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LEAF Awards 2024 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 eight scholarships to deserving green industry students.

The eight scholarships total $78,000.

In 2024, LEAF’s scholarship selection committee reviewed 21 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 2024 scholarship recipients.

Steven Bucio

Steven is a senior majoring in Plant Science at Cal Poly, Pomona. He has work experience as a construction laborer and gardener. He is seeking a PCA license and will be pursuing a master’s degree after graduation. His goal is to own his own landscape company.

Luke Duncan

Luke is majoring in Landscape Architecture at Cal Poly, Pomona. He has experience working with a landscape contractor and will gain more hands-on experience working with a maintenance company while in school. His goal is to own a full-service design, construction and maintenance company. He views landscape as adding to our overall well-being, health and connection to the environment.

Haley Kost

Haley is a sophomore at Cal Poly SLO majoring in Plant Science with a minor in Landscape Architecture. She brings a diverse background and a passion and professional focus on plants and landscaping. She is formulating her goals as she pursues her education and has the drive and desire to make an impact in the industry.

Pedro Ochoa

Pedro is a freshman attending Foothill College, majoring in Environmental Horticulture and Design. After earning a BS in Landscape Architecture, he wants to gain knowledge of design and then become a landscape contractor, owning his own company. He has worked with his father’s landscape contracting company since age six, developing a “profound love” of plants. This young man is very impressive as he lays out the path to follow his passion.

Alexander Senauke

Alexander is attending Merritt College majoring in Arboriculture and will acquire certificates in Landscape Horticulture and Tree Care. His goal is to finish his education with a Masters in Forestry from Oregon State University and his ISA Arborist Certification. He wants to return to the Bay Area to build his career working for a company and eventually owning his own company. He is a motivated young man with a passion for trees and horticulture.

Sarah Shutman

Sarah is majoring in Ornamental Horticulture at Mt. San Antonio College. Her goal is to earn her C-27 license, become a certified arborist and get certifications in irrigation, landscape design and nursery management. She wants to incorporate all aspects of her education into her own landscape company in the next five years. Sarah knows where she is going and is setting herself up well to attain her goals. We are proud to support her.

Brian Tatsuta

Brian is a Junior at Merritt College, majoring in Environmental Horticulture. After college, he wants to earn his C-27 license and start a company emphasizing California native plants, with a focus on sustainability and climate resiliency. He is the grandson of a cut flower producer and landscaper in Oakland.

Annica Wu

Annica is a second-time recipient of a LEAF scholarship. She is attending Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, majoring in Plant Science with a horticulture concentration. She started a succulent business out of her home in 2020. She has done many outside activities, including an internship at the Huntington Botanical Garden that inspired her ultimate career goal: Working for a botanical garden in conservation horticulture. It is an honor to award a scholarship to someone envisioning a unique application of horticulture and landscaping.

Thank You!

Thank you to the LEAF Scholarship Selection Committee for their continued diligence in the review and selection of our students. The whole body of CLCA has contributed to the growth and strength of LEAF over the years with your commitment and generosity. The LEAF Board of Directors offers our gratitude.
Joining me on the Selection Committee were Ellin Chariton, Mary Cohen, Wendy Emeterio, Jill Hertzer and Cindy Singletary. We reviewed the applications, spent time discussing our findings, taking many factors into consideration.
All of the students had their strengths, but we chose eight students with qualities that we felt added to the overall field of horticulture and landscaping.
This year, as every year, I have heard from many of the students expressing deep gratitude for the honor of being granted a scholarship and for the financial assistance the award provides.
We know that these scholarships have many benefits for the students and are gratified by their appreciation. We are proud of our recipients and hope to see them in the industry.
Marianne Estournes
Chair
LEAF Scholarship Selection Committee