Student Awards

2020

2020 American Planning Association Student Project Awards and APA NorCal Academic Award of Excellence

Diridon to Downtown Cover SJSU Masters of Urban Planning students received two awards for their project Diridon to Downtown: A Community Assessment Report [pdf]. The year-long research and community engagement effort was carried out in the 2018-19 capstone Community Design Studio (URBP 295) led by professors Rick Kos and Jason Su.

2018 

2018 CUTC National Student Awards

Parking Spacing to Living Spaces Master of Urban Planning alumnus William Chapin’s award winning report, Parking Spaces to Living Spaces: Reform and Housing Affordability in Central San Francisco [pdf], identifies a change in planning field’s attitude toward vehicle parking demands. Bill’s study takes a close look at the relationship between transportation, housing, and the demand of the people of central San Francisco, aligning with the Council of University Transportation Center’s (CUTC) mission.

2017

2017 APA California Poster Contest

Parking Reform and Housing Affordability: Lessons from San Francisco MUP Alumni, William Chapin, won the APA poster contest with his work titled "Parking Reform & Housing Affordability: Lessons from San Francisco." [pdf] Congratulations, Bill!

2017 APA California, Northern Section, Academic Award of Excellence, East Santa Clara Urban Village Project

APA CA Award 2017 MUP students, faculty, and community members were honored to receive the 2017 Academic Award of Excellence from APA California, Northern Section for their work on in the East Santa Clara Urban Village Project in San José.

2016

2016 APA California, Northern Section, Academic Award of Excellence, Greater Washington Voices of the Community / Voces de la Comunidad Report

2016 APA CA North Section Award MUP students, faculty, and community members were honored to receive the 2016 Academic Award of Merit from APA California, Northern Section for their work on in the Greater Washington neighborhood in San José.

2015

American Planning Association California Chapter Award of Excellence, 2015

2015 APA CA Chapter AwardRebecca Walters was awarded the 2015 American Planning Association California Chapter Award of excellence for her final masters project, titled Walking and Cycling in San Francisco: Identifying Underserved Locations that are Particularly Receptive to Non-Motorized Transport via the Pedestrian and Bicycling Survey. [pdf]

Council of University Transportation Centers, Neville Parker Award in Policy and Planning, 2015

Neville Parker Award 2015

Rebecca Walters was awarded the 2015 Council of University Transportation Centers' Neville Parker Award in Policy and Planning, an award for the best non-thesis paper in transportation submitted for the M.S. degree in lieu of a thesis, in the areas of policy & planning and science & technology. Her project was titled, Walking and Cycling in San Francisco: Identifying Underserved Locations that are Particularly Receptive to Non-Motorized Transport via the Pedestrian and Bicycling Survey [pdf].

2014

California Planning Foundation (CPF) Scholarships, 2014

Three MUP students received scholarships and recognition as part of the California Planning Foundation's annual scholarship competition in 2014.

  • Kevin Schroeder, CPR Memorial Scholarship
  • Thai-Chau Le, CPR Memorial Scholarship
  • Jessie Bristow, Ken Milam Scholarship
  • Nick Stewart, Northern Section Scholarship

2014 APA California, Northern Section, Academic Award of Merit, Spartan-Keyes Neighborhood Assessment and Community Engagement Report

APA CA Northern Section Awards MUP students in URBP 201/203 were honored to receive the 2014 Academic Award of Merit from APA California, Northern Section for their work on an analysis of Spartan-Keyes, a neighborhood in northern San Jose.

2013

Helene M. Overly Memorial Scholarship, Leadership Legacy Graduate Scholarship, Women's Transporation Seminar (WTS), 2013

Lauren Seyda Lauren Seyda, MUP '14, was awarded the Leadership Legacy Graduate Scholarship and the Helene M. Overly Memorial Scholarship by the Women's Transportation 

Seminar (WTS) in 2013. Leadership Legacy Fund has been established to honor the past, present, and future leaders of WTS by awarding an annual scholarship to female graduate students pursuing a career in transportation. The Helene M. Overly Memorial Scholarship was established in 1981 to encourage women pursuing career paths in transportation.

