Penn State Stuckeman School of Landscape Architecture Alumni Group header image with photo of eight students in LARCH 414: Advanced Design Studio pose during a field trip to Baltimore.

SPRING 2024 NEWSLETTER

Why does the Penn State Landscape Architecture APG exist?

The purpose of this APG shall be to stimulate the continued interest of all graduates of the department, to act as an advisory board to the department, and to provide a means whereby alumni may have enhanced relations and interactions with the department and for them to join for the improvement of the department in its entirety. Toward that purpose, the APG will lead efforts in financial support and development for the department’s benefit and stability.

Who is Penn State Landscape Architecture APG?

Membership in this APG is open to all graduates of this department, regardless of their membership in the Penn State Alumni Association. Membership will be conferred upon graduation from the program. Membership will be free to all members. The affairs of the APG shall be conducted by a Board of Directors consisting of 16 members, of which 11 are voting members.

Why this newsletter?

This newsletter is a way for the Penn State Landscape Architecture APG to communicate with the larger alumni community. We will keep you up to date on the latest APG initiatives, goals, and any relevant department updates.

Group photo of Landscape Architecture Student Society at the LASS Banquet.

Giving Tuesday Campaign and LASS Event

We want to extend a big THANK YOU to all the alumni who donated to our Giving Tuesday campaign in November 2023. We successfully raised $4,270 to put toward a Landscape Architecture Student Society (LASS) end-of-year event!

We had 28 individual donors participate in Giving Tuesday with an average donation over $150. Seven of the donors were recent graduates (in the last 10 years) and we are so grateful for everyone’s support!

LASS has been working to bring back an end-of-year event (formally known as the “LASS Banquet”), which will take place this year on Friday, April 12, 6–9 p.m., in the Stuckeman Jury Space (register here). The LASS Banquet is a shared memory that spans the decades of our program. The current student body has never had the opportunity to bring together students, faculty, and alumni to celebrate their achievements and hard work throughout the year, and we are thrilled we could help reinstate this event.

ASLA 2024 Conference promotional graphic over image of Washington D.C.'s monuments and waterway. Image courtesy of The American Society of Landscape Architects/Sean Pavone (istockphoto.com)

ASLA 2024 Conference Alumni Event—Save the Date!

Attending the National ASLA Conference in Washington, D.C. this October? Keep an eye out for a Penn State alumni event following one of the conference days.

Departmental News

Brian Peterka, assistant teaching professor of architecture, mentors a high school student on her cardboard building model. Credit: Brian Reed

Image courtesy of Brian Reed.

Architecture and Landscape Architecture Summer Camp Celebrates 20 Years

Camp open to high school students entering ninth grade through seniors, July 28 through Aug. 1

The College of Arts and Architecture’s Stuckeman School, in collaboration with Penn State Outreach, is celebrating 20 years of its Architecture and Landscape Architecture Summer Camp from July 28 through Aug. 1 in the Stuckeman Family Building on the University Park campus. Details >>

The Larkin siblings, Emily, Sarah and Alex. Credit: Penn State.

Trio of Siblings Find a Home in the College of Arts and Architecture

Many students who choose Penn State are influenced by family and friends, but for Emily, Sarah and Alex Larkin, the similarity in their educational journey doesn’t stop there.

The trio of alumni not only chose Penn State, but also the College of Arts and Architecture. Emily (class of 2016) and Sarah ( class of 2022) each earned bachelor of landscape architecture degrees and Alex (class of 2018) earned a bachelor’s degree in digital arts and media design. Details >>

Events

"Reunite for Blue and White" text over a group photo of three smiling women.

A&A Blue and White Tailgate

Saturday, April 13, 2024
11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. EST
Korner Tower Terrace

Register by April 11

The Stuckeman Family Building. Image courtesy of Patrick Mansell/Penn State.

LASS Banquet

Friday, April 12, 2024
6–9 p.m. EST
Stuckeman Jury Space

Register

APG Board—Call for Nominations

Are you looking for an opportunity to put on your Blue and White and serve?

The LArch Alumni Program Group (APG) is looking for candidates to run for three open board positions. All LArch alumni qualify to run for board membership. The terms are four years and will commence on July 1, 2024. The board meets three times a year with in-person meetings in the fall and spring. The winter meeting is virtual. Members who live within four hours of Penn State will be expected to attend the fall and spring meetings in person.

Purpose of the APG
The purpose of the Landscape Architecture APG shall be to stimulate the continued interest of all graduates of the department, to act as an advisory board to the department, and to provide a means whereby alumni may have enhanced relations and interactions with the department and for them to join together for the improvement of the department in its entirety. Toward that purpose, the APG Board of Directors will lead efforts in financial support and development for the department’s benefit and stability.

Please reach out to Lisa Thomas (lthomasrla@yahoo.com), APG immediate past president, for additional information.

A closeup of Stacy Levy's "Ridge and Valley" sculpture at The Arboretum at Penn State. The sculpture, made of Pennsylvania bluestone, illustrates the flow of water through the Spring Creek Watershed by using rainwater to animate creeks, streams and other landscape features carved into a stone map. Image courtesy of Laura Waldhier and Penn State.

Penn State Landscape Architecture Endowment

Thank you for continuing your contributions to the Penn State Landscape Architecture Endowment. Last year, this endowment made it possible for students to participate in the Ridge and Valley Field Trip, in addition to supporting the purchase of an augmented reality sandbox, which allows students to get a hands-on lesson in how topographical maps and contours work.

As always, the endowment program is open for donations.

If you’d like to donate to the Penn State LArch Endowment Fund, click here:
raise.psu.edu/LARCHProgramEndowment

APG Members

Terrie Brightman (2004)—President
Ashley Feitel (2014)—Vice President
Katie Kovalchik (2015)—Secretary
Chris Maurer (2014)—Treasurer
Ariana Braun (2025)—Board Member, LASS President
Lisa Thomas (1981)—Immediate Past President, A&A Liaison
Eliza Pennypacker—Board Member, Faculty Liaison
Jim DeTuerk (1961)—Board Member
Anjelyque Easley-Deluca (2020)—Board Member
Stacy Fisher (1979)—Board Member
Kelly Gutshall (1984)—Board Member
Evan Stone (1986)—Board Member
Chingwen Cheng—Director of Stuckeman School
Roxi Thoren—Department Head
Pam Krewson Wertz—Stuckeman School Director of Marketing
Kelsey Knight—Director of Alumni Relations & Stewardship
Ashley Hardison—Assistant Director of Alumni Relations

Interested in becoming a board member? We have elections every other year. Please reach out to Terrie Brightman (emailterrie@gmail.com) for more information.