JUNE 3, 2020 — The future for urban planning students at UTSA is bright. The Urban Planning Student Association has been awarded with the top prize as the 2020 Outstanding Planning Student Organization during the American Planning Association’s national conference.
The UTSA students won the award by demonstrating their community involvement through volunteering at events such as Síclovía—an intervention to activate San Antonio streets through bicycling and walking without vehicle traffic. They also engaged with APA through leadership positions in the organization nationally and in the Southwest Section, and with innovative educational programming, including member-led field trips and global perspectives through visiting Fulbright scholar from Bahrain Amina Alobaidli.
“This award placed UTSA’s urban and regional planning program on the national stage,” said assistant professor Greg Griffin. “UPSA’s student leaders have earned recognition for their foresight and emphasis on building equitable and sustainable places of lasting value, which will also support their careers and the students who follow in their footsteps.”
UTSA beat out 19 other respected universities, including Rutgers, which received honorable mention, and the University of California, San Diego, which placed third. The University of Southern California won the title in 2019.
The UPSA received a $2,500 cash prize to be used toward members’ professional development, including initiatives within the UTSA and San Antonio communities, guest lectures and participation in future APA chapter and national conferences. It also serves as an example of the members’ national leadership when seeking employment in the urban and regional planning arena.
“This award is an accurate reflection of all the UTSA students—astute, professional and tenacious. The Outstanding PSO award nationally recognizes the collaborative work and efforts of UPSA members. Over the past few years the students have emerged as outstanding student, community and planning leaders,” said Veronica Escalera-Ibarra, UPSA’s president.
The UTSA student association mostly represents graduate students pursuing a certificate or master’s degree in urban and regional planning. It supports students by promoting planning efforts and education, strengthening connections with planning professionals, and through extracurricular activities. The organization provides a supportive platform for planning students and provides a space for students to explore new ideas in the planning of cities and regions.
UPSA also invites any San Antonio–area university student through associate membership.
“UPSA’s ability to collaborate and engage with students of varied perspectives has translated into inclusive planning perspectives that resonate across many disciplines,” said Escalera-Ibarra.
Recent data on planners’ compensation in the APA Planners Salary Survey has shown the median compensation for planners with master’s degrees in the field is $78,000—$3,000 more annually than with a bachelor’s alone.
“Urban planning is important. It’s good to get involved, to be part of the community that we live in, to do something that will make a difference, said Selina Angel, an urban planning student and UPSA member. As pioneers of the UTSA urban planning program, we have the opportunity to shape how we want the program to be. Let’s make something great!”
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