Anna Lawrence Bierbrauer (MLA '12) and Emily Lowery (MLA '12) received the Women in Landscape Architecture Student Leadership Award from ASLA-MN. The award recognizes the accomplishments of emerging women leaders in the field of landscape architecture.

As first year MLA students, Bierbrauer and Lowery (pictured left) were inspired by the  theories and questions  addressed within landscape architecture, but frustrated by the lack of outlet to practice those concepts. "We co-founded Students for Design Activism as a forum to create, address, and apply our ideas," explained Bierbrauer. "Through our own pluck and gumption we've found that we can define our own path into professional practice rather than following the standard approach." Their current project, Three Ring Gardens, is focused on creating a new dialogue around open space in the Twin Cities.

In recognition of academic excellence during their time in the Master of Landscape Architecture program, recent MLA graduates Anna Lawrence Bierbrauer and Kristen Murray received  2012 ASLA-MN Honor Awards. Brit Salmela and Tiffani Navratil received  2012 ASLA Merit Awards. The four candidates presented their work to a panel of registered landscape architects on the ASLA-MN board this spring and were recognized for their achievements during the ASLA-MN Awards Celebration and Gala on April 20.

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