First Annual SCASLA UCLAx Conference: A Historic Success!
On January 17, 2026, SCASLA UCLAx proudly hosted the First Annual SCASLA UCLAx Conference, a historic and inspiring milestone for our student community.
This student-led event brought together students, faculty, professionals, and sponsors for a full day of learning, connection, and celebration of landscape architecture. From inspiring speakers and capstone presentations to the student work gallery, the conference showcased the incredible talent, creativity, and dedication within the UCLA Extension Landscape Architecture program.
More than a conference, it was a meaningful moment of community, where students from different cohorts connected, exchanged ideas, and supported one another in a vibrant and welcoming environment. Organized by the SCASLA UCLAx Student Board, the event reflects our commitment to leadership, professional growth, and building a lasting legacy for future students.
Together, we didn’t just host a conference — we built a legacy.
Conference Highlights:
Our President, Callie Ham, who also served as the host for the day, opened the conference with a warm and inspiring welcome speech, setting an energetic and uplifting tone for this historic event.
Our amazing Portfolio Director, Kimberly Velasco, introduced herself to the students, shared great energy and optimism about the future of our program, and proudly introduced our new Program Director.
Our esteemed professor, Pamela Brief, was warmly introduced as the new Program Director, bringing grace, optimism, and a strong sense of leadership, and was enthusiastically welcomed by the community as a unifying presence who shared inspiring perspectives for the future of the program.
The First Lecture:
A Historic and Inspiring Beginning
Melanie Buffa, President of SoCal ASLA, made history with us as the very first speaker of the SCASLA UCLAx Conference, delivering a fun, energetic, and inspiring lecture, “Pathways, Practice, and Possibility: Shaping the Future of Landscape Architecture,” that set an exciting tone for the day and energized students with fresh insights about the future of the profession.
Capstone Presentations:
Showcasing Vision and Excellence
Amy Douglas White, a recent UCLA Extension Landscape Architecture alumna, opened the Capstone Presentations with a powerful and inspiring project, “Unlocking Potential: Creating a Regenerative Landscape Rooted in Culture, Ecology, and Justice”, followed by an engaging Q&A session. Her work highlighted the role of landscape architecture in advancing cultural identity, ecological resilience, and social equity. The audience was captivated by her strong narrative, research depth, and beautiful hand graphics, which showcased exceptional creativity and professionalism.
Clayton Daily, also a UCLA Extension Landscape Architecture alumnus, presented “Patch and Thread: Stitching Together Nature and Culture Along the Arroyo Seco”, followed by a thoughtful Q&A session. As a recipient of the ASLA Quality of Life Design Merit Award, his presentation reflected outstanding design rigor and vision. His project explored the connection between nature, culture, and community, delivering a compelling and well-articulated proposal that deeply inspired the audience.
Exhibition Gallery:
A Fun and Inspiring Experience
The Exhibition Gallery was one of the most vibrant and engaging parts of the conference, offering a dynamic and welcoming space for learning, conversation, and discovery, where students and guests explored exhibits, interacted with presenters, and celebrated the creativity and initiative of our community.
The CA Native Plant of the Month exhibit, presented by student Star Nikki Rinehart, was both educational and inspiring, emphasizing the value of California native species in sustainable and climate-responsive design. Her exhibit encouraged thoughtful plant selection and deeper ecological awareness among students.
The RECYCLELA28! winners, Ryan O’Leary Jones and Brian Bautista, also current students in the program, showcased their innovative and sustainability-focused work. Their exhibit highlighted creative thinking, environmental responsibility, and the role of design in advancing circular and regenerative practices.
The NAMLA UCLA Chapter student leaders—Carl Deo, Roger Vasquez, and Saira Soto—shared insights about the organization’s mission, current initiatives, and future opportunities for involvement. Their presence strengthened the bridge between academic life and professional engagement, inspiring students to take active leadership roles within the landscape architecture community.
The Creative Sketch Workshop
The Creative Sketch Workshop, led by Carlos Flores, ASLA, was an energetic and joyful highlight of the conference, bringing out creativity and confidence in a fun, relaxed, and inspiring atmosphere where everyone explored ideas through sketching. The session was engaging, interactive, and full of laughter, reminding us that sketching is not only a design tool but also a powerful way to think, observe, and express creativity.
The Closing Lecture:
Nate Cormier, ASLA, PLA, LEED AP, WELL AP – RIOS
Nate Cormier truly brought the house down with his inspiring and creative closing lecture, “SENSORIUM: Recovering Human Attention Through Landscapes of Wonder,” which captivated the entire audience. It was an incredible honor to have him and RIOS join us for our first conference, delivering a powerful, thought-provoking, and unforgettable talk on how landscapes can restore attention, wonder, and meaningful human connection, especially through his discussion of the ONE Beverly Hills project, whose proximity to our UCLA community made the lecture even more impactful and directly connected academic learning to real-world practice.
Student Recognition Award for Excellence in Teaching
Recipient: Professor Rebecca Schwaner
One of the most emotional and memorable moments of the conference was the presentation of the Student Recognition Award for Excellence in Teaching to Professor Rebecca Schwaner, whose heartfelt reaction brought the room to tears and reminded everyone of the profound impact her teaching, mentorship, and dedication have had on our learning journey, shaping the confidence, creativity, and growth of countless students in the UCLA Extension Landscape Architecture program.
Student Show Remarks and Final Thoughts
Our President, Callie Ham, closed the conference by presenting the highlights and numbers from the 2025 Student Show and congratulating all participants and award winners for their outstanding work and dedication.
Callie also expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the conference, with special recognition for the student volunteers whose time, energy, and commitment made the event possible. She concluded by emphasizing the importance of continued support from UCLA Extension to help establish this conference as an annual tradition, creating a lasting legacy for current and future students in the Landscape Architecture program.
SCASLA UCLAx Student Board 2025/2026
Pictured: Tate Perrine (Secretary), Callie Ham (President), and Patrese Winter (Vice-President).
Not pictured: Mario Calito (Treasurer), who was unable to attend the event.
This dedicated student board lovingly organized and led the First Annual SCASLA UCLAx Conference with passion, commitment, and a shared vision to strengthen our community and create meaningful opportunities for current and future students. Their teamwork, leadership, and enthusiasm were at the heart of making this historic event possible.
Special Thanks to Melissa McDonald
We extend our sincere gratitude to Melissa McDonald, Portfolio Manager, for her invaluable behind-the-scenes support in reserving the rooms and coordinating with UCLA Extension, which made the First Annual SCASLA UCLAx Conference possible despite her being unable to attend.
Special Thanks to Our Founding Sponsors
We truly believe that great things are never built alone, and this conference is a reflection of the incredible support from our founding sponsors who stepped up and made this event possible.
Hunter Industries, represented by our professor Nick Straabe, supported this initiative with enthusiasm and generosity from the very beginning. Professor Nick and the Hunter team inspired us not only through their support, but also through their commitment to education and the future of the profession.
Devil Mountain Wholesale Nursery also joined us with great openness and support, demonstrating that they are not only leaders in providing exceptional plants and trees, but also strong advocates for education and student growth.
A heartfelt thank you as well to Beverly Hills Orchids for helping our conference feel even more vibrant and welcoming, and for their continued support of our student community. Their contribution truly helped our event bloom in every sense of the word.
See you in 2027 for the 2nd Annual SCASLA UCLAx Conference — the legacy continues!
