Frits Loonsten Memorial Scholarship Award

WHO was Frits Loonsten?

Frits Loonsten was one of this country’s finest landscape architects. Born in the Netherlands in 1909, Frits was the youngest graduate of the Royal School of Horticulture in Boskoop. After immigrating to the United States, he learned from renowned landscape architects such as Erick Bushholtz and Jens Jensen. Frits’ naturalistic style, attention to detail, and love of plants was much sought after. He created landscapes for the homes of many prominent Indianapolis families. Among them were L.S. Ayres, James L. Kittle, Sr., Eli Lilly, Allen W. Clowes, and Herman C. Krannert. He became the oficial landscape architect of Indiana University in 1940.

Through the years, his designs have received national acclaim, among them, Lilly Center, Indiana Convention Center, and the Peters Residence in West Lafayette. He landscaped numerous Home Show houses, Decorator Show houses and every Flower and Patio Show during his lifetime.

Frits pursued excellence in the knowledge of landscaping and its application in design and installation. It is for this reason that this scholarship is aptly named.

WHAT careers are available in the landscape industry?

The Landscape Industry is over a 1.5 billion-dollar industry in Indiana and employs thousands of people. These are some of the careers available: landscape architects and designers; landscape contracting, management, con-struction and maintenance; interiorscape and maintenance; nursery / greenhouse propagation and production; retail operations and management.

WHERE can you attend college?

BS degree:

Ball State University. Muncie, Indiana Purdue University. West Lafayette, Indiana

Associates degree:

Vincennes University. Vincennes, Indiana

HOW do you qualify for the scholarship?

• The scholarship is available to any second-year student or greater in a bachelor’s program or first year student in an associate program with a Landscape Architecture or Horticulture related major. Graduate students and students on co-op or internships are eligible.
• You can apply for the scholarship as a second-year student as long as you are in your third year when the scholarship money is awarded
• It is up to the committee to decide if there should be more than one winner in a given year, however there will always be a clear “Frits” winner who could be awarded up to $6,000.
• Once a student has been awarded with the “Frits” scholarship they are no longer eligible to win a second time. Students winning a lesser amount or those students unsuccessful can re-apply.
• It is not necessary to provide letters of recommendation from teachers, coaches, family members, etc…unless you feel the letter will greatly increase your chances to win the scholarship.
• Maintaining good grades are important to us.  But as you can see from our application, we only require a “C” average.  To clarify, our committee will look at your grades.  But, a higher GPA by one applicant will not be weighed any higher than an applicant with a “C” average.
• Approximately five finalists will be chosen.  A group of at least 3 ILA board members will choose the finalists and will conduct personal interviews prior to choosing the winning candidate.
• The committee will be looking for well rounded, honest, hardworking individuals who demonstrate dedication to their school and their major.  In the essay portion we would like to hear why you feel you are deserving of the scholarship.  Any interesting information you can research about Frits Loonsten is encouraged as well.
• Application deadline is April 1^st. and we will announce the winner around the 1^st. of June.
• There are three schools involved in the scholarship.  (Purdue, Ball State, & Vincennes) Last year we had about 12 total applicants from all three schools combined.  Given the historical participation, everyone has a good chance of becoming one of the five finalists that will be chosen to interview with our ILA Scholarship Committee.
• Payments are awarded in 2 installments, 1/2 before the start of the Fall semester and the other half before the start of the Spring semester assuming the student is still enrolled in a Horticulture related major and has remained in good standing.
• If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me (see below).

WHEN must you submit your application?

Applications must be received by April 1^st. Winners will be notified by June 1^st. Applications must be completed via the electronic form below or mailed to:

            Indianapolis Landscape Association

             4000 West 106^th Street, Suite 125

            Carmel, IN 46032

*Please attach your college transcript and letters of recommendations via email or send them by mail by April 1^st. Please send to Scott Levy slevy@sundowngardens.com

Sincerely, 

Scott Levy
Scholarship Committee Chair