September 23, 2009 — The Landscape Architecture Foundation announced recently that David Malda, a graduate student in the University of Virginia School of Architecture, is the 2009-10 National Olmsted Scholar, an honor bestowed upon the student who best exemplifies leadership in sustainable design and planning.
Now in its second year, the Olmsted Scholars Program solicits one nomination from every college and university landscape architecture program in the United States, from which one National Olmsted Scholar and four finalists are selected. Last year, Karl Krause, who received his master’s in landscape architecture in May, was a finalist in the inaugural program.
Malda expects to receive dual master’s degrees in architecture and landscape architecture in 2010.
The U.Va. Landscape Architecture Program nominated Malda for his outstanding scholarship and his leadership across several platforms: within studio; between disciplines; as a co-editor of the journal, lunch; within the Graduate Architecture and Landscape Architecture student group; and through other initiatives inside and outside of the Architecture School.
Malda received the award, which includes a $25,000 prize, at the American Society of Landscape Architects’ annual meeting in Chicago last week.
