People Scholarship. The $3,000 scholarship was created in partnership with the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) and is open to landscape architecture students in their senior year of undergraduate study in a Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board accredited program.
The jury has named Ms. Julie Murphy from North Carolina State University as the 2009 Landscape Forms Design for People Scholarship recipient. Ms. Murphy states, “I would love to be able to design places so that all facets of human society are not only more ecologically sensitive, but also community-based, fostering a healthier world for generations to come. I am so thankful for the funds and encouragement this scholarship has given me.”
Applicants to the award must demonstrate a proven contribution to the design and development of public spaces, which integrate good design and promote the interaction of people. The scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic/creative accomplishment, as demonstrated by school transcripts, academic or internship project work and two letters of recommendation. Finally, applicants must submit a one-page statement describing the qualities they believe essential to the creation of great and successful public spaces. Scholarship entries are forwarded to the offices of the LAF in mid-February for jurying.
The LAF, founded in 1966, was created to support the preservation, improvement and enhancement of the environment. During its 40-year history, the foundation has supported this mission primarily through publications, conferences and scholarships. In recent years LAF has diversified its programs to study and improve the environment from numerous vantage points. The LAF headquarters is at 818 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006.
Landscape Forms was founded on the commitment to good design and concern for the well-being of people. Bill Main, President of Landscape Forms, stated, “It is fitting that an award in our name honors excellence in what matters most to us – addressing how people use outdoor spaces. We appreciate the ways in which the design of spaces and amenities can enhance and enrich the experience of those who use them. We are pleased to award a scholarship to a landscape architecture student who demonstrates passion, commitment and competence in creating great spaces for people.”
Ms. Murphy revealed that she will use the funds from her award to help pay for the final year of her bachelor’s in landscape architecture program at NC State University’s Department of Landscape Architecture. She stated, “I intend to continue learning about and designing for people first and foremost. Some of my interests include designing communities and urban fabric, children’s environments, community gardens and public parks. I’m also interested in design in the context of ecological sensitivity, brownfields and reducing the built environment’s focus on the automobile.”
Landscape Forms is based in Kalamazoo, MI. The 40-year old company’s product list includes outdoor furniture and accessories. Clients include such well-recognized companies as Boeing, Cisco Systems, Hewlett Packard, Harvard University, Disney, Chrysler, Mayo Clinic, Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo, Sprint, American Airlines, LaGuardia Airport, Microsoft, Nike, United States Tennis Association and many others. www.landscapeforms.com.
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