Congratulations to all the students recognized by MDASLA for their design work!
Above: Amina Mohamed, Kathleen Hayes, Stephanie Bartas, Brittney Wood, Nathan Allen, Hanyang Liu, and Kim Jacobs
Graduate students:
Nathan Allen
| A 2005 graduate of the turfgrass science program at Penn State University, Nathan worked in the Baltimore area as a golf course superintendent for almost 10 years before returning to the University of Maryland in 2013 to pursue a graduate degree in Landscape Architecture. Nathan attributes his previous professional experience to the persistent work ethic and attention to detail that has gone into every studio project. For his thesis, Nathan explored repurposing one of five Baltimore municipal golf courses for urban agriculture. Located directly in the heart of some of Baltimore's worst food deserts conditions, his design will create an urban agriculture hub designed in a park-like setting. The design will not only bring relief to local residents dealing with food insecurity but also provide a supportive environment for the growing urban agriculture businesses in Baltimore. Following graduation Nathan will be rejoining his fiancee in North Carolina where she is currently in a residency program. Nathan hopes to use his new skills and knowledge to pursue a career in parks and recreation design. |
Kathleen Hayes
| Kathleen's masters thesis investigated regenerative storm water design in an urban context focused on small site application. This technique had not been previously applied in Baltimore. Her work also included numerous landscape performance metrics. Kathleen won a MDASLA Honor award for her innovative work and her team placed first in the demonstration project category of the Environmental Protection Agency's Campus RainsWorks Challenge. |
Amina Mohamed
| Amina Mohamed is a dual-degree Landscape Architecture and Community Planning master’s candidate at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is the Masters of Landscape Architecture Program’s 2016 Olmsted Scholar nominee. She presented collaborative works at three conferences since 2013. Amina also participated in multiple competitions; in 2014, she was a member of the 1st place team for the Urban Land Institute’s Hines Competition. In addition, her team won Honorable Mention in the 2015 EPA’s Campus Rainworks Competition. Her master’s thesis entitled Shifting Scales, Adjusting Lenses: A Framework for Investigating Baltimore’s Urban Vacancy, used a series of investigations to analyze spatial patterns of vacant buildings and vacant lots within the city. This research led to the development of a proposed strategy of intervention. Amina hopes to continue her research of urban vacancy, working with local partners in Baltimore. |
Undergraduate students:
Stephanie Bartas
| The design Stephanie presented to the jury focused on assisting Cambridge, MD in adapting to sea level rise and storm surge while providing an economically and socially beneficial waterfront walk. Her team incorporated community education about sea level rise and other issues facing the neighboring Choptank River and Chesapeake Bay into their design within a floodable park and a historic event venue. The design highlights the beauty of the waterfront and the potential Cambridge has to adapt to sea level rise. Stephanie won a MDASLA Honor Award. |
Kim Jacobs
| Kim Jacobs’ unique upbringing in post-apartheid Johannesburg, South Africa instilled in her a determination to create a world in which all people have equal access to beautiful landscapes. At the University of Maryland, she was involved in research, and co-authored a scholarly article on the effects of green space on academic performance. Her internship experience in the professional field, as well as her leadership positions in the UMD Student chapter of ASLA have led her to receive the LAF Olmsted Scholar nomination and a MDASLA Merit Award. Graduating with Latin honors this May, she plans on leading the way toward a deeper understanding of the importance of green space on all aspects of human health and well-being, while expanding landscape services to all humans alike. |
Hanyang Liu
| Hanyang's dream is to build the best theme park on earth. He loves to travel and experience new cultures. Hanyang was one of the outstanding participants in a study abroad course in Italy the summer of 2015. He likes to design projects that are bold and unconventional. His imagination and enthusiasm has no bounds. He is the winner of a MDASLA Merit Award. |
Brittney Wood
| Brittney Wood is a senior Honors college student in the undergraduate landscape architecture program and received a MDASLA 2016 Honor Award. Her senior capstone project was entitled "Destination: Sailwinds, the Premier Eastern Shore Waterfront Destination." Her design focused on blending small town tourist amenities with waterfront attractions and environmental interaction. The research she did on the local area, the native plant and animal species, and sea level rise-conscious shoreline solutions, as well as the attention she gave to the client's vision for the site, were clearly implemented in her design." |
