The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to share that Frank Hicks, a graduate student in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design, has been selected for the Landscape Architecture Foundation’s (LAF) Ignite Program.
Ignite is a national, multi-year program that provides participants with a $10,000 annual scholarship, paid summer internships, and one-on-one professional mentorship. Each year, only 4–7 students from across the country are chosen to join this prestigious program. With Frank’s incoming class, the Ignite cohort will grow to a total of 15 participants.
Frank earned his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design from OU in 2024 and is now pursuing a Master of Landscape Architecture, expected in 2026. He is also an active member of the American Society of Landscape Architects Student Chapter (SCASLA).
Through Ignite, Frank will have the opportunity to gain valuable professional experience, connect with mentors in the field, and continue building his leadership skills as he prepares for a career in landscape architecture.
“I’m so proud of Frank. Being selected as one of just 15 Landscape Architecture students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs across the country to participate in the program is a major accomplishment,” said Dr. Sarah Little, associate professor of Landscape Architecture at OU. “In addition to his professional and personal growth, his participation in Ignite propels the MLA@OU program onto a national stage.”
Gibbs College congratulates Frank on this achievement and looks forward to celebrating his continued success. To learn more, view the LAF Ignite announcement.
Robert L. Wesley, a pioneering architect and beloved mentor, has died at age 88. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Wesley joined Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in 1964 and became the firm's first Black partner in 1984. Throughout his career, he contributed to significant architectural projects while maintaining a strong commitment to civic engagement and professional mentorship.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to celebrate a series of recent accomplishments by Dr. Jim Collard, Professor of Practice in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design, whose work continues to shape conversations around Indigenous economic development nationally and internationally.
University of Oklahoma Gibbs College of Architecture Dean Hans E. [PA1.1]Butzer returned to one of his most significant works on December 15, joining survivors and past and present board members for the groundbreaking of a $15.8 million expansion of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
