By: Belinda Ann Deines, Vice Director of Professional Development, APA Orange Section
Select students and young planners in Orange County were awarded registration
Photo by Jonathan Lightfoot
fee stipends for the 2016 APA California Conference in Pasadena. Stipend recipients expressed their appreciation for the planning experience gained from the Conference and the reimbursement of fees ranging from $150 to $375.
“I really enjoyed hearing about some of the regional projects that are in the works, including connections to LAX and revitalization efforts at the LA River. I went on the LA River bike tour, and will be using that experience as a comparative component in a project I am working on next quarter on the Santa Ana River here in Orange County,” said JonathanLightfoot, a full-time UC Irvine graduate student and San Clemente resident. Though he received a fee stipend, Jonathan paid extra for the bike tour mobile workshop and he felt it was a worthwhile investment.
UC Irvine graduate student Ariel Pepper saw the Conference as an opportunity to visit Pasadena for the first time. “From attending thought-provoking sessions, such as changing the land use of old freeway space, to meeting innovative leaders
in their field, the APA Conference supplemented my academic pursuits and gave me hope that California is fostering the creation of sustainable communities,” reflected Ariel. By having the stipend program available to students, Ariel was able to carpool from Orange County with her classmates who might not have attended otherwise.
Thank you to APA Orange Section for sponsoring this new program that awarded registration fee reimbursements to 17 individuals. We hope to continue offering conference stipends annually to promote professional development and to encourage APA conference participation in the future.
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