School of Landscape Architecture & Planning Student Profiles

Esmeralda Rubi Carrasco, Class of 2026, is pursuing a Master of Landscape Architecture at CAPLA after earning her Doctor of Business from Grand Canyon University. Inspired by her family’s garden center, Ponderosa Cactus, she’s passionate about plant-forward, community-rooted design that honors the Sonoran Desert. In addition to serving as COO of Ponderosa Cactus, Esmeralda leads as the Arizona chapter president of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, sits on the Better Business Bureau board for Southern Arizona, and was named to the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2024. At CAPLA, she’s brought real-world experience into the classroom, served as president of the ASLA Student Chapter, and contributed to research as a graduate assistant for Dr. Bo Yang. Her ultimate goal is to open her own landscape architecture firm grounded in sustainability, cultural relevance, and mentorship.

Soleil Lemons, Class of 2026, is studying Sustainable Built Environments after transferring into CAPLA her sophomore year. Drawn to planning and design, she’s passionate about creating spaces that are functional, thoughtful, and community-oriented. This summer, Soleil is interning at Yellowstone Landscape, gaining hands-on experience in project coordination and design operations, an experience that has inspired her to pursue a Master’s in Urban Planning and a career as a project manager.

Architecture student Gene King is helping digitally reconstruct ancient Greek buildings at Mt. Lykaion, Greece, using a mix of classical research and modern tools like AutoCAD. Her work blends design, history, and technology, and has reshaped how she views modern architecture.

Ollie Freshour is graduating with a BS in Sustainable Built Environments with an emphasis in Sustainable Buildings. As an online student, Ollie made the most of their experience traveling from Indiana to Tucson to connect with the CAPLA community and explore the ENR2 Building. From designing a sustainable park in Elkhart to planning a future as a certified arborist, Ollie is ready to make a lasting impact on urban environments.

Annamaria Pongratz is graduating with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and a minor in Art History. Reflecting on her time at CAPLA, she shared how the experience shaped her as both a designer and collaborator. This fall, she’ll continue her academic journey as a graduate student at CAPLA. One of her proudest achievements? Designing a sensory garden for a children’s museum in her planting design class—a project that reflects her creativity and care for inclusive, engaging spaces.

Abigail Power ‘26 B.LA recently reimagined the entry plaza of the Tucson Rodeo Grounds in LAR301, a studio led by CAPLA faculty Erik Schmahl and Kirk Dimond. Inspired by vaquero herding techniques, her design blends cultural history with ecological function through detailed plans, GIS mapping, and a physical model.

Isabella Cleopatra de Sousa Proulx ‘25 B.LA recently completed an internship with Universal Studios in Orlando, where she contributed to the highly anticipated Epic Universe theme park, opening in May 2025.

Nathan Becenti ‘25 M.Arch is the founding president of the Indigenous Society of Architecture, Planning and Design (ISAPD) at CAPLA, where he champions Indigenous representation in architecture. Originally from Tohatchi on the Navajo Nation in Northern New Mexico, he earned his undergraduate degree from UNLV before gaining hands-on experience in high-profile Las Vegas projects.

Lescilia Panzarella '28 BLA is a first-generation college student and active leader at CAPLA, serving as vice president and secretary of the Indigenous Society of Architecture, Planning and Design, where she fosters Indigenous voices in modern design and pursues her passion for sustainable public housing and city planning.

Emma Hughes came to CAPLA from Phoenix and found the BLA program amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear about her CAPLA experience as part of the first BLA graduating class this May.

Hunter Pinke '24 graduated with his master's degree in real estate development and was named to the 2024 Academic All-America Second Team by the Intercollegiate Division of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association.

Master of Science in Urban Planning student Tiara Stephen came to Tucson from Brooklyn to explore the Desert Southwest and work at the University of Arizona. Not long after, she joined the MSUP program, furthering her passions for affordable housing and community access.