LAF Honor Scholarship in Memory of Joe Lalli
Scholarship Sponsored by Landscape Architecture Foundation
Introduction
This scholarship in the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) honors Joseph J. Lalli, FASLA (1943–2014), and commemorates his 46-year career as a landscape architect, artist, mentor, teacher, and philanthropist. Joe Lalli served as chairman and a former president of EDSA and contributed to more than 500 projects across 40 countries. Known for his humility and generosity, he valued the impact of graduate study and wanted to expand access to advanced education for others.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be enrolled in a master’s degree program in landscape architecture that is accredited by LAAB or LAAC (post-baccalaureate or non-baccalaureate) at a U.S. or Canadian university.
- Minimum cumulative GPA: 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
- Applicants should demonstrate an interest in the areas Joe Lalli championed, such as drawing and other artistic pursuits, travel, and service to community and profession.
Selection criteria
Candidates will be judged on:
- Demonstrated design ability
- Leadership
- Character and integrity
- Service to others and to the landscape architecture profession
Financial need will also be taken into account.
How to apply
Follow the General Application Guidelines for instructions on accessing and using LAF’s online application portal. Applications that do not follow the stated guidelines or that arrive after deadlines will not be considered. LAF will not review materials beyond what is requested.
Required application materials
All applicants must submit the items listed below. File formats and limits are noted for each item:
1) General Submission Form
- Complete the online form with your contact details and information about your degree program.
2) Photo
- A color headshot in JPG format, minimum 1800 x 1200 pixels.
- Horizontally oriented, well-lit, simple background, showing entire head and shoulders.
- LAF reserves the right to use submitted photos on its website and in promotional materials.
3) Bio for LAF website
- One short bio (maximum 150 words) saved as PDF, DOC/DOCX, or TXT.
- Briefly describe your background, current studies, future goals, and personal interests.
4) Resume / CV
- PDF format, maximum 2 pages.
- Include education, professional experience, extracurricular activities, and honors/awards.
- Add the following header/footer on each page: Applicant Name / Resume / Scholarship Name and page number.
Additional materials specific to this scholarship
5) Financial Aid Form
- Complete the online form detailing your financial need and any existing financial assistance.
6) Two letters of recommendation
- Provide the email addresses of two recommenders; they will receive instructions to submit their letters.
- Recommenders should speak to the applicant’s notable qualities and give a concrete example demonstrating the applicant’s character and integrity.
7) Essay
- Upload a single PDF, maximum two pages and 500 words or fewer.
- Explain why graduate study is valuable to you and how it will enable you to continue work in the areas Joe Lalli emphasized (drawing, artistic pursuits, travel, and giving back to community and profession).
- Use at least 1-inch margins, a font size of 10-point or larger, and include no images or graphics.
- Include on each page: Applicant Name / Essay / Scholarship Name and page number.
8) Work samples
- One PDF (8.5" x 11") containing 3–6 projects, up to 6 pages total.
- Samples may be from academic or internship work. Provide explanatory text for each project; if a project was collaborative, indicate that and describe your role.
- If any portion of the submitted work was produced with artificial intelligence (AI), clearly identify those parts and explain the AI’s role.
- On each page include: Applicant Name / Work Samples / Scholarship Name and page number.
Note
All required documents must be uploaded through LAF’s online application system as specified. Incomplete applications or items submitted outside the stated requirements will not be reviewed.