Landscape Architecture student awarded Dre Martin Service Award

In May, incoming third-year Bachelor of Landscape Architecture student Haley Carpenter was awarded the Dre Martin Service Award by the College of Architecture, Arts, and Humanities (CAAH) during the Spring 2023 CAAH awards ceremony.

The Dre Martin Service Award is presented to a CAAH undergraduate student committed to service in the Clemson community and who demonstrates a passion for helping others and a strong academic record. Carpenter’s commitment to the landscape architecture program, her fellow Clemson students and the Clemson community propelled her nomination to become the award recipient.

“We are so proud of Haley’s leadership role in the landscape architecture program and at Clemson University,” shared Lara Browning, director of landscape architecture undergraduate programs. “Her constructive activism has positively influenced the development of Clemson. We know that Haley will be an amazing leader in our program and the field of landscape architecture. We can’t wait to see what she does next!”

“I was extremely grateful to be nominated for this award, even more so when I received it!” Carpenter said. “Throughout this past year, I have tried to serve the landscape architecture program the way it has served me.”

Who is Haley?

During her first year, Carpenter participated in CHAARG, short for “Changing Health Attitudes and Actions to Recreate Girls.” A club that aims to ignite a passion for movement in college-aged women, where she became a small group leader; Carpenter worked for C-CATS, Clemson University’s Challenge for Academically Talented Student program, where she spent weekends assisting with retreats for local middle and high school students focused on leadership development and college preparedness.

Carpenter became a Welcome Week Leader throughout her sophomore year, helping first-year students acclimate to college life and the Clemson community. Additionally, Carpenter became a resident assistant, where during frequent Tiger Talks with her residents, she listened, mentored and reinforced safety on campus. Carpenter was also a student ambassador for the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities, where she participated in recruiting events for visiting students and shares her diverse experiences.

This past year, Carpenter planned the events for the School of Architecture’s first Landscape Architecture Week, organized an itinerary for a trip to LABASH, a landscape architecture conference, with ten students and was recently elected to serve as the co-president for the Clemson chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Landscape Architecture in Action

As an activist for landscape architecture, her classmates and Clemson’s campus, Carpenter went to bat for what landscape architecture students have nicknamed the “outdoor classroom,” a space beside Lee Hall 3 that was clear-cut over winter break.

Once she became aware of the clear-cutting, Carpenter rallied her fellow students and wrote a letter to the University administration on their behalf. This resulted in a meeting with project partners, including the Director of Facilities and several Clemson Vice Presidents. During the meeting, Carpenter spoke about the impacts of tree removal on the land and her hopes for the clear-cut space, resulting in a collaboration with the University for landscape architecture students and faculty, where they will assist in redesigning the area to enhance educational experiences for all Clemson students, faculty and staff. 

“My time in this program has been some of the best years of my life, and I have gained so much,” she said. “Starting the ‘outdoor classroom’ project felt like the best way I could give back to my school and all the future Clemson LARC students.”

Haley’s dedication to the Clemson community has emerged through her constructive activism in ways that are already changing Clemson for today and the future.

After graduation, she plans on pursuing a career in landscape architecture with an emphasis on creating gardens and public spaces catered to inner-city youth.