Fay Jones School Student Awarded Scholarship From Landscape Architecture Foundation

The basemap for the Underwood Park prairie restoration project. All renderings by Fiorella Sibaja.

A project for Underwood Park aimed to restore the wet prairie, increase the habitat and prevent seasonal flooding.

A project sited at the historic Pyeatte-Moore Mill at Cane Hill included the mill foundation, a water wheel and a creek.

An axon view of the Pyeatte-Moore Mill project at Cane Hill.

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Fiorella Sibaja, a landscape architecture student in the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, was awarded a 2023 ASLA Council of Fellows Scholarship from the Landscape Architecture Foundation.

Fiorella Sibaja, a second-year landscape architecture student in the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, was one of 16 undergraduate and graduate students from across the United States selected to receive a scholarship from the Landscape Architecture Foundation.

Sibaja was awarded $5,000 through a 2023 ASLA Council of Fellows Scholarship. In addition, Sibaja will receive paid registration and a travel stipend to attend the ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture in October in Minneapolis. Scholarship recipients will receive their awards at the conference.

The Landscape Architecture Foundation works to increase the capacity, influence and impact of landscape architects to create a more sustainable, just and resilient future. This year, the foundation will award more than $150,000 to students through 16 scholarships.

"The Landscape Architecture Foundation supports the development of future leaders in the profession," Ken McCown, Landscape Architecture Department head and professor, said. "Fio is an emerging leader in our program. As a faculty, we are excited to see her continued growth in landscape architecture and her passion to have an impact in communities where she researches and works."

Scott Biehle, teaching associate professor in landscape architecture, is one of Sibaja's instructors and academic advisers.

"I'm not surprised in the least that she has won this prestigious award," Biehle said. "Her passion, dedication and work ethic indicate a bright future."

Sibaja, from Bella Vista, said she is passionate about creating new and improved spaces and aims to use design to improve human and environmental health. She hopes to become a successful Hispanic landscape architect and help those who live in under-represented communities.

Sibaja became interested in design while watching HGTV shows related to designing homes and gardens. She said her interest in landscape architecture specifically grew after attending the Fay Jones School's summer Design Camp during high school.

Although Sibaja looked at design schools on the East Coast, she chose the Fay Jones School because of the atmosphere and its reputation as a design school. She said the faculty and staff have had a tremendous impact on her life.

"They always open my eyes to new solutions and ideas for my projects," Sibaja said. "They encourage me to be the best I can be; they push me to be better and better every time. And they are always along the way to guide me."

In studio, Sibaja said fellow students have become like family. They are there on hard days and on good days, and working so closely, they often learn from each other, getting ideas based off of one another's projects.

After graduation, Sibaja plans to pursue a Master in Landscape Architecture while gaining experience at a firm. She said her main goal is to make a difference in the world.

"My hope is that people see how important it is to take care of the planet and how this profession is vital," Sibaja said. "I want to keep the momentum of landscape architecture going and growing. I want for other professions to know how valuable is the work that we are doing is."

Luis Jorge Hernandez, a fourth-year landscape architecture student in the Fay Jones School from Fayetteville, received an ASLA Council of Fellows Scholarship in 2022.