Stuckeman School student named national equity, diversity, inclusion scholar

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Alexandria Warren, an incoming second-year landscape architecture student in the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture's Stuckeman School, has been named a recipient of the Landscape Architecture Foundation's (LAF) LandDesign Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship.

The distinction comes with a $5,000 award and participation in the LandDesign mentoring program for the 2023-24 academic year.

A native of Ossining, New York, Warren is the secretary of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students, Penn State chapter. She said the scholarship will help support her academic goals as well as give her opportunities to elevate her skills through the mentorship program.

“I am honored to be a recipient of this award specifically because there is a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, which is something I'm passionate about,” said Warren. “This scholarship gives me the motivation to continue working toward my goals and to continue pushing myself toward opportunities that are outside of my comfort zone.”

Warren said she became interested in studying landscape architecture because of its ability to elevate communities through beautification and sustainability efforts.

“I knew I had a love for art and an interest in bettering the quality of life of others through a social and environmental perspective, so I knew landscape architecture was the right choice for me,” Warren said.

She said she chose Penn State because of the sense of community it instills in students despite their differences, with the goal of learning and growing together.

“I appreciate the Stuckeman School for holding landscape architecture in high regard and for providing students with a wide range of opportunities at our fingertips,” said Warren.

Established by LandDesign, Inc., a design firm offering urban design, planning, civil engineering and landscape architecture solutions to public, private and federal sector clients, the LAF scholarship was established to assist students from underrepresented groups who are pursuing a degree in landscape architecture. It is awarded to two students nationally.

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