UGA sophomore among first recipients of LAF Ignite scholarship

The scholarship is a multi-year, nationwide program for landscape architecture college students who are Black, Indigenous and men and women of coloration

Ezra Lewis of Atlanta, a next-calendar year Honors undergraduate at the College of Ga, was 1 of four college students selected for the inaugural cohort of the Landscape Architecture Foundation’s Ignite application. She joins college students from the Rhode Island School of Style and design, University of Washington and College of Pennsylvania.

A multi-yr, nationwide system for landscape architecture college students who are Black, Indigenous and folks of coloration, LAF Ignite presents an once-a-year scholarship of $10,000, paid out summer time internships and ongoing mentorship. The inaugural cohort starts its programming this thirty day period, and as new cohorts are extra, they will obtain for virtual conferences and peer-to-peer mentorship.

The scholarship is the Landscape Architecture Foundation’s centered effort and hard work “to make the self-control of landscape architecture as diverse as the communities in which landscape architects operate.” For the initial two a long time, it is open up to Black/African American college students and will then open to all learners of colour.

“To be named to the preliminary cohort of the LAF Ignite application is certainly excellent, and we are so happy of Ezra,” reported Meg Amstutz, dean of the Morehead Honors University. “We can’t wait to see the place these opportunities lead for the betterment of communities and the setting.”

A CURO Honors Scholar in the Morehead Honors College or university, Lewis is majoring in landscape architecture in the Faculty of Atmosphere and Structure with a small in horticulture from the College or university of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Lewis options to use the constructed setting to boost sustainable and reciprocal associations in between communities and the atmosphere. She would like to style and design areas that could be used for horticulture education and learning and foods manufacturing for community communities to tackle foods deserts, although spurring neighborhood financial investment and emphasizing historic preservation.

“We are so very pleased of Ezra and this amazing prospect,” reported Sonia Hirt, dean of the College of Surroundings and Style. “To be one of the first awardees of the new LAF Ignite Application is a outstanding accomplishment. We seem ahead to supporting Ezra’s continued accomplishment as she finishes her training and cannot hold out to see what constructive impacts she will make in the long term.”

With Alfred Vick, Georgia Electricity Professor in Environmental Ethics in the University of Ecosystem and Layout, Lewis conducts analysis in biophilic design and style, which facilities on human connectivity to the all-natural environment. Lewis’ analysis focuses on position and recording biophilic areas on UGA’s campus and recording the consequences that getting in these spaces have on students’ psychological health.

“By planning areas that uplift the local community and contribute to the wellbeing and basic safety of a populace and their setting, I think that I can assistance spur generational modify that will past extended just after I am gone,” Lewis reported. “After completing my diploma, I am excited to set this hypothesis into exercise when I enter the workforce.”

Lewis is a resident assistant with UGA Housing and a contributing author with the Ga Landscape Journal. She interned with the UGArden College student Group Farm in spring 2022 and was a member of the NCNW UGA Chapter, which fosters local community and support for Black girls on UGA’s campus. As a higher college university student, Lewis served on the Atlanta Community Universities Fairness Advisory Policy Taskforce.

Just about every yr, three to 5 students will be selected to take part in the LAF Ignite program right until they have completed their landscape architecture degree. The program is designed to triumph over specific barriers confronted by BIPOC college students to remain in university, graduate and enter landscape architecture observe.

For far more data on the LAF Ignite application, stop by https://www.lafoundation.org/what-we-do/scholarships/laf-ignite.