LEAF Awards 2025 Scholarships
by Marianne Estournes
Chair, LEAF Scholarship Selection Committee
Seeking to promote and support the future of the green industry, the Landscape Educational Advancement Foundation has awarded nine scholarships to deserving green industry students.
The nine scholarships total $84,500.
In 2025, LEAF’s scholarship selection committee reviewed 28 scholarship applications. Their selection criteria included career goals, outside activities, work experience, financial need, letters of recommendation and GPA in their major.
The scholarships — funded by donations from CLCA members and other green industry professionals — have a huge, positive impact.
“We welcome these students to the green industry and know that they will bring their unique talents, goals, creativity and passions to the future of our profession.”
Marianne Estournes, LEAF Scholarship Selection Committee Chair
The LEAF Scholarship Committee is honored to present our 2025 scholarship recipients.
Isaiah Lopez
Isaiah is an Ornamental Horticulture and Architecture student attending Bakersfield College. Isaiah is well-respected by his professors and peers as an expert in the use of Revit software and intermediate AutoCAD. He is also a technician in the laser lab, assisting students with the use of the laser cutter. He has overcome health issues, but is committed to his education. Isaiah’s computer design skills added a new dimension of variety to our recipients.
Liam McPherson
Liam attended Cabrillo College and will be transferring to Cal State University, Monterey Bay in the Fall. He is majoring in Agriculture and Plant & Soil Science. His goal is to become a landscape contractor or work for a contracting firm, encouraging the use of native plants and responsible water management. His instructors note that his passion for horticulture and skills working with people will be valuable assets for any employer.
Hannah Palmer
Hannah attended Cuyamaca College and will transfer to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in the Fall. Her major is Nursery Technology. Her passion for horticulture developed as a teenager while visiting botanical gardens, where her interest was piqued. Her major at Cal Poly will be Plant Science, with a focus on Environmental Horticultural Science. Her professional goals include working as a horticultural director, grower or botanist in a botanical garden, zoo, museum or any venue with a botanical collection. Her instructors call her enthusiastic and passionate with a “vibrant curiosity and sincere love for plants (that) inspires her peers”. Her plant knowledge is impressive, and she is self-motivated. Hannah will add a level of professionalism and plant knowledge for the future of public gardens.
Natalia Panova
Natalia is majoring in Natural Resources Management at Las Positas College. Her goal is to become a specialized water conservation expert, guiding customers to water-efficient projects and being a resource for residential and commercial customers. She is currently employed with an irrigation company, working in the field installing their products. Natalia has participated in activities with the CLCA East Bay Chapter. She will serve the industry well with her growing knowledge of products and sound irrigation practices.
Maxine Peterson
Maxine is a senior attending Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, majoring in Landscape Architecture. Maxine has a deep appreciation for plants and gardens, and has worked for a landscape contractor in San Francisco. She completed an apprenticeship in France as a landscape apprentice, building outdoor structures and hardscapes as well as planting and landscape maintenance. Maxine has valuable experience and knowledge that will serve her well as a landscape architect working with a contractor. Her love and appreciation for design and knowledge of the appropriate use of plant material made her a desirable choice for a scholarship.
Kenneth Rodriquez
Kenneth completed his AS degree at Mt. San Antonio College and will be attending Cal State University, Dominquez Hills in the Fall, majoring in Park and Sports Turf Management. He is interested in becoming a park city manager and starting his own landscape contracting business. He is QAL certified and holds an ISA Arborist Certification. He is already studying for the C-27 contractors test. His professors state that he is hard-working and is held in high regard as a future professional and landscape contractor.
Sophie Rodriguez
Sophie will be a Senior at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with a double major in Plant Sciences and Agricultural Sciences. Sophie’s love of plants and flowers began at an early age. She is devoted to studying tree and fruit pests and managing them in forest and ornamental trees and in the landscape. She intends to get her Pest Control Advisor License and eventually become QAL certified, and obtain the Certified Arborist Certification. Her ultimate goal is to earn a Ph.D. in entomology or a related field, with a focus on tree insect pests. As with our other recipients, she offers a unique niche in the specialties that support contractors with their issues and dilemmas in the landscape.
Joshua Schneider
Joshua is studying Landscape Architecture at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He will be spending a semester abroad with Cal Poly, Pomona program this Fall. He will be in the Tuscany region of Italy for the Fall semester, studying Landscape Architecture with a full class load of related courses. This is an amazing opportunity for him to be exposed to other aspects of the world of landscape architecture, design, and plant material. When he returns, he will complete his education and design gardens that tell a story for the individual and are environmentally resilient and inspiring. His love of photography has given him an eye for design and color. Eventually, he would like to teach landscape architecture.
Kyle Schumacher
Kyle is attending Saddleback College and majoring in Sustainable Landscape Design. This young man intended to assume his father’s masonry business. He realized that they subcontracted so much landscaping out that he could expand their services by getting his C-27 and C-29 Masonry licenses. He wanted to attend college to gain more technical knowledge about sustainable water drainage mitigation, an understanding of soil management and the interplay between the hardscape and landscape. Kyle is impressive and has specific goals for his education and his future in business, working with his father.
