2022
Anita Beach
After a previous career in consumer marketing and research, Anita went back to school to study civil technology at Westchester Community College and is currently pursuing her Master of Landscaping Architecture at the Spitzer School of Architecture. Environmental issues have long been an interest to her, including the flooding challenges facing many communities, especially her hometown of Mamaroneck. She wants her future to include a contribution to green infrastructure design solutions across the watershed that improve the sustainability and resilience of our flood vulnerable communities.
Cheryl Luo
Cheryl is working towards a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Pratt Institute (graduation 2024). She was raised in Westchester, living in Ossining and Yorktown Heights. She is currently the President of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students chapter at her school. She is interested in urban planning, social justice, and sustainability. After graduation, she hopes to become a licensed architect and professor in the state of New York and work on projects that improve the spatial qualities of suburban neighborhoods.
2021
Evan Dash
Evan is a Master of Urban Planning candidate at SUNY Buffalo (graduation May 2022), with an undergraduate degree in Geography (with minors in Urban Studies and Political Science) from SUNY Geneseo (2020). Evan is a life-long resident of South Salem. Evan’s application states a career goal to work in Westchester County, in “a non-profit, government agency or private company to work toward a more equitable and sustainable future for our region”. We were especially impressed with Evan’s varied work experience (including GIS and US Census), as well as academic research on topics such as housing, equity, and historic structures.
Yvette Pollack
Yvette is a Master of Landscape Architecture candidate at Cornell (graduation May 2022), with an undergraduate degree from Boston University in Communications (2017). Yvette is a life-long resident of Westchester, having lived in Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Briarcliff and Somers, and stated plans to return to Westchester after graduation. Yvette’s application indicates the desire to “be on the teams helping new builders make neighborhoods that draw families outside to enjoy nature and provide space for kids to run around and be kids. I would like to help Westchester County diminish the effects of climate change on coastal neighborhoods.” The committee was impressed with Yvette’s academic record, work experience in the County and career focus.
2020
Cecley Hill
Cecley has completed her first year at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design where she is pursuing a Master in Urban Planning. A lifelong Westchester resident (from Yonkers), Cecley has a Bachelor of Arts (architecture, dance) from Columbia University as well as having studied abroad in Kenya, Venice, London and Tanzania. Cecley indicates that she has a “penchant for enhancing urban planning policy to create more sustainable, resilient, and just communities, inclusive of marginalized communities”. She has clearly worked hard, and accomplished much already academically, as well as having a strong commitment to important planning issues.
Conor Greene
Conor will be continuing his education this fall at Hunter College, in the Master of Urban Planning program. He has an undergraduate degree in English and has worked in communications, journalism and public policy prior to turning to planning. Although Conor is relatively new to Westchester (City of Peekskill), he is the co-founder of ”Peekskill Walks” and has been “advocating for safer streets and a livable city on a volunteer, non-expert basis”. The committee was impressed with Conor’s enthusiasm for his community, his participation in civic pursuits, his innovative ideas and a creative spirit that came through in his application.
2019
Anna Tiburzi
Anna, who grew up in White Plains, is currently a graduate student studying Landscape Architecture at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Geography from SUNY Geneseo in 2015, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Anna’s undergraduate research included two study abroad experiences where she explored cultural and environmental issues in communities in Western Canada and Buenos Aires. This summer, she will be working with the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation to further develop digital models of Liberty Island throughout various points in the island’s history.
2018
Alexa Sikoryak
Alexa Sikoryak is a resident of Yonkers who just finished her junior year at Binghamton University. Born and raised in Westchester, Alexa will finish her 5 years with a BA in Environmental Planning, a BA in Geography Computer Applications, and an MA in Geography. She has an excellent academic record and has planning experience through an internship with the Broome County Planning Department. Alexa has an interest in using drones for planning research and used this unique research method to evaluate spatial and temporal trends of parking on campus, and to study gentrification in Johnson City, NY. She is interested in sustainability, environmental planning, urban planning, downtown development, and using her education to improve public welfare.
2017
Greg Cutler
Greg Cutler received his bachelor’s degree in Geography from Binghamton University and is currently pursuing a Masters in Urban Planning at Hunter College. He has been working in the planning field in Westchester County since 2012. Starting as a part-time GIS technician in the Village of Mamaroneck, and a public housing intern at the Town of Mamaroneck, Greg quickly advanced to the assistant planner position in the Village. He has contributed his time to WMPF as well as to the Hunter Graduate Urban Planning Association. Greg has a strong commitment to planning in Westchester, and the scholarship committee felt that this commitment, in addition to his academic success at Hunter and his community service, made him the best choice for the 2017 scholarship award.
2016
Max Schwartz
Max Schwartz grew up in New Rochelle, New York. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science from the University of Michigan in 2015. He is currently pursuing a Master of City and Regional Planning, specializing in Transportation Policy and Land Use, at Rutgers University.