My name is Pejman Taghavizargar, and I would like to use this opportunity to express my gratitude for choosing me as a recipient of this scholarship. I am a landscape designer, tutor, student and immigrant with a deep passion for sustainable design and education. My journey began in my home country, where as an architect, I realized nature is a big missing piece of the puzzle in my professional life. So, I earned a master’s degree in landscape architecture and started my professional career as a drafting technician until I moved to my new country, Canada.

Relocating to a new country came with challenges. Navigating unfamiliar academic and job markets was the hardest one, but I saw each challenge as an opportunity to push my limits and build something meaningful. I worked as a landscape technician to gain more experience with plants and nature in Canada. I enrolled in the Landscape Architecture program at Southwestern College in Chula Vista to gain a deeper understanding of the industry from a North American perspective and to strengthen and update my technical skills through formal and practical education. I worked hard and maintained a 4.0 GPA, earned a place on the President’s List of Honors, and became a proud member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

One of the most transformative experiences during my studies was becoming a tutor for my program at my college. I discovered a new passion: teaching. Sharing what I’ve learned with others has been incredibly fulfilling and has sparked a new dream to become a professor and researcher in my field. To reach that goal, I am currently working toward transferring into an undergraduate or graduate landscape architecture program with a focus on sustainable design and advanced technologies at a university level in the US.  

Beyond academics, I’ve been actively involved in the community by volunteering for organizations in horticulture and the green industries. These experiences have deepened my commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement. I believe in using my skills to uplift others, to build more inclusive and sustainable communities for everyone, and to inspire future designers. Being recognized by this scholarship is a tremendous honor for me, and I am grateful and committed to giving back, paying it forward and continuing to grow as a learner, teacher, and designer.