2021 Distinguished Practitioner & Student Awards

This chapter program recognizes outstanding individual practitioners and students for their achievements in four practice areas; Academic, Public, Private and Student. The 2021 award categories are:  Lifetime Achievement, Distinguished Practitioner, and Distinguished Student.  

Nomination is easy – we request the name and email of the nominee.  Each nominee will have the opportunity to confirm their eligibility and prepare their application materials (Due December 3).

Important Dates

Nominations Due: October 26th.

Candidate Application Due: December 3rd.

Distinguished Practitioner 

Fletcher Steele or Ellen Shipman

This award recognizes an outstanding individual practitioner for their achievements in three areas - design, leadership, and ASLA Chapter involvement.

Eligible candidates will have a minimum of 10 years in practice. ASLA membership is not required; however it is highly desirable and will be given preferential treatment by the jury. Open to individuals in practice areas including Academic, Private and Public or any combination of these areas. Only one award per year may be conferred in each practice area, for a maximum of three awards.

  • Distinguished Academic Practitioner

  • Distinguished Public Practitioner or Not-For-Profit Practitioner

  • Distinguished Private Practitioner

Distinguished Student 

Bradford G. Sears or Liberty Hyde Bailey

This award recognizes students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and service within the Department of Landscape Architecture or in other activities in the community related to the profession.

Eligible candidates will be enrolled in an accredited BLA or MLA program. BLA candidates will have completed a minimum of 80% of their degree requirements (4 years). MLA candidates will have completed a minimum of 2 years of their degree requirements; a completed Capstone or Thesis is not required provided a waiver endorsing the candidate is written by the Department Chair. Candidates must have a 3.50 or higher GPA. Open to students at Cornell and SUNY ESF. ASLA student chapter membership is required. Two awards per year may be conferred; one to a student at each school.

  • Distinguished Cornell Student

  • Distinguished SUNY ESF Student

Lifetime Achievement 

This award recognizes an individual practitioner for their contributions to the profession over their career.  This is an Executive Committee nominated award.