Ed. Note: The Following letter was written by one of the LAF/CLASS Fund Internship participants to LASN This progressive scholarship program is the model of professionals giving something back to landscape architectural students and schools. If your area has a scholarship program, please write us and we would be happy to publicize it.

In June of 1988, I was notified that I had been one of two applicants chosen to receive the Landscape Architectural Foundations Scholarship and an opportunity to serve as an intern at three types of landscape offices. The nine week program, coordinated by Robert Cardoza, provides students who are in their junior or senior year in a Landscape Architecture program in one of the Southern California Schools an opportunity to expand their knowledge and experience of the landscape profession. Along with this opportunity comes a $2,000 scholarship to allow students to spend more time in their studies and still be able to attend school.

The first office I worked for was Cathcart/Begin and Associates in the City of Orange, California. Cathcart/Begin is a licensed Landscape Architectural firm with approximately ten employees, with projects ranging from single family homes to industrial parks.

During my employment, I worked on irrigation plans, details, planting plans and walkway layouts. While working on these projects, I was given an opportunity to call cities, developers and architects which gave me a lot of confidence. Working in a landscape architects’ office gave me tremendous insight into what it takes to be a landscape architect in this growing profession.

The second office that I worked in was at Oak Leaf Landscaping in the City of Anaheim, California. Oak Leaf Landscaping is a licensed contracting company that has approximately 160 employees with projects ranging from large scale development to private residences. Oak Leaf Landscaping has two sister companies called Pacific Coast Maintenance and Pacific Coast Nurseries whom I also had a chance to work with.

During my employment with Oak Leaf, I had the chance to do some purchasing, cost estimation, computer estimating and sales. These opportunities enabled me to make a lot of contacts with irrigation and plant material suppliers. I also had the opportunity to spend a day with Pacific Coast Maintenance and a day with Pacific Coast Nurseries observing their operations and learning about the buying and selling of plant material and the various techniques involved in the maintenance end of things.

The third company I worked for was Sullivan Concrete Textures located in Costa Mesa, California. Sullivan is a licensed Bomanite and Bomacron manufacturer that has approximaley 65 employees with projects ranging from urban plazas to private residences.

During my employment there, I worked on designing forms for poured-in-place walls, designing a solar pool deck, cost estimation, sales and installation observation. Hardscaping was an area that I knew very little about in terms of the process of installation, product availability, cost, codes, and variability of design. I also spent a lot of time in the field observing the layout of a design, the reinforcement needed and the pouring, coloring and finishing of the concrete.

The Landscape Architectural Foundation selection of these companies was excellent. I began my internship with a design firm, proceeded to a softscape construction office and finished with a hardscape construction firm. All of the people at the various offices were so kind and patient and wanted me to learn as much as possible during my employment. The three offices, though different in method of landscaping, all had one thing in common, a dedication to the further advancement of the profession and its future personnel. I feel that my understanding of landscaping methods has increased drastically. I learned as much, if not more, about the landscape industry in my nine weeks of internship as I did in my four years at Cal Poly Pomona.

When I finished my three weeks at Cathcart/Begin and Associates, I was offered a part time position while I finish my last quarter of school.

I would like to thank everyone involved with this program for all of their hard work and commitment to seeing students exposed to all aspects of landscaping. There is no way to describe the confidence and experience that I have gained from this Internship.

Working with these three companies was something that I never would have been able to do had it not been for the Landscape Architectural Foundation giving an opportunity to the landscape architects of the future. Many thanks to all involved!

Sincerely, Craig Delahooke