SCHOLARSHIP FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE
STUDY OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Each year, the Chapter recognizes two students, one at each of the accredited landscape architectural programs within the state—University of Virginia, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University—based upon the recommendations of the faculty. The student scholarship recipients receive a certificate and a monetary award at the annual meeting.

2020 Award Recipients

Alex Arshadi - Virginia Tech

Alex Arshadi is an undergraduate student at Virginia Tech studying Landscape Architecture with a minor in Ecological Cities. His primary interest is in radically sustainable design, and he has participated in several award-winning Solar Decathlon design teams. His approach to design is informed by a background in music, previously pursuing a career as an orchestral percussionist before discovering Landscape Architecture. He is a research junkie at heart, and is always delighted to receive a good book recommendation.

Nick Wittkofski - University of Virginia

Born and raised in Richmond, Nicholas grew up visiting places such as Maymont, and the VMFA, with some of his fondest memories being lunches with his mom at the former sculpture garden designed by Lawrence Halprin. His interest in the arts was fostered at places like the Hand Workshop (now the Visual Arts Center), Trinity Episcopal School, and at Virginia Commonwealth University where he obtained his Bachelors of Fine Arts in Craft and Material studies. After school, he began working as a professional gardener, and gained an interest in nutrition, food security, and accessibility, finding his way to Allegheny Mountain Institute to practice sustainable farming methods, permaculture, and community engagement.

Through UVA, he discovered his love for travel and observing different cultural practices, attending the Vicenza program as a student, then later as a teaching assistant, studying Muskau Park in Germany with the Center for Cultural Landscapes, and traveling to Jaipur, India as part of the 2019 Yamuna River Project Studio. He aspires to one day have his own design-build firm, and live like a gnome on his own small permaculture farm. When he’s not working, he can be found going on long walks through the city, or watching British panel game shows like “Would I Lie to You?”