BLA Class of 2025 Builds Lasting Legacy

For students like Jack Arant, Carson Croom and Bella Zanfardino, the past four years have been about more than developing technical skills—they’ve been about shaping a program, building a legacy and finding their voices as designers.

Arant, a Dunwoody, Georgia, native, had always gravitated toward creative work and the outdoors, but it wasn’t until the BLA program was reintroduced that everything clicked. An information session with CADC’s Office of Recruitment sealed the deal—and he never looked back.

“Once I understood what a degree in landscape architecture could offer me—both over the next four years and into my career—there was no doubt about the direction I wanted to take,” he said.

Over time, what began as curiosity turned into confidence. Arant credits his growth to a curriculum that encourages experimentation and a faculty that supports students as individuals. Projects in communities ranging from small towns in Alabama to international sites in South Korea gave him a deep appreciation for research-driven design and real-world impact.  Through his professors’ mentorship, he developed the design skills and critical thinking needed to bring his ideas to life.

“It’s been a journey of gaining confidence,” Arant continued. “I’m proud of the work I’ve done, and I’m excited to start seeing my ideas built in the real world.”

For Croom, the program’s blend of structure and freedom was a key part of what made it so meaningful. It opened her eyes to the breadth of the landscape architecture field and helped her see how design practice and theory can work hand in hand. She says the creatively empowering environment shaped by the faculty gave her the tools to succeed.

“Professors offer deep insight and support, not to dictate your ideas, but to elevate and refine what’s already within you,” she said.  “It encourages your voice while sharpening your design thinking.”

Originally from Vero Beach, Florida, Croom plans to pursue a master’s at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design after graduation, a future she credits to her time on the Plains. “Auburn has given me a strong design foundation, and I’m grateful to be entering graduate school with such meaningful experiences and preparation behind me.”

Zanfardino agreed, noting that the program builds students’ abilities from foundational technical skills to advanced methods of representation and analysis. She also appreciated the wide range of electives that allowed her to tailor the experience to her interests and encourages future students to do the same by exploring their personal style.

“There are many sources of inspiration that can inform design,” shared the Warner Robins, Georgia, native. “And it’s never too early to hone in on what excites and motivates you about this profession and its impacts.”

Zanfardino admits that being part of the first class was daunting at first—but she quickly recognized it as the exciting opportunity it was. She and her classmates have helped shape the curriculum, set standards and create examples and expectations for future cohorts.

“Being a part of the Class of 2025 has been very rewarding,” shared Zanfardino. “It makes me proud to be graduating with a group of talented, successful students. I am amazed at the archive of work we have all created, and I am hopeful and excited for the progress of the program and the future graduating classes.”