I. BACKGROUND HISTORY

Linda Milbourn (1953 – 2019) was a transformative presence in the public garden world, helping to shape the vision that became the Santa Fe Botanical Garden and then serving as its director until 2014. While her early background was in commercial banking, it was her love for designing gardens that compelled her to enroll in the landscape architecture program at the University of California at Berkeley. It took seven years for her to finally receive her Masters degree in Landscape Architecture, during which time she also worked full-time as a banker in the Bay Area, without any scholarship or form of financial assistance.

Her new career path led to Santa Fe, New Mexico and the creation of a new garden, drawing together a talented team of designers and plant experts to convert a washed-out arroyo to a place of horticultural beauty.

II. ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP

The Linda Milbourn Fellowship in Landscape Architecture will award $5,000 per application cycle to one student enrolled in a college/university graduate-level program pursuing a degree in landscape architecture. Applicant must demonstrate involvement in an experiential learning project (research, project, plan, or other direct impact/benefit) to a recognized Association member public garden, botanic garden, arboretum or other closely aligned public horticulture institution in the U.S. Eligibility is open to U.S. citizens and resident aliens.

III. APPLICATION CRITERIA:

a. Open to students enrolled in a college/university graduate-level program pursuing a degree in landscape architecture.
b. Eligibility is open to U.S. citizens and resident aliens.
c. Applicant must demonstrate involvement in an experiential learning project (research, project, plan, or other direct impact/benefit) to a recognized Association member public garden, botanic garden, arboretum or other closely aligned public horticulture institution in the U.S.
i. Project must be coordinated between student, public garden project advisor, and college/university academic or faculty advisor.
ii. Fellowship recipients are responsible to secure/confirm the ability to conduct the project and/or utilize the garden(s) where it will be undertaken.
d. The project in (c) above does not need to end before the term of the Fellowship but must begin to occur after the awardee is named.
e. Fellowship recipients are ineligible to apply again for this same Fellowship.
f. Only one application per applicant per cycle will be accepted for this Fellowship.
g. The American Public Gardens Association is committed to welcoming all and following IDEA principles (inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility). We encourage candidates from all cultures and communities to apply for this opportunity. You can find our diversity and inclusion principles and learn more about our work culture here.

IV. SELECTION PROCESS:

a. The timeframe and process for applications is determined by the Association in consultation with its Scholarship Committee.
b. There will be one application cycle per 12 months until agreement term end.
c. The Scholarship Committee is charged with vetting fellowship applicants and making candidate selection in consultation with the Executive Director/Association Staff who will ensure eligibility criteria are met.
d. One awardee and one alternate will be selected per application cycle, and one Fellowship awarded per cycle.
e. In the unlikely event the candidate pool in an application cycle is not considered viable enough to make a selection, it is the prerogative of the Scholarship Committee to withhold awarding a Fellowship during that cycle and to defer funding to a future cycle.
f. Fellowships awarded will be paid directly to recipients without restriction but with intent they will support educational expenses associated with their coursework and/or to be applied towards the experiential learning project as needed.
g. Fellowship recipient agrees to abide by the terms of the award, consents to have their award publicized, and to complete a brief impact report to the Association no later than one year after receipt of the Fellowship. The report will be an executive summary documenting the scope, timeline, status, and projected or actual impacts from the project and be no less than 450 words. Recipient agrees this report may be posted publicly as a resource/publication by the association without recipient restrictions.

V. TIMELINE:

a. The application cycles will open on July 1 of every year
b. Interested students should coordinate projects with their academic advisors and their public garden site partners and submit complete applications by October 31
c. The Scholarship Committee will score the applications during November and make their primary and alternate selections by early December.
d. Awardees will be notified by mid-December for projects starting no earlier than January 1 of the following year and will be asked to complete an acceptance agreement. Upon signing, awardee will receive Fellowship payment around the beginning of January.

VI. PRE-APPLICATION CHECKLIST

If you are unable to use an online application process, please notify scholarships@publicgardens.org and someone will assist you.
Use this section to help you prepare to apply, and to gather letters of recommendation and other materials.

PERSONAL INFORMATION
 Name
 Email
 Address
 Street Address
 City
 State / Province
 Postal / Zip Code
 Phone Number
 Email

EDUCATION INFORMATION
 College/University Attending
 Major
 Minor (if applicable)
 Anticipated Graduation Date
 Credit Hours Completed
 Credit Hours Remaining for Degree
 Overall GPA for Graduate Program *
 GPA within Major *

ATTACHMENTS (PDF format unless otherwise specified)
 A two (2) page maximum written statement with a description of your career interests; a brief biography including your current educational pursuits and future plans; and an explanation of how the funds available will be used to further enhance your training and research.
 Your current CV or Resume
 A letter/statement from a contact person at the public horticulture institution where you will undertake your project
 Transcript for the degree program you are currently enrolled in.
 Transcript may be official or un-official but must be a high-resolution version with date of transcript easily readable.
 Brief Biography (100 word max) describing your background, current educational pursuits, future plans, and any other professional interests.
 Headshot
 300 ppi (pixels per inch) color photo, size 4×6 inches, JPG format. Please note this photo will NOT be shared with the Scholarship Committee and will only be used in publication if you are awarded the Fellowship.
 Recommendations: Each applicant must submit 3 written letters of recommendation, one of which must be from your major program adviser. For each recommendation:
 Reference Name
 Reference Institution
 Reference Phone Number
 Reference Email
How is this recommendation letter being submitted?
1. Attached to this application below, OR
2. Emailing directly to scholarships@publicgardens.org

All application materials including recommendation letters must be received no later than October 31 of each year. If you are not submitting your reference letters on this form, please ensure those writing your recommendations are aware of the deadline and how to submit their letter. Applications without all references will not be considered.