California Planning Foundation (CPF) Scholarships, 2013

Six MUP students received scholarships and recognition as part of the California Planning Foundation's annual scholarship competition in 2013.

  • Maria Javier, Outstanding Student Runner-Up
  • Emma Reed, CPR Memorial Scholarship
  • Aliza Paz, CPR Memorial Scholarship
  • Lauren Seyda, CPF Northern Section Scholarship
  • Veronica Flores, Ken Milam Scholarship
  • Janice Lam, Honorable Mention

2012

Robert A. Catlin/David W. Long Memorial Scholarship, APA Planning and the Black Community Division, Honorable Mention, 2012

J.McGraw Named after committed planners and long-standing PBCD members, The Robert A. Catlin/David W. Long Memorial Scholarship is designed to foster an increased interest in the profession of urban planning among Black students. In 2012, the APA Planning and the Black Community Division (PBCD) honored Johnasies McGraw as an Honorable Mention winner – the first time PBCD had ever given the scholarship and an honorable mention.

SJSU Associated Students Environmental Champion Award, 2012

Sara Billing Sara Billing received the "Environmental Champion Award" from SJSU's Associated Students for her demonstrated leadership and involvement in campus and community life, and her passion for environmental sustainability and fostering awareness and the education of her peers on environmental issues.

2012 Northern Section, APA California Best Practices Awards, for “A Parking Utilization Survey of Transit-Oriented Development Residential Properties in Santa Clara County”

Meek Serafin This report by students in URBP 256 (Spring 2010) led by their instructor, Eduardo C. Serafin, PE, and graduate research assistant, Justin Meek, was recognized again for excellence in planning. In addition to the ITE award (described below), this project was awarded a Best Practices Award by the Northern Section of APA California.

2011

2011 ITE Parking Council Best Practices Award for “A Parking Utilization Survey of Transit-Oriented Development Residential Properties in Santa Clara County”

VTA Cover Students in our URBP 256 course (Spring 2010) was selected to receive the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Parking Council Best Practices Award for 2011. The student team led by their instructor, Eduardo C. Serafin, PE, AICP, conducted a joint collaborative research project with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). This competitive, national professional award recognizes the high quality, leading edge transportation planning research conducted by the student team. The SJSU research team worked very closely with Mr. Robert W. Swierk, AICP and Ms. Ying C. Smith, AICP of VTA’s Transportation Planning & Congestion Management division. This highly successful collaborative research project with VTA exemplifies the Urban and Regional Planning Department's commitment to engaging faculty and students in public service projects designed to assist local communities in addressing topical planning issues, while complementing the academic curriculum with real-world professional experiences.

Dwight David Eisenhower Transporation Graduate Fellowship

Sarah Abel Sarah Abel, MUP '11, received a Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP) award during her final year of graduate study (2010-2011). Sarah's research focused on very low-income residents in San Jose and their attitudes towards bus transportation.

2010

2010 APA California Chapter Distinguished Leadership Award for a Student Planner

Justin Meek Justin Meek, MUP '10, received a 2010 APA California Chapter Distinguished Leadership Award for a Student Planner.

2010 CCAPA Academic Award of Excellence, Alviso, California: Community Assessment and Urban Design Analysis

2010 CCAPA Academic Award MUP students in URBP-201/203 were honored to receive the 2010 Academic Award from the Northern California APA section and state-level APA for their work on an analysis of Alviso, a neighborhood in northern San Jose. The resulting report is titled "Alviso, California: Community Assessment and Urban Design Analysis." In selecting the students' work, the nominating committee noted that the students played an extremely important role as "ambassadors" of good planning throughout their engagement with community members. Whereas many residents of Alviso tend to be reluctant to engage with city staff due to language barriers or concerns related to environmental justice, the community residents were more than pleased to work directly with our students to communicate their concerns and desires for community betterment. The open and collaborative nature of the planning process employed by the class went a long way in gaining wide community acceptance for improved dialog between a variety of interest groups.

Helene M. Overly Memorial Scholarship, Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS)

Adrienne Heim

Adrienne Heim, MUP '11, was awarded the Helene M. Overly Memorial Scholarship by the Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS) in 2010. The Helene M. Overly Memorial Scholarship was established in 1981 to encourage women pursuing career paths in transportation